Each month, cow-calf producers are faced with management tasks related to seasonal and production goals. Jason Warner, Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist, summarizes the top 10 management practices producers should check off their to-do lists in November.
1. Have you weaned your spring calves yet? If not, it’s probably time.
- Figure your cost of gain versus the value of gain.
- If retaining and growing, test forages and have feedstuffs on hand prior to weaning.
2. Now is the time to get a good look at your cows.
- Sort and feed cows by BCS if you can.
- Maintain BCS on fall calving females going into breeding.
3. Have you scheduled preg checks for your spring calving cows? There’s still time.
- Annual preg checks allow for other problems to be discussed.
- Record data annually and use it to build your long-term herd average.
4. If you are a late-fall calver:
- Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed.
- Consider teat and udder scoring females at calving, even if they’re commercial.
5. Plan your mineral needs for this coming fall and winter.
- Record date and amount offered and calculate herd consumption.
- If consumption is 2X or 3X the target, then your cost is too.
6. Heifers will be worth a lot this year, let’s manage as such.
- For replacements, know your target weight at breeding.
- For bred heifers, target to be at a BCS 6.0 at calving.
7. Herd bulls are easy to forget — don’t let them be forgotten.
- Conduct a BSE on bulls used for upcoming fall service.
- If bulls are BCS ≤ 5.0, consider supplementing to regain BCS going into winter.
8. As you think about the female market this year
- Consider the time needed to pay off replacement females at a given calf price.
- Consider all the ways in which you can add females back in to the herd.
9. If grazing crop residues following harvest, keep in mind:
- The bottom third of the stalk is where nitrates accumulate.
- Be aware of prussic acid in new regrowth of sorghum plants, and the time around frost is the greatest risk.
10. Old man winter is headed our way; it’s never too early to prepare.
- Clean lots and calving grounds as needed.
- Have bedding and windbreaks ready to go.
