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 December.
1. Take time to sample harvested forages prior to winter feeding.
- Use forage tests to fine tune your supplementation program.
- Forage tests are cheap relative to the value of the information.
2. Calculate forage needs off of herd numbers, weight and days.
- Make sure adequate forages are available if grazing is limited.
- Take inventory of all hay and silages.
3. Condition score cows to guide your nutrition program.
- Targeted BCS at calving: 5 for mature cows, 6 for young cows.
- Maintain BCS on fall calving females going through breeding.
4. If grazing crop residues following harvest, keep in mind:
- The bottom 1/3 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.
5. If you are a late-fall or early-winter calver...
- Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed.
- Consider teat and udder scoring females at calving, even if they’re commercial.
6. 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!
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. As you think about this 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.
10. Winter is approaching soon, so take time now to prepare!
- Clean lots and calving grounds as needed.
- Have bedding and windbreaks ready to be used.
