Each month, cow-calf producers are faced with management tasks related to seasonal and production goals. Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner summarizes the top 10 management practices producers should check off their to-do lists in June:
1. For all spring-calving cow herds:
- Record average herd BCS at the start of the summer grazing/breeding season.
- Closely watch for females that return to estrus following first service.
2. For spring-calving cow herds in drought-stressed areas:
- Formulate your plan if you anticipate early-weaning this season or supplementing on grass to stretch dry pastures.
- Schedule early pregnancy checking activities with your vet if not already done.
3. If you have a late-summer- or early-fall calving cow herd:
- Ensure mature cows are 5.0 or higher and 2- to 4-year-old females are 6.0 or higher in BCS at calving.
- Review your calving health protocols and adjust them as needed prior to calving.
4. Manage free-choice salt and mineral programs:
- Record date and amount of product offered, calculate herd or pasture consumption.
- Adjust how you are offering product to cattle if they over- or under-consume.
5. Observe bulls closely at the beginning of the breeding season:
- Watch for injury so you can intervene and treat/replace bulls promptly if needed.
- Ensure they are aggressively covering cows, note it if you find they are not.
6. If pulling bulls from cows to manage the length of the breeding season:
- Schedule those dates and have them on your calendar in advance so you don’t forget.
- Monitor BCS and muscle stores, particularly on yearling and 2- to 3-year-old bulls.
7. Review your calf health protocols before spring turnout:
- Consider implanting nursing calves and grass cattle.
- Schedule dates for administering pre-weaning vaccinations.
8. Consider supplementing yearling replacement heifers around the time of breeding under the following conditions:
- They have little post-weaning grazing experience.
- Forage supply is limited at grazing turnout.
9. Make and evaluate important production calculations (never a bad time to do this!):
- Calving distribution (% first cycle, second cycle, third cycle).
- Calving intervals.
10. If creep feeding is part of your program, consider the following:
- Calculate the cost of creep feeding versus the value of calf gain.
- Can an intake limiter help prevent over-conditioned calves at weaning?
