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 July:
1. For all spring-calving cow herds:
- Continuously monitor BCS concurrent with grass growth and forage production.
- Closely watch for females that return to estrus late in the breeding season.
2. For spring-calving cow herds in drought-stressed areas:
- 2- to 4-year-old females and thin females will respond most to early weaning.
- If you plan to feed early-weaned calves, test your forages and have your ration plan and ingredients in place two to three weeks prior to weaning.
3. Monitor bulls regularly throughout the breeding season:
- Make note of observed matings and if bulls are not aggressively covering females.
- Be thinking about supplementing young bulls post-breeding if needed.
4. 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.
- Record date removed so you can accurately calculate days in gestation at preg-checking.
5. If you have a late-summer or early-fall calving cow herd:
- Ensure mature cows are ≥ 5.0 and 2- to 4-year-old females are ≥ 6.0 in body condition score (BCS) at calving.
- The final 60 days prior to calving represents the last opportunity to add BCS economically.
6. If you are a fall breeder:
- Begin thinking about your breeding and mating decisions for this upcoming year.
- It’s never too early to schedule artificial insemination (AI) and synchronization activities for fall breeding.
7. Continue to closely monitor free-choice salt and mineral programs through the summer:
- 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.
8. Consider early pregnancy diagnosis on yearling replacement heifers:
- Allows for an opportunity to market open females early in the season.
- Schedule these dates well in advance so you are adequately prepared.
9. Even if not impacted by drought, begin making plans for weaning spring calves.
- Review your health protocols and use records to guide any changes.
- Know your costs of production and calculate your calf breakeven sales price.
10. Make and evaluate important production calculations (it’s never a bad time to do this):
- Calving distribution (% first cycle, second cycle, third cycle).
- Calving intervals.
