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 October.
1. The time is here to wean spring-born calves! Are you ready?
- If you’re going to retain them, know your cost of gain versus value of gain.
- Prepare pens, check waterers, have your ration ingredients and health protocols in place.
2. Don’t misread your cows; evaluate BCS closely at weaning.
- Make a record of BCS at weaning (use tally method to average).
- Use BCS to be strategic with your feed dollar this fall.
3. Take time to schedule having preg checks done on cows and heifers.
- This allows for other herd health problems to be identified.
- Track conception rates yearly to gauge herd performance.
4. Work through your cull pen.
- With recent market volatility, calculate your cost of gain if considering adding weight before marketing.
- If they don’t fit your herd, can they fit someone else’s?
5. Remember the fall calvers!
- Review your calving health protocols as needed.
- Locate and clean your calving equipment, have your calving kit handy.
6. Plan your mineral needs for this coming fall and winter.
- Record the date and amount offered and calculate herd consumption.
- If consumption is two times or three times the target, then your cost is too.
7. Keep an eye on your herd bulls.
- Conduct a BSE on bulls used for upcoming fall/winter service.
- Supplement thin bulls coming out of cows to regain condition.
8. Heifers are worth a lot; let’s manage them as such.
- Know your target weight at breeding and grow them appropriately.
- Target 2 year olds to be a minimum BCS of 6 at calving.
9. Take inventory of and begin sampling harvested forages.
- Test for nitrates and prussic acid when appropriate.
- Be aware of possible presence of molds and other anti-nutritional compounds in hay harvested at higher than typical moisture levels.
10. If grazing crop residues following harvest, keep the following in mind:
- The bottom third of the stalk is where nitrates accumulate.
- High amounts of down grain (≥ 20 bu/acre) will require a change in management (strip grazing or flash grazing).
