Beef Cattle Management Calendar
Click on a month to view suggested Cattle Management Tips, or view the information as a PDF document.
January
- Apply lime for summer crops.
- Check for lice and treat if necessary.
- Control weeds in cool season pastures.
- Begin grazing winter clover pastures when approximately 6 inches high.
- Rye should be 12-18 inches high.
- Check mineral feeders.
- Put bulls out for October calving season.
- Make up breeding herd lists if using single sire herds.
- Watch for calf scours.
- Give bulls extra feed and care so they will be in condition for breeding season.
- Make sure cow herd has access to adequate fresh water.
- Buy only performance tested bulls with superior records.
- Get taxes filed.
- Discuss herd health with your veterinarian and outline a program for the year. Review herd health program with your veterinarian regularly.
- Carry a pocket notebook to record heat, breeding abnormalities, discharges, abortions, retained placentas, difficult calvings and other data.
- Observe cow herd for calving difficulties.
- Watch for grass tetany on winter pastures.
- Increase magnesium levels in mineral mixes if grass tetany has been a previous problem (if you are not already using a high magnesium mineral).
- Examine bulls for breeding soundness and semen quality prior to the breeding season.
- Vaccinate cows and heifers against vibriosis and leptospirosis prior to the breeding season.
February
- Top dress winter forages, if needed.
- Check and fill mineral feeders.
- Put bulls out with breeding heard.
- Work calves (identify, implant with growth stimulant, vaccinate, etc.).
- Make sure lactating cows are receiving an adequate level of energy.
- Watch calves for signs of respiratory diseases.
- Cull cows that failed to calve while prices are seasonally up.
- Check for lice and treat if needed.
March
- Prepare land for summer crops.
- Begin grazing warm season permanent pastures.
- Check and fill mineral feeder.
- Observe bulls for condition and success. Rotate and rest if needed.
- Deworm cows as needed.
- Make sure calves are healthy and making good weight gains.
- Hang forced-use dust bags by April 1st for external parasite control or use insecticide impregnated ear tags.
- Identify, vaccinate, implant and work late calves.
- Put bulls out March 1st for calving season to start December 9.
- Remove bulls march 22nd to end calving season January 1.
April
- Plant warm season annual pastures.
- Plant corn for silage.
- Check and fill mineral feeder.
- Check dust bags or apply treated ear tags.
- Check for external parasites and treat if necessary.
- Observe cows for repeat breeders.
- Deworm cows as needed if not done in March.
- Vaccinate against blackleg and brucellosis after 3 months of age and before 12 months of age.
- Market cull cows and bulls.
- Update market information and refine market strategy for calves.
May
- Remove bulls.
- Harvest hay from cool season crops.
- Plant warm season perennial pastures.
- Fertilize warm season pastures.
- Check mineral feeder.
- Check for spittlebugs and treat if necessary.
- Apply spot-on agents for grub and louse control.
- Check dust bags.
- Vaccinate and implant with growth stimulant at 90-120 days, when you have herd penned.
- Dispose of dead animals properly.
- Update market information and refine marketing plans.
- Remove bulls May 21 to end calving season March 1.
June
- Last date for planting sorghum.
- Check mineral feeder, use at least 8% phosphorus in mineral and not over 2 ½ to 1 calcium to phosphorus ratio.
- Check pastures and hay field for spittlebugs, mole crickets and army worms. Treat if necessary; best month for mole cricket control.
- Check dust bags.
- Watch for evidence of pinkeye and treat.
- Utilize available veterinary services and diagnostic laboratories.
- Get heifers vaccinated for brucellosis if not already done.
- Pregnancy check cows.
- Update market information and plans.
-Make first cutting of hay. - Put bulls out June 1 for calves starting March 11.
- Re-implant calves at 90 to 120 days with growth stimulant.
July
- Control weeds in summer pastures.
- Apply nitrogen to warm season pastures, if needed.
- Check mineral feeder.
- Check for army worms and mole crickets, and treat if necessary.
- Wean calves and cull cow herd.
August
- Cut corn silage.
- Cut hay.
- Apply lime for fall and winter crops.
- Harvest Bahia grass seed.
- Check mineral feeder.
- Update market information and marketing plans.
- Check for army worms, spittlebugs, and mole crickets, and treat if necessary.
- Check dust bags.
- Wean calves and cull cow herd.
- Watch for evidence of abortions.
- Observe animals regularly for signs of disease.
- If cattle grubs were found on cattle last winter or heel flies were observed in the pasture, treat for cattle grubs this month.
- Pregnancy test and cull open heifers from replacement heard.
September
- Cut hay.
- Heavily graze pastures to be interplanted to cool season pastures.
- Check mineral feeder.
- Check for mole crickets, spittlebugs, and grass loopers, and treat if necessary.
- Check dust bags.
- Wean calves and cull cow heard if not already done. Remove open, unsound, poor producing or overage cows.
- Train cowboys to observe normal and abnormal behavior and signs of disease.
- Be sure any replacement purchases are healthy and have been calfhood vaccinated for brucellosis.
- September or October is a good time to deworm the cow herd if internal parasites are a problem.
- When replacement heifers are weaned, give them required vaccinations and teach them to eat - then put them on a good nutrition program.
- Determine bull replacement needs, develop selection criteria, and start checking availability of quality animals.
- Review winter feed supply and feeding plans so that needed adjustments can be made before supplies tighten and prices rise.
October
- Plant cool season legumes.
- Plant small grain pastures.
- Check mineral feeder.
- Check for external parasites, especially lice, and treat if needed.
- Check for spittlebugs and grass loopers and treat, if needed.
- Watch condition of cow herd; maintain adequate nutrition.
- Isolate any additions to the herd for 30 to 60 days and observe for signs of disease; retest for brucellosis and leptospirosis.
- Be sure you have adequate handling facilities, and they are in good working order.
November
- Have soils tested.
- Observe cows daily to detect calving difficulty.
- Use mineral with high level of magnesium if grass tetany has been a problem in the past.
- Check for external parasites and treat if needed.
- Maintain adequate nutrient level for cow herd.
- Calve in well-drained pastures.
- Survey pastures for poisonous plants.
- Start summarizing your annual records, both production and financial - then you will have time to make adjustments for tax purposes.
- Re-evaluate winter feeding program and feed supplies.
December
- Begin grazing small grain pastures (if ready).
- Check mineral feeder.
- Check for external parasites and treat if needed.
- Deworm cows and heifers prior to winter feeding season.
- Observe regularly for calving difficulties.
- Rotate calving pastures to prevent diseases.
- Watch for scours in calves.
- Investigate health of bulls before you buy.
- Have dead animals posted by a veterinarian or diagnostic laboratory.
- Complete review of management plan and update for next year.
- Check replacement heifers to be sure they will be ready to breed 3-4 weeks prior to the main cow herd.
- Return to Beef Cattle Management
