One common strategy involves picking a date on
the calendar and then dividing the cows into spring and fall herds, depending on when they calve in rela- tion to the date. Over time, the cows that don’t calve in the preferred season are replaced by some that will. The key consideration for determining whether
the herd should calve in the spring or fall is forage availability. “Ideally, producers should match their calving season
to the peak production and quality of their forage,” he says. “The goal is to have the calves hit the ground 60 to 75 days prior to peak forage production, so the cows have the best nutrition available when they reach the top of their lactation curves and need it most.”
Health program The effectiveness of the operation’s health program
is closely intertwined with its nutrition program. To- gether, health and nutrition will determine the overall vigor and hardiness of the herd, which directly impacts the livestock’s productivity. “To maximize productivity, producers have to ensure
that their herd is healthy,” Wells says. “Each class of animal — cows, bulls, calves and replacement heifers —
have specifi c protocols that can optimize their health.” For cows and bulls, Wells recommends an annual
blackleg booster; an annual bovine respiratory virus vaccine (either modifi ed live or killed depending on the ranch’s protocol); bi-annual deworming, alternating classes of wormers between avermectins (Ivermectin®, Eprinex®, Dectomax®, LongRange® or Cydectin®) and white oral dewormers (Safeguard®, Valbazen® or Tra- misol®); an annual vaccination for venereal diseases including vibriosis and leptospirosis; and external parasite control. “Cows need to be vaccinated because a calf’s im-
munity starts in utero,” Wells says. “A cow’s blood titers have to be high enough to pass along immunity.” For calves, Wells recommends 2 doses of blackleg
vaccine administered at initial working and weaning (the doses should not exceed 2 ml to comply with Beef Quality Assurance guidelines); 2 doses of modifi ed live bovine respiratory virus disease complex vaccine dur- ing weaning, following label protocol closely; shipping fever vaccine approximately 1 month prior to shipping; deworming; and external parasite control. For developing heifers, Wells recommends the same regimen as calves, with the addition of a modifi ed live
Versatile feeder offers increased feed conversion for yearling growth and creep feeding calves
Trials show that delivering a controlled ration to calves, down to 2lb/day of barley, through 3IN1FEEDERS revolutionary Saliva Restriction System, is more profitable than ad-lib feeding.
Contact us or visit our website for all of our trial results. Wheeled or skidded models to best suit your operation the leader in controlled feeding
tscra.org
June 2015 The Cattleman 47
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116