This calendar contains a monthly listing of the common management practices needed for commercial beef herd production in Georgia. Some
practices are recommended at a certain time of the year and others are recommended when calves are a certain age or at a certain point in their
reproductive cycle.
Each monthly list is divided into three sections: general, spring calving and fall calving. Management practices in the general category are seasonal
and apply to most cattle producers in Georgia. The spring calving list is based on January 10 - March 31 calving dates, and the fall calving
list is based on October 1 - December 20 calving dates. These dates are not necessarily the best dates for all producers but were chosen because
they are reasonably close to what many producers use. Establish calving dates based on your feed resources and availability of labor. A cow's
energy and protein requirements increase greatly at calving and remain high through the breeding season. It is best to plan breeding season for
the time of year when forage quality is at its best. With good winter grazing, fall calving is a good option. If cows are wintered on hay, spring
pasture offers the best feed for breeding season and spring calving is a better choice. If your calving season is different, adjust management
practices accordingly.
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GENERAL |
SPRING CALVING
January, February, March |
FALL CALVING
October, November, December |
| JANUARY |
- Provide high magnesium mineral supplement for
cows on winter grazing.
- Vitamin A supplementation might be needed if
frosted grass, weathered hay or by-products are
the primary feedstuffs (35,000 IU/day for 1,000
lb cows).
- Do not graze winter annuals closer than 4".
Overgrazing can reduce winter production.
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- Check cows frequently during calving season.
- Tag calves at birth. Record birth dates, tag
numbers and cow IDs.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant calves at birth.
- Keep yearling heifers gaining weight. They
need to weigh about 2/3 of mature weight at
breeding in March.
- Bulls will be turned in with heifers in March
and with cows in April. Evaluate bulls, trim
feet, line up breeding soundness exams and
decide on buying new bulls.
- A cow's nutrient needs increase by at least
50% after calving. If possible, separate dry
cows from cow-calf pairs to feed more efficiently.
- Order calf and cow vaccines.
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- Breed cows. Cows bred January 1 should
calve October 13.
- Be prepared to remove bulls from heifers
after a 45-60d breeding season.
- Use your best feeds now. With average
quality hay, a lactating cow needs 4-5 lbs
of whole cottonseed, 1 1/2 lbs of cottonseed
meal plus 2 lbs of corn or free choice
liquid supplement or block plus 2 lbs of
corn. A forage analysis enables you to
supplement your cows more precisely.
- Limit grazing on winter annuals. Two
hours of grazing per day and free choice
hay stretches grazing.
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| FEBRUARY |
- Pull soil samples on bermuda and bahia pastures
and hay fields to plan spring fertilization and
liming.
- Check with your county agent about pasture
weed control. This is the best time to spray for
musk thistle control.
- Check mineral feeders and continue to feed
high magnesium mineral supplement to cows on
winter grazing or tall fescue.
- Fertilize tall fescue pasture and overseeded grazing.
Apply 60 lbs N per acre in addition to soil
test recommendations.
- Do not graze winter annuals closer than 4".
Overgrazing can reduce total winter production.
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- Check cows frequently during calving season.
- Tag calves at birth. Record birth dates, tag
numbers and cow IDs.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant calves at birth.
- Make sure bulls are in good condition for
breeding heifers next month. Trim feet, conduct
breeding soundness exams and provide
additional feed if needed.
- A cow's nutrient needs increase by at least
50% after calving. If possible, separate dry
cows, first-calf heifers and cow-calf pairs to
feed more efficiently.
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- Vaccinate calves over 3 months old with
clostridial vaccines (black-leg). Check
with your veterinarian about other problems
in your area.
- Castrate and dehorn any calves missed at
birth.
- Implant calves. Calves that were implanted
at birth can be reimplanted. (Follow
label instructions.)
- Check on the condition of bulls during
breeding season. Provide supplemental
feed as needed.
- Remove bulls from heifers after a 45-60
day breeding season.
|
| MARCH |
- Continue feeding high magnesium mineral
supplement to cows on winter grazing.
- Do not overgraze winter annuals. Pull cows
when the annuals are shorter than 4".
- Fertilize permanent pastures according to soil
test results.
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- For a January 10-March 30 calving season,
bulls need to go in April 1-June 20. Conduct
breeding soundness exams and make sure
bulls are in good condition.
- Cows need to be in moderate to good condition
to rebreed early. You may need to start
feeding your best hay and put them on your
best grazing now. Supplement as needed according
to forage test results.
- Start breeding heifers about a month before
the cow herd.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant calves at birth.
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- Remove bulls March 23 to end calving
season about December 31.
- Keep bulls in a small pasture with strong
fences. Feed bulls enough to keep them in
good condition for next year's breeding.
- Spot check cows to see if most are bred.
By now, there should be little activity.
- Vaccinate for clostridial disease, castrate
and dehorn late calves or those missed in
early working.
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| APRIL |
- Keep a close watch on pasture conditions.
Continue supplemental feeding until grass is
plentiful.
- Fertilize permanent pastures according to soil
tests if not done previously.
- Start watching for flies. Order fly control products
to be ready when treatment warrants. To
avoid resistance, change the class of insecticide
used each year.
- Use all outside stores of hay; clean out hay storage
areas for new hay
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- For calves to begin hitting the ground around
January 10, bulls need to go into pastures on
April 1.
- Check condition of bulls during the breeding
season. Provide supplemental feed if needed.
- Be prepared to remove bulls from heifers after
a 45-60 day breeding season. Spot check heifers
for activity now to see if they are breeding.
- Cows need to be in moderate to good condition
to rebreed. Provide supplemental feed if
spring pastures are slow to grow.
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- To precondition for shipment, calves
should be vaccinated for respiratory
diseases 45 days prior to shipment. Check
with your veterinarian now for product
recommendations so these vaccines can be
ordered.
- Pregnancy check heifers 45-60 days after
the end of breeding season.
- Brand or otherwise establish permanent
IDs for bred heifers.
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| MAY |
- Control pasture weeds by clipping or with
chemical weed control.
- Fertilize bermudagrass and bahia pastures according
to soil test recommendations, if not
done previously.
- Check hay equipment and make sure it is ready
for operation.
- Control flies.
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- Vaccinate calves more than 3 months old with
clostridial vaccines (black-leg).
- Castrate and dehorn any calves missed at
birth.
- Implant calves. Calves that were implanted at
birth may be re-implanted.
- Check on condition of bulls during breeding
season. Provide supplemental feed if needed.
- Spot check to make sure cows are settling.
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- Pregnancy check cows 45-60 days after
breeding season ends. Sell open cows.
- Check cows' eyes, udders, feet, legs and
production records for others that should
be culled.
- To precondition calves for shipment, vaccinate
for respiratory diseases (IBR, PI3,
BVD, BRSV, H. Somnus) 45 days before
weaning. Check with your veterinarian for
product recommendations.
|
| JUNE |
- Cut hay! Plan on about 1 1/2 tons of hay per cow
for this winter.
- With adequate rainfall, hay should be cut every
4-5 weeks.
- Apply 60-80 units of nitrogen per acre after
cutting hybrid bermudagrass hay fields. (1 ton of
hay removes 50 lbs of N, 14 lbs of P and 43 lbs of
K from the land.)
- Put hay in barn or move round bales to dry, welldrained
areas and cover them.
- Clip overgrown pastures.
- Continue fly control.
- Check mineral and water supplies often.
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- Spot check cows to see if most are bred. By
now, there should be little activity.
- Remove bulls on June 20 for January-February-
March calving.
- Put bulls in a small pasture with strong fences.
Young bulls in thin condition may need a little
supplemental feed.
- Vaccinate for clostridial diseases, castrate and
dehorn late calves or those missed in earlier
working.
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- Check and repair fences in pens where
weaned calves will be placed.
- Consult with your marketing agent about
prices and special sales.
- Wean calves depending on pasture conditions
and marketing plans.
- Select replacement heifers based on weaning
weights.
- Deworm calves at weaning.
- Cull open and poor-producing cows after
weaning.
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| JULY |
- Continue fly control. As tags get old, you may
need to begin spraying or using back rubs.
- Clip overgrown pastures.
- Check for pinkeye, cancer eye and foot rot.
- Send in forage samples on hay now so you will
have results to use for planning winter feeding.
- Check water and minerals often. Plenty of clear
water is critical in summer. At 90 degrees F, a mature
cow nursing a calf drinks about 17 gallons of
water a day.
- Treat for grubs between now and October 1.
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- Consider creep feeding, depending on pasture
conditions and marketing plans.
- Pregnancy check cows and heifers 45-60 days
after the breeding season ends.
- Sell open heifers now.
- Brand or otherwise establish permanent IDs
for bred heifers.
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- Wean calves depending on pasture conditions
and marketing plans.
- Wean replacement heifers and separate
from the rest of the herd. Weigh heifers
to project needed gain between now and
breeding (in December).
- Deworm calves at weaning.
- Deworm cows if needed.
- Cull open and poor-producing cows after
weaning.
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| AUGUST |
- Continue fly control. As fly tags get old, you may
need to begin spraying or using back rubs.
- Plant winter grazing needs. Check on supply and
prices for winter annual seed.
- Treat for grubs between July and October.
- Check water and minerals often.
- Stockpile fescue for late fall grazing.
- Get large, round bales into the barn or move to
dry, well-drained areas.
- Check supplemental feed prices. Byproduct
feeds such as soyhulls and corn gluten are often
cheaper in late summer.
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- Pregnancy check cows.
- Deworm while cows are up.
- Check cows for bad eyes, udders, legs and
check production records to find other cows
that need to be added to the cull list.
- To precondition calves, vaccinate for respiratory
diseases (IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, H.
Somnus) 45 days prior to shipment.
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- Replacement heifers are 8-10 months old.
Forage quality declines rapidly from now
to frost. Keep an eye on heifer gains and
supply supplemental feed as needed.
- Check cow condition. Cows should be
in moderately good condition prior to
calving.
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| SEPTEMBER |
- Quality of bermudagrass and bahia declines rapidly
from now to frost. Keep an eye on heifers
and supplement as needed.
- Stockpile fescue for late fall.
- Begin planting winter grazing.
- Take stock of your hay supply so additional cuttings
or purchases can be made. (Send samples in
for analysis.)
- Keep a close check on supplemental feed prices.
Corn and byproduct feeds such as cottonseed
can usually be bought cheaper in the fall.
- Plan where winter grazing will be over-seeded
into pastures. Graze these areas close or clip
prior to planting.
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- Wean calves depending on pasture conditions
and marketing plans.
- Wean heifers and select replacements based
on weaning weights. Use weights to project
needed gain between now and breeding
(March).
- Consider options for selling weaned calves,
back-grounding or maintaining ownership
through the feedlot.
- Deworm calves at weaning.
- Separate cull cows at weaning.
- For late calves (weaning in late Oct. or Nov.),
consider creep feeding and vaccination for
respiratory diseases 45 days prior to weaning.
- Cull open and poor-producing cows after
weaning.
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- Move heavy-springing heifers to clean
pastures where they can be checked 2-3
times daily.
- Establish an ID system and tag calves at
birth.
- Gather and clean your calving supplies. Be
ready to assist with calving difficulties and
to castrate, implant and deworm calves
at birth.
- Feed requirements increase 10-15%
during the last 30-45 days prior to calving
(about 1 lb of extra TDN per day).
On fall pastures, cows may need a small
amount of supplemental feed.
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| OCTOBER |
- Quality of bermudagrass and bahia declines rapidly
from now to frost. Watch condition of cows.
Supplemental feed may be needed.
- Fertilize fescue pastures (60 lb N; P, K and lime
according to soil test results).
- Finish planting winter grazing in prepared seed
beds and begin overseeding winter annuals into
pastures.
- Watch feed conditions closely when grazing
stalks and stubble. Cows will eat the best of the
crop residues quickly.
- Remove cattle from sorghum crops after a light
frost due to the danger of prussic acid poisoning.
- Continue to monitor supplemental feed prices.
Corn and by-product feeds like cottonseed are
usually cheaper in the fall.
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- Finish weaning late calves (follow September
management list).
- Heifers need to weigh about 2/3 of their mature
weight at breeding time in March. They
usually need to gain about 1 1/2 lbs per day
after weaning.
- Watch the body condition of bred heifers.
Separate them from the cows and provide
supplemental feed as quality of fall grazing
declines.
- Identify thin cows and supplement them at
a rate where they will reach moderate body
condition at calving.
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- Cows due to calve should be put into
clean pastures and checked frequently.
- Tag calves at birth. Record birth date, tag
number and cow ID.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant bull calves
at birth.
- Bulls will be turned in with heifers in
December and cows in January. It is time
to evaluate bulls, trim feet, line up a
breeding soundness exam or decide on
buying a new bull.
- Check with your veterinarian about
suggested pre-calving and pre-breeding
vaccinations for cows.
- Start feeding a high magnesium mineral
supplement 30 days before cattle are
turned in on winter grazing or lush fescue
pasture.
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| NOVEMBER |
- Check parasite load of cows, collect fecal sample
on 10-20% of herd as an indication of whether
deworming is needed. Check with your veterinarian
for instructions.
- Deworm and implant stockers before turnout.
- Start feeding a high magnesium mineral supplement
30 days before cattle are turned in on
winter grazing or lush fescue.
- As weather gets colder, treat cattle for lice.
- Remove old insecticide ear tags as you work
cows. Old tags release low levels of insecticide
that tend to promote development of resistant
strains of flies.
- Keep a close eye on pasture conditions as
residual summer grass and crop residues are consumed.
Start offering some hay before pastures
are totally grazed off.
- Bull sale season is starting. Evaluate your herd
bulls and start looking if you need a new bull.
- It's not too late to get forage analyzed and order
winter supplements.
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- Check on calving supplies and order any that
are needed so they will be on hand in January.
- Feed poorer quality hay to dry cows now. Save
your best hay for calving season.
- Check heifers frequently. They should begin
calving in December.
- Make sure cows maintain their body condition.
Supplement if necessary. Thin cows and
first-calf heifers would be the most likely
candidates.
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- Tag calves at birth. Record birth date, tag
number and cow ID.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant bulls at
birth.
- A cow's nutrient needs increase by at least
50% after calving. If possible, separate dry
cows, first-calf heifers and cow-calf pairs
to feed more efficiently.
- Get the bull ready! Trim feet if needed,
make sure bulls are in good condition
and check with your veterinarian about a
breeding soundness exam.
- Check cows frequently. Be ready to provide
assistance with calving if necessary.
- Replacement heifers should be nearing 2/3
of their mature weight.
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| DECEMBER |
- Do not graze winter annuals closer than 4".
Overgrazing can reduce winter forage production.
- Provide a high magnesium mineral supplement
for cows on winter grazing.
- Treat for lice if not already done.
- Keep a close eye on cattle when grazing on crop
residues and residual summer grass. Quality will
decline rapidly now.
- Evaluate your winter feed supply. Consider the
amount of grazing planted, condition of grazing
fields, and hay quantity and quality. There is still
time to buy supplemental feeds at fall prices.
- Vitamin A supplementation might be needed if
frosted grass or weathered hay is the primary
forage source (a 1,000 lb cow requires 35,000
IU/day).
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- Move heifers into dry, clean pastures and
check frequently. They should begin calving in
December.
- Tag calves at birth. Record birth dates, tag
numbers and cow IDs.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant at birth.
- Check breeding dates on cows. Watch closely
as due dates approach.
- Feed requirements increase about 10-15%
during the last 30-45 days prior to calving.
Do not underfeed in an effort to reduce birth
weight.
- Check with your veterinarian about suggested
pre-breeding vaccinations for cows.
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- Check cows frequently. Be ready to assist
with calving if necessary.
- Castrate, dehorn and implant calves at
birth.
- Tag calves at birth. Record birth date, tag
number and cow ID.
- Start breeding heifers about a month
before the cow herd. (They should weigh
2/3 of expected mature weight.)
- For a high percentage of cows to rebreed
early, they must be in moderate to good
condition. You probably need to start
grazing or feeding your best hay now.
Supplement as needed according to forage
test results.
- Check bulls' semen before turning in with
cows.
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