UF/IFAS Beef Cattle & Forage Specialists, and County Extension Agents serving the Florida Panhandle developed a basic management calendar for cattle producers in the region. The purpose of this calendar is to provide reminders for management techniques with similar timing to those used at the North Florida Research and Education Center’s Beef Unit, near Marianna, Florida. Links to useful publications with more information are also provided.

DECEMBER

Cattle Herd Management

• Check calving cows and heifers 2-3 times daily
  • Move cows and newborn calves out of calving pasture
    • Record calf birth date, weight, tag calves, (optional: castrate bull calves)
  • Evaluate body condition of nursing cattle and increase energy supplement as needed
  • Feed best hay available to nursing cows & heifers
• Begin supplementing bulls 60 days prior to breeding
  • Nutritional Management of Bulls

• Watch calves for scours
• Feed high magnesium mineral if grazing winter annuals and watch for grass tetany
  • Grass Tetany in Cattle
• Summarize annual cattle herd performance & financial records
• Prepare record book or calendar to keep herd records for the year ahead
  • Florida Beef Cattle Ranch Record Book

Pasture Management

• Begin grazing winter annual pastures when forage canopy is 10-12 inches tall and
  • Remove cattle when forage is 4 inches tall
  • If possible, limit-graze for 2-3 hours per day, plus free choice hay to stretch grazing
• Lime permanent pastures, based on recommendations from soil test report
  • Fertilizing and Liming Forage Crops

Pest Management

• Calibrate sprayers and replace nozzles and screens as needed
  • Calibration of Herbicide Applicators

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Use the following link to download the entire Cattle & Forage Management Annual Calendar:

Panhandle Ag Extension Team Cattle & Forage Management Calendar

Developed by the Panhandle Agriculture Extension Livestock and Forage Team:

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