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.

JANUARY

Cattle Herd Management

• Update herd & equipment inventory records
  • Florida Beef Cattle Ranch Record Book

• Monitor body condition of breeding herd
  • Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows
• Check calving cows and heifers 2-3 times daily
  • Beef Cattle Calving Management
• 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
• Check calves for scours
  • Calf Scours: Causes, Prevention & Treatment
• Develop heard health plan and schedule for the year with veterinarian
  • A Planning Calendar for Beef Cattle Herd Health
• Check mineral
  • Use high magnesium mineral if grazing winter annuals to prevent grass tetany
    • Grass Tetany in Cattle
  • Weigh and work replacement heifers
    • Vaccinate with IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI₃ , vibrio-lepto, 7-way clostriadal, and dewormer
      • Vaccinations for the Beef Cattle Herd
    • Take pelvic measurements and palpate reproductive tract
      • Pelvic Measurements For Reducing Calving Difficulty
    • Cull heifers with small pelvis, low tract score or that weigh less than 600 pounds
    • Purchase additional replacement females, vaccinate and isolate from herd for 30 days

Pasture Management

• Begin grazing winter forage at 10-12 inch canopy height and remove cattle when forage canopy is 4 inches.
  • If possible, limit-graze for 2-3 hours per day, plus free choice hay to acclimate cattle and stretch grazing days
  • After initial grazing, top-dress with 40-50 lbs. N per acre

Pest Management

• Burn pastures for thatch removal
  • Management of Spittlebugs in Pasture
• Apply dormant season herbicide treatments
  • Weed Management in Pastures and Rangeland

Annual Events

• 2017 Florida Bull Test Sale – January 21

**************************************************************************************

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:

0