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.

FEBRUARY

Cattle Herd Management

• Check calving cows 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 cows and increase energy supplement as needed
• Feed best hay available to nursing cows & heifers

• Monitor & record body condition of breeding herd
  • Body Condition Scoring Beef Cows
• Turn bulls in with replacement heifers
• Watch calves for scours
  • Calf Scours: Causes, Prevention & Treatment
• Check mineral, use high magnesium mineral if grazing winter annuals to prevent grass tetany
  • Grass Tetany in Cattle

Pasture Management

• Continue grazing winter annual pastures down to 4 inch stubble (fertilize after grazing)
• Begin grazing overseeded ryegrass once it reaches 8-10 canopy height and remove cattle when grazed down to 3-4 inches
• Plant bermudagrass from dug sprigs while grass is still dormant
• Prepare land to establish new bahiagrass pastures for a March planting

Pest Management

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

• Control thistle
  • Thistle Control in Pastures
• Control weeds in newly established pastures
  • Weed Management during Pasture Establishment

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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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