The Angus Journal® is a monthly magazine known for in-depth coverage of American Angus Association® programs and services; the Angus business; herd management; and advertising reflecting genetics and herd philosophies.
Issue link: http://angusjournal.epubxp.com/i/529629
76 n ANGUSJournal n July 2015 feeding program. A list of forage-testing laboratories certified through the National Forage Testing Association is available at www.foragetesting.org. Remove intensive early stocking cattle from native grass pastures by July 10. Continue fly- and tick-control programs for all cattle. The incidence of pinkeye is particularly high during late summer. Fly control is one key management factor in minimizing the spread of this disease. Harvest Sudan grass and Sudan hybrids for hay in the boot stage, which generally corresponds to 3 ft. to 4 ft. in height. A routine nitrate test on forage before harvesting may be advisable, particularly if soil moisture has been scarce prior to harvest. Treat cattle for grubs after heel-fly activity ceases and before larvae reach the back, generally between July 1 and Oct. 1. Check the date with your veterinarian. Western Region by Randy Perry, California State University– Fresno, randyp@csufresno.edu General management Pasture irrigation and thistle control. If irrigated pastures are part of your forage resources, timely irrigation during hot summer months is critical in terms of affecting forage production. Mid-summer is also an excellent time to try to control thistle or other invasive weeds in pastures. This year in California, availability of irrigation water is a major issue in many areas. Pinkeye prevention. Mid-summer is the time of the year when problems with pinkeye can become quite prevalent and, thus, treatments can become time- consuming. The incidence of pinkeye can be reduced by clipping tall, mature grasses; and controlling flies with dust bags, pour-ons and/or fly tags. In addition, availability of shade helps to reduce the incidence of pinkeye. It is important to treat problems quickly and aggressively, thus reducing the spread of the disease by flies. Antibiotics such as the long-acting oxytetracyclines are very effective in treating pinkeye. A more inexpensive treatment option, but one that is more difficult to administer, is to treat the infected eye with an injection of 2 cc under the membrane that covers the upper portion of the eyeball with a mixture of 90% penicillin and 10% dexamethasone. Most people prefer to apply patches to infected eyes, and those can be made very easily from old, worn-out jeans. Leave the bottom portion of the patch unglued so the eye can drain. Fall-calving herds Cows are on cruise control. Reproductive management Vaccinations. If any precalving vaccinations, such as a scour vaccine, are going to be used, now is the time to decide on the specific product and get products on hand. Nutritional management Mineral supplementation. Be sure that cows are receiving adequate levels of calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals that are deficient in your area. The period from calving through the end of the breeding period is the best time to take advantage of chelated mineral products. Body condition. The target level of body condition at calving is a minimum BCS of 5.0 for mature cows and 6.0 for 2-year-old heifers on a scale of 1 to 9 (see more information online at www.cowbcs.info). Protein and energy supplementation. Mid-summer is typically a time of the year when fall-calving cows will maintain themselves adequately with no need for either energy or protein supplementation as long as dry forage is available. The availability of dry forage is a major problem in many areas of southern California this summer because of the drought conditions in this part of the state. Heifer development. The developmental period from weaning until breeding time is critical in terms of influencing the future productivity of females. Females should be developed to reach approximately 65% of their projected mature weight at the start of the breeding period. Spring-calving herds Focus on breeding season and suckling- calf health. Reproductive management Breeding season. Depending on desired calving dates, the AI breeding period should be concluded. Monitor return heats and cleanup bull performance for any problems that may arise. Nutritional management Mineral supplementation. Be sure that cows are receiving adequate levels of calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals that are deficient in your area. Consider chelated mineral products, especially prior to calving and through the end of the breeding season. Energy balance. Energy balance has a major impact on fertility, and thus it is critical that cows are in a state of positive energy balance or gaining weight during the breeding season. Health management Treatment protocols. Treatment protocols and products should be on hand for scours and pneumonia in suckling calves. z ANGUS ADVISOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 75 1 1 HARDEE FARMS 11551 NW Hwy. 129 • Chiefland, FL 32626 (352) 493-4472 Day Chris Hardee (352) 493-1204 Night Located 1 mile east of Chiefland on U.S. Hwy. 129. Annual Black Bull Sale always 1st Friday of November. Herd established 1956. Visitors Always Welcome • Buyers Always Appreciated!