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
July 2015 n ANGUSJournal n 77 Mid-South Atlantic Region by Scott Greiner, sgreiner@vt.edu; and Mark McCann, mark.mccann@vt.edu; extension beef specialists, Virginia Tech At this point in the summer, we annually brace ourselves for the heat, and many times, the dryness of our July and August. The seasonal decline in pasture and cattle performance during this period is usually called "summer slump." Infested Kentucky 31 tall fescue gets most of the blame and is certainly a major contributor, but there are other factors in addition to fescue toxicity that come into play and contribute to this seasonal slump. If adequate forage is available, but quality is suspect, consider the following management suggestions: @ The age-old suggestion for diluting infested tall fescue still works. The dilution can be other grasses, legumes or even supplemental feed; anything that takes the place of infested tall fescue. @ Manage pastures through clipping or grazing management to reduce seedheads and stems, which contain higher toxin levels. These management practices will produce a more open forage canopy that will prevent shading of favorable forages such as clovers and warm-season grasses. @ Creep supplementation of calves. Beyond supplementing low-quality pasture, creep feed can take advantage of this year's combination of affordable feed prices and a strong calf market, making this option more attractive than in most years. Keep in mind that if feed intake gets higher than desired, 2%-5% white salt can be added to reduce intake. @ Placement of mineral feeders can assist in more uniform pasture utilization. Place feeders well away from water sources and locate them in areas where cattle spend less time grazing. Spring-calving herds (January-March) General @ Focus on breeding season, forage management and calf health. @ Manage first-calf heifers separately; give them the best forage and supplement. Nutrition and forages @ Switch from high-magnesium minerals to high-selenium mineral as grass matures. @ Manage growth of warm-season grass pastures by rotational grazing. @ Implement rotational grazing management system that will provide a beneficial rest period for pastures. July can be a challenging forage-management month. Depending on moisture, cattlemen are either trying to extend the utilization of mature early forage growth, or, if moisture is abundant, manage the growth of warm- season forages. @ Store your high-quality hay in the dry. @ Collect and submit forage samples for nutrient analysis. Herd health @ Implement parasite- and fly-control program for the herd. @ Administer mid-summer deworming and implant. @ Consult with your veterinarian for a pinkeye control and treatment program. @ Plan vaccination and preconditioning protocol for calf crop. @ Castrate commercial calves (if not done at birth), consider castrating bottom end of male calves in seedstock herds. Reproduction @ Remove bulls from replacement heifers after 45-day breeding season. @ Make plans to pregnancy-check heifers as soon as possible after bull removal. This will allow options in marketing open heifers. @ Monitor bulls closely during the breeding season to confirm breeding performance and soundness, and monitor cows for repeat estrus. Avoid overworking young bulls (a rule of thumb — yearling bulls should be exposed to number of cows equal to their age in months). @ Remove bulls after 60 days for a controlled calving season. Fall-calving herds (September-November) General @ Wean calves to allow ample opportunity for cows to replenish BCS prior to calving. @ Finalize marketing plans for calf crop. Time weaning, vaccination program and weaning management in concert with marketing plans. Calculate breakevens on various marketing options and consider risk-management strategies. @ Market open cows. Cull-cow prices typically peak mid-spring through mid- summer, and prices are generally stronger for cows in good body condition vs. thin cows (evaluate forage availability and potential feed and management costs to increase BCS of cull cows, if warranted). Nutrition and forages @ Switch to high-selenium trace-mineral salt. @ Score bred females for body condition. Plan nutrition and grazing program based on BCS. This is the most efficient period to put weight and condition on thin cows. @ Reserve high-quality hay and a pasture area for calves postweaning. @ Manage growth of warm-season grass pastures by rotational grazing. @ Implement rotational grazing management system that will provide a beneficial rest period for pastures. July can be a challenging month for managing forage. z ANGUS ADVISOR CONTINUED ON PAGE 78 Minnesota March 25, 2016 At the farm Morris, MN OPPORTUNITY SALE OF 2016 26406 470 th Ave. / Morris, MN 56267 / Office: (320) 392-5802 Fax: (320) 392-5319 / Wulf@WulfCattle.com / www.WulfCattle.com Join the Minnesota Breeders' Ad Call Doneta Brown (816) 383-5232 or Rod Geppert (605) 295-3673