Category: cow/calf (Page 1 of 2)

5 tips to become really successful at calf weaning

5 tips to become really successful at calf weaningWeaning is one of the most critical times for a cattle producer. It is a time for all of their hard work begins to pay off with an excellent large calf crop. Though it may be of benefit to the producer, it comes with its problems.

It is also considered one of the most stressful times in that calf’s life. During this time, they are exposed to various stressors that include being removed from the momma, physiological changes, castration, vaccination, dehorning, and the list goes on. With all of this going on, it is no wonder that calves often suffer from all sorts of maladies.

These various stressors can result in tremendous challenges to the calf’s short-term and long-term health and performance. Studies have shown that calves that get sick or become sick during the first 30 days of weaning typically have lower daily gains and increased costs of growth.

So with the importance that weaning plays in that calf’s life, it is essential that you get it started on the right foot. The steps that you take now can have an impact that will last the rest of your life. But how can you go about doing that? Here are five tips you can follow to make sure that happens.

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Myth about cattle and the environment exposed

Myth about cattle and the environment exposedWhen it comes to the cattle industry there are many myths floating around the internet. Many of these are simply misunderstandings but mostly from a lack of knowledge. One where chocolate milk comes from brown cows is one that immediately comes to mind. Now while some may be innocent there are some that are spread by people with more than malicious intent.

Part of the reason that many of these myths are still around is because of the growing disconnect between people and where their food comes from. When I was back in college it was stated that the average person is around 3 generations removed from the farm. How many times have we seen people online comment thinking that meat is made at the store?

A good way to combat this is through education. We as an industry need to do a better job of providing the correct information to the public. It is through this misinformed public that we have the anti-agriculture folks spreading myths or downright lies, to the people. One such myth that always seems to pop up is the one about cattle and the environment. Here is some information to counter that.

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5 tips for calf weaning success

5 tips for calf weaning successWeaning is one of the most important times for a cattle producer. It is a time for all of their hard work begins to pay off with a nice large calf crop. Though it may be of benefit to the producer it doesn’t come without its problems.

It is also considered one of the most stressful times in the life of that calf. During this time they are exposed to various stressors that include being removed from the momma, physiological changes, castration, vaccination, dehorning, and the list goes on. With all of this going on it is no wonder that often times calves suffer from all sorts of maladies.

These various stressors can result in tremendous challenges to the calf’s short-term and long-term health and performance. Studies have shown that calves that get sick or become sick during the first 30 days of weaning typically have lower daily gains and increased costs of gain.

So with the importance that weaning plays in that calf’s life, it is important that you get it started on the right foot. The steps that you take now can have an impact that will last the rest of its life. But how can you go about doing that? Here are 5 tips you can follow to make sure that happens.

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4 Fall Herd Considerations

4 fall herd considerationsWith fall and cooler weather right around the corner it is important to giver your cows their best chance going into winter. Good winter management practices contribute to healthy and productive cattle. It also plays a part in keeping feed costs reasonable.

As with other seasons a cow’s nutrient requirements are different during this time of year. Of course what the requirements are depends on what production cycle you have them on. If you are on a spring calving timeframe then they will need requirements met in order to grow the calf inside her. This is on top of her normal needs as well as keeping her body warm during the colder times of the year.

But fear not, this article is here to help. There are some things that you can use to get your cattle on the best foot going to winter. Here are some things that you can do to help your cows going into the later part of the year:

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5 Weaning Tips for Calf Success

5 weaning tips for calf successWeaning is one of the most important times for a cattle producer. It is a time for all of their hard work begins to pay off with a nice large calf crop. Though it may be of a benefit to the producer it doesn’t come without it’s problems.

It is also considered one of the most stressful times in the life of that calf. During this time they are exposed to various stressors that include being removed from the momma, physiological changes, castration, vaccination, dehorning, and the list goes on. With all of this going on it is no wonder that often times calves suffer from all sorts of maladies.

These various stressors can result in tremendous challenges to the calf’s short-term and long-term health and performance. Studies have shown that calves the get sick or become sick during the first 30 days of weaning typically have lower daily gains, and increased costs of gain.

So with the importance that weaning plays in that calf’s life it is important that you get it started on the right foot. The steps that you take now can have an impact that will last the rest of it’s life. But how can you go about doing that? Here are 5 tips you can follow to make sure that happens.

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6 Tips for Colostrum Replacer

6 tips for colostrum replacerUsing a colostrum replacer or supplement can be a very confusing matter to figure out. Now ideally every one of your new calves will get up and start nursing on their own. Unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world.

There are some times that you will need to provide assistance to the new born to get them on the right foot. This can come in the form of providing a colostrum replacer. If you find yourself in that situation here are 6 tips that can help you get the most effective use out of it.

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The Unconventional Guide to Weaning

The Unconvenional Guide to WeaningWeaning time is upon us again. As anyone in the cattle business will tell you it is a stressful time- for both cattle and the producer.

Stress in cattle can be displayed by increased vocalization, reduced feed intake, and calves walking the fence line. The issue with stress is that in can lower the immune system’s ability to fight off disease. With this it can cause reduced daily gains, increased health problems, and even death.

No matter what type of weaning strategy you use there are ways to maintain performance and reduce the chance of illness during this stressful time. Preparing calves in advance of taking them away from their mommas has benefits that are well worth the effort. Here are three steps that you can follow to help your calf crop succeed.

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4 steps for breeding season

4 steps for breeding seasonSpring can be a very busy time for producers. Calving season is in full swing as well as putting fertilizer out. With breeding season being months away in some cases it is easy to neglect preparing for it. But that would not be the best move to make. Now is the time to start getting prepared for it. Doing so will give you time to correct any issues that may come up.

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Effective fly control strategies

Effective fly control strategies

Courtesy of bovinevetonline.com

As I mentioned in the previous post here, an effective strategy to control flies is necessary for a grazing plan. Horn flies are a very damaging pest for beef cattle here in Texas. Research has shown that a calf infested with more than 200 flies will weigh 15 to 20lbs less at weaning. In order to suppress them in the best way you should understand their life cycle and possible control strategies.

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