Calves

As winter approaches and cool-season grass growth begins to diminish, cattle producers should start thinking, if they haven’t already, about how much forage they will need to maintain their animals through the winter.

Cattle Tales Livestock is a quarterly newsletter published by the University of Maryland Extension that focuses on bringing timely, relevant information to Maryland's livestock producers. Topics in this issue (August 2021, Edition 2) are Stockpiling Pasture for Fall and Winter Grazing, Weaning Tips and Vaccination Programs for Beef Calves, Managing Bloat in Pastured Cattle, and Limit Feeding Growing Cattle.

There is no question that heat stress can negatively impact animal performance. Exposure to heat stress reduces daily gains, milk production, and reproductive efficiency, though specific impacts on production varies depending on the magnitude and duration of heat exposure. Prolonged exposure to heat stress is much more detrimental than short-term heat stress and its effects linger long after temperatures drop back below the heat stress threshold.

Weaning is one of the most stressful times in a beef calf's life. Use these 5 tips to help minimize stress and improve calf performance during and after the weaning period.

Resources on beef calf management

Cattle Tales Livestock is a quarterly newsletter published by the University of Maryland Extension that focuses on bringing timely, relevant information to Maryland's livestock producers. Topics in this issue (May 2021, Edition 1) are: Body Condition Score is a Critical Management, Tool for Cow-Calf Producers, Determining your Pasture Stocking Rate, Getting your Herd Ready for the Breeding Season, Considerations for Improving Hay Quality, Culling considerations for beef cow-calf herd, Controlling Flies and Ticks in Your Livestock, Implanting Pre-weaned Calves, and When should I deworm my sheep/goats?

Weaning is one of the most stressful times for calves, and it doesn’t help that it’s also the most common time to give vaccinations. No one wants to work their cattle more than necessary. The WHEN of weaning: Generally 6-8 months of age; though calves can be weaned as young as 3 months. As long as your cows have good body condition and you have ample feed, there is really no reason to wean early. In Maryland, the majority of farms wean in the fall: September through early November.

Although the weather has been unseasonably cool through April and May, it’s not too early to start thinking about fly control.  There are three major types of flies with economic significance to the U.S. beef and dairy industries.  These include horn flies, face flies, and stable flies. Often, a combination of fly control measures will be the most effective.  If one method does not seem to be working, double check to make sure that it is the right approach for the type of flies you see on your cattle.  Make sure the proper dose of insecticide is being administered to the animals at each application.  Furthermore, implement cleaning procedures to regularly remove decaying organic matter from sacrifice or feeding areas. 

Everyone loves a good return on their investment, though some old farmers might crack that you shouldn’t be in the cattle business for that. But for those of us cow/calf producers who are just too hooked on raising nature’s most perfect bioreactors, there are countless technologies available for ensuring that our four legged friends are at the very least paying their own maintenance bills. Steroidal calf implants are one such technology that have been proven to provide a return on investment that exceeds even the most lucrative of business endeavors.

Fly and tick season is here, unfortunately. But there are management methods, both chemical and environmental, that will help you better control both the fly and tick populations that are going to try and wreak havoc with your livestock. Generally, in a pasture-based setting, chemical control of flies and ticks is going to be more effective than most environmental management strategies, though an integrated approach of both is recommended.