Ranch Hand Top 10; June 2012
Top 10 management strategies to consider on your operation during June 2012:
- Check water sources to ensure adequate clean water
- Review and apply fly control options (producers are reporting early fly hatches ahead of traditional fly season)
- Prepare records and begin to explore whether opportunities exist for value-added calf marketing programs
- Start forage harvest earlier than most years: early spring = early hay crop
- Carefully monitor forage yields and compare with anticipated winter feed needs; some areas will have low yields
- Control noxious weeds, seed cover crops for late-season grazing and finalize flooded pasture restorations
- Watch for anthrax/sudden deaths, lightning strikes; keep records of all death losses
- Evaluate cows for lameness and health concerns, provide adequate mineral and start thinking about creep feeding scenarios
- Turn bulls into breeding pastures at time appropriate for your operation; monitor closely for breeding activity
- Plan for early pregnancy diagnosis and develop marketing plan for nonpregnant females
