Ranch Hand Top 10; January 2012
Top 10 management strategies to consider on your operation during January 2012:
- Cattle requirements are increasing and herds have calves being born; be sure to match diets with requirements
- Review feed inventories and re-evaluate your plan for allocating feed to cattle in light of current winter conditions
- If cows are in great condition, save better-quality hays for feeding after calving; consider which hay to carry over for next year
- Increase feed deliveries in cold weather (yes, we actually may have cold weather this year!) and consider feeding in the afternoon; this keeps cattle warmer at night and can shift calving to daylight hours
- Prepare for calving (everything from pre-calving vaccinations to getting all supplies ready) if your cows are getting close
- Review health, feeding and implant strategies for newly purchased backgrounded calves to optimize performance unless natural premium outweighs opportunity cost
- Secure seed and fertilizer purchases for planting in spring of 2012
- Familiarize yourself with expected progeny differences (EPDs) and current breed average EPDs and how you can use these numbers in your breeding program
- Review existing bull inventory, reflect on 2011 calf crop, determine needs for 2012 breeding season and purchase accordingly
- Take time to set goals for your operation in 2012; this gives everyone on your operation something to strive for
