Completing a number of management techniques and vaccine protocols prior to the stress of weaning, comingling and transport will help assemble a calf crop more resilient to disease challenges.
Green, growing forages are high in vitamin A. However, until forages are available for grazing, supplemental vitamins remain vital during late gestation and early lactation.
It is necessary that the cow manager understand the change in nutrient requirements of beef cows as they change from gestating cows to early lactation cows.
Florida officials are investigating an apparent increase in cattle deaths across the state, with investigators focusing on one particular brand of feed.
A big factor in determining the health of a new born calf and the performance of the cow and calf after birth is the nutrition of the cow and fetus during the last ninety days of gestation.
Body condition score at calving is the single most important trait determining when a cow resumes heat cycles and therefore when she is likely to re-conceive for the next calf crop.
Body condition is categorized by a scoring system based on “1” being very emaciated and “9” is extremely obese. Most commercial range cows will be in the middle three scores of 4, 5, and 6.
An atypical case of BSE was detected in a six year-old Florida beef cow, but never entered the slaughter channels and poses no threat to the U.S. food supply.