Collect individual weights on both cows and calves. Take body condition scores on cows. Pregnancy check as early as your veterinarian or technical service provider is comfortable with. Work with your veterinarian on potential reproductive booster vaccines that need implemented at this time. Although frequently overlooked, a visual appraisal of herd sires should also be conducted. Be sure soundness and general health warrant wintering.

Open and thin cows (particularly those that weaned lighter calves themselves) should be the first to be culled. Get them off the feed bill if they are not optimizing the environment you are providing. Be cognizant of seasonal price patterns in cull cow markets and capitalize on them. Explore other value-added opportunities for cull cows. Remember that cull breeding stock represent about 20 percent of annual gross receipts for the enterprise.

Group cows for winter feeding management. The more groups that are made, the better their requirements can be met. If space is a limiting factor, old and special-needs cows should be placed with yearling or first-calf females that also have increased nutrient requirements.

Work with your nutritionist or local extension specialist to formulate backgrounding and heifer development diets that optimize both cost and your marketing/development goals.

Fall-calving herds

Collect as much individual calving season data as possible including birthweights, dystocia scores, vigor, cow weights and body condition, temperament and udder scores. More data allows for more informed decisions down the road.

Breeding soundness exams should be conducted 30 to 60 days prior to initiation of the breeding season. Most producers are on the long end of this now, but take the time to get these scheduled in case an unforeseen replacement needs to be acquired. In many Midwestern states, this breeding soundness exam should be coupled with a trichomoniasis test.

Even if you have a “closed herd,” neighboring cattle have been known to cross the fence a time or two. A trich test now is a cheap insurance policy against an economically devastating reproductive disease.  

• Patrick Gunn

• Assistant Professor of Animal Science
• Iowa State University
• Email Patrick Gunn