The bulls in your herd need as much care and attention during this time of year as your cows. You must take steps during this time to ensure they are ready for the next breeding season. It is always a good idea to get started now so you will have plenty of time to make adjustments.
Though their job for the year may be done, their management does not end. Where and how you will keep bulls over the winter months should be considered. It is also a good idea to look at your operation and decide if even keeping him or replacing him is needed.
What you do during this time can impact the readiness of your spring breeding season. If the bull is not in the right shape, he will not be servicing the cows. If the cows are not getting serviced, then that means that next year’s calf crop will be limited. Here are some things that you can do to make sure that he is ready to go.
Trying to control flies that are on your cattle can be a very frustrating endeavor, to say the least. It can often feel like an uphill climb with no rest in sight. No matter what you seem to do they just keep coming back year after year.
Breeding season is a very important time on the ranch. We begin with the hope of making the new calf crop to keep the ranch going. In order to have a good calf crop, you will need to make sure that all, or at least 90%, of your cows will be bred.
It may not seem like it now but spring weather will be here before you know it. All of the ice and snow (if you get any) will melt away and things will become green again.
Knowing when to assist with calving can be a very tricky matter. It requires a delicate balance between not acting too quickly and not reacting too late. Finding this balance can require a lot of experience and maybe a little bit of luck.
BRD, or bovine respiratory disease, is a general term for respiratory disease in cattle. A range of factors can cause this disease. The common names normally used for this disease is pneumonia or shipping fever. Stocker and feedlot operations is often where this disease occurs.
Trich, or the more scientific name Trichomoniasis, is a very serious economic problem for cattle producers. Some of the problems that it can cause are a reduced calf crop as well as lower weaning weights. It can cause this because it making your breeding cows infertile and possibly causing a longer breeding season.
With summer arriving treating pinkeye is an issue many cattle producers will face. As things get drier it means more dust which means an increase in eye irritants.
Anyone involved in cattle production is aware of the danger of internal parasites in cattle. Internal parasites, such as lung worms and coccidia, live in the gastro-intestinal tracts of cattle. They will cause decreased production and in some cases even death.
Pinkeye is a very common as well as a highly contagious disease in cattle. Once it shows up if you do not take proper steps it can quickly affect all of your cattle.
