Beef producers with fall calving cows need to prepare the herd for the upcoming breeding season.

Having breeding soundness exams performed on bulls is an important management practice that should not be overlooked. While a breeding soundness exam will not guarantee a successful breeding season, ensuring the bull is reproductively sound prior to turn out will go a long way toward preventing a disappointing calf crop due to an extended or nonexistent calving season. Producers observing a large percentage of cows cycling after the first 40 days of the breeding season should consider reevaluating the bull for reproductive soundness or injury.

Producers should also consider vaccinating cows, replacement heifers and bulls for IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV, Lepto (5-way) and Vibrio 30 days prior to the breeding season. Pre-breeding is also a good time to de-worm cattle if they have not been treated earlier in the fall. Contact your veterinarian for specific vaccination and de-worming recommendations for your area.

Beef cows reach peak milk production approximately 60 days after giving birth, so fall-calving cows are entering the period of peak nutrient demand. Lactation can increase energy and protein requirements by 30 to 50 percent depending on milk production potential of the cow. Mature cows grazing stockpiled fescue or winter annuals may maintain weight; however, monitor young cows to ensure a body condition score of 5 is maintained entering the breeding season. If the last two ribs are visible on a cow prior to breeding, consider supplementation to increase body condition score and improve reproductive success.

Late fall is also a good time for pasture improvement. Existing pastures should be fertilized with phosphorus and potash to soil test recommendations. Fall pasture management can improve the success of spring frost seeding in two ways. First, grazing fall pastures short will minimize residue and improve seed-to-soil contact. Second, for soils with pH below 6.0, fall lime application will improve legume establishment. Establishment of legumes in pastures not only improves forage quality but also provides nitrogen to pasture grasses.

Justin Sexten, 618-242-9310, sexten@uiuc.edu
Date: 11/10/2005