By Renita Marshall DVM


During the fall months, cattle producers and ranchers should monitor the fall-calving heifers and cows closely. At this time, plan for fall branding, weaning, pregnancy checking, and marketing. Complete soil testing to determine amount of nutrients available in the soil. After you have gotten the results from your soil testing, you need to lime your pastures and ryegrass fields as indicated on soil test reports. It is also a good practice to analyze hay samples.

At this time of the year, it becomes critical to provide adequate, sanitary water supply for all cattle. Likewise, begin preparing for winter by purchasing all or part of winter feeding supplies, servicing equipment, and evaluating your winter feeding plan. Make sure to make plans for severe weather conditions.

Below is a partial list of actions that livestock owners should be aware of during the fall. Contact your herd veterinarian for further recommendations that cover every concern.

Starting this month, producers and ranchers should:

• continue fall-calving by tagging, recording, watching bred heifers
• remove fly control tags
• wean Spring-born calves
• give booster vaccines
• dehorn and castrate calves
• vaccinate heifers for brucellosis
• sort out heifers for replacement
• sell or retain Spring calves
• start a preconditioning program for the calves that are to be retained
• conduct pregnancy checks
• evaluate the condition of Spring-bred cows
• check the teeth of older cattle (Remember: cows with poor teeth don't maintain their weight well)
• deworm, defluke, and vaccinate the cattle herd for respiratory complex, vibriosis, leptospirosis or according to a plan recommended by the herd veterinarian
• maintain a mineral program and evaluate ryegrass fields and watch for fall worms