Many factors are involved in the success of the beef cattle enterprise, including key management components that all have an affect on the bottom line through facilitating cost control or enhancing revenue, or both. Following are some timely key management items to focus on to “make the most” of your efforts.

Forage and nutritional management

The shorter days and cooler nights of fall signal that cool-season forage growth will be declining soon. Diligent grazing management through strip-grazing is a good way to stretch this precious commodity. Moving the fence as frequently as possible will allow more efficient utilization. Be careful not to allow access to too much area at one time. 

If you are unsure if your forage allowance is adequate, provide an average- or poorer-quality bale of hay for the cattle to access. If the cattle are eating a great deal of hay, then you probably need to expand your forage allowance.  

Stockpiled forages are an important ingredient to minimizing hay needs. Managing them carefully will allow for maximum grazing while minimizing dependence on stored feeds. Evaluate winter feed and forage supplies and options, including forage tests, to determine the nutritional content of hay on hand.

Genetics

With calf weaning weights and cow herd pregnancy checks conducted, take time to objectively assess your herd’s areas of strength, as well as those areas that could be improved. 

Utilize the expected progeny differences (EPD) values of your previous and current herd sires to establish benchmarks for the genetic merit of new bulls you want to bring in. Identify replacement heifers. Utilize available tools including genetics, dam performance, individual performance, and phenotype. Consider having your veterinarian perform a reproductive tract score exam and pelvic measurements in all heifers. 

Restrict replacement heifer pool to those born early (first 25 days) in a defined calving season.

Calf crop marketing

October signals the peak month of calf marketing. Cow-calf producers should focus on preconditioning and grouping calves to increase market price. Even during this time of strong calf prices, adding value through weaning and a documented health plan pays dividends. 

Given the relatively small herd sizes of cow-calf operations in the region, much success has been realized from cooperation among local producers, cattlemen’s and breed associations, departments of agriculture, and livestock markets to establish weaning and health verification programs, and pooling cattle into load lots. Contact your local Extension office for opportunities in your area.