Herd Winterization
Welcome to Open Range, I’m Susan Allen. Stay tuned because after the break I’ll check in with our field reporter, Greg Martin for the AgriBeef Minute.
I’m Greg Martin with today’s AgriBeef Minute. Winter weather is here and according to Dr. Genevieve Grammer, a veterinarian in Eastern Colorado and editorial writer for Western Livestock Journal, it’s time to winterize.
GRAMMER: It’s a little bit different as far as what kinds of needs they need for the summer versus when it starts to get colder. A lot of those same kinds of things where they still of course need nutrition and getting those sources when snow and ice become an issue.
Even basic things like water can be troublesome in the winter months. Grammer says that goes for calves as well.
GRAMMER: And that they’re able to stay warm, especially the very small calf and calves that are being born in fall and winter. Just making sure that the mother is there and able to take care of them. And if not that they have another source of getting some nutrition. Specifically of course the colostrum right away.
Culling is very important at this time of year.
GRAMMER: I really like to stress having your bulls tested and having your dams tested before the winter season and just making sure your dams, if they’re open and they have not been producing anything in the last year, year and a half...going ahead and culling them and using that money towards animals that are working for you.
I’m Greg Martin and that’s today’s AgriBeef Minute.
Thanks Greg. Don’t forget Greg will be back each Wednesday with the AgriBeef Minute. Agri Beef Co - Real Families, Great People, Exceptional Beef. I’m Susan Allen.
