June cattle production reminders

Next to calving season, mid-summer may be the busiest time of the year for a cattle producer. Unfortunately, there’s also hay and fescue seed that demand a farmer’s time so the cattle may be a little neglected. Here are a few reminders of things you might do.

- Check the cows, calves, bulls and yearlings for weepy, weak eyes as pink eye could be starting to show up. Early detection, treatment and isolation may make you more money than going to the hay field.

- Evaluate your herd’s fly status. Is your initial fly control method still working? If not, put your supplemental plan in play.

- A good time to deworm nursing calves is in late June-early July.

- Plan to pull bulls from the cows that have calved since January 1. July 20 is a good target “pull” date. This will help bunch next year’s calf crop and prevent your heifer calves from getting bred.

Remember that cattle prices being favorable, tending to the little things makes economic sense.

Source: Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension

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