Beef Buzz News
Cattle Producers Should Review Records Before Fall Calving Says Dr. Rosslyn Biggs
Thu, 07 Oct 2021 21:15:24 CDT
As fair season begins to wrap up in Oklahoma, fall calving season is set to begin. This year, many folks are looking forward to cooler temperatures and much-needed rain in Oklahoma. For cattle producers, it is always an exciting, and sometimes scary, time as they welcome a new generation of calves into the world.
Rosslyn Biggs, director of continuing education for the College of Veterinary Medicine and beef cattle specialist for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service at Oklahoma State University, told KC Sheperd, associate farm director for Radio Oklahoma Ag Network, that she is looking forward to fall.
"It is a busy time of year, especially if you have kids," Biggs said. "Making those early preparations well in advance is the way to go."
The best place to start prepping for fall calving is at the most basic level, according to Biggs, starting with record reviews.
"I need to do some record reviews to know when I am expecting calves," Biggs said. "I need to be able to keep those records going forward. I want to know: did she have a heifer calf, did she have a bull calve or did she have twins. I want to be able to look back on that information and align that so I can make some adjustments."
After producers have refreshed themselves with last year's fall-calving records and know what to expect when they are expecting, the next step is to prepare to capture this year's data, Biggs said. Once producers are prepared with pen and paper, they should make sure they have supplies and equipment ready to roll, she added.
"I want to make sure that I have got the pens ready to go," Biggs said. "I have got the equipment ready to go, I have got those facilities set, making any needed repairs before it is two-in-the-morning, and you are trying to get that heifer in there and the gates do not work or we cannot get her loaded to go somewhere for additional care."
Biggs said there are other simple changes producers can make so their lives are a little bit easier.
"Nobody like those (early morning) calls - nor do I want that shift of having to check heifers in the middle of the night," Biggs said. "We did research, right here at OSU, about feeding in the evenings. I would encourage folks to look at that and change those feeding patterns - because that will increase calving during daylight hours."
Another tip Biggs gave is to have a good relationship with your veterinarian, working to build it in advance of any emergencies. Recently, Biggs told RON about how having a good, working relationship with your veterinarian is the first step in ensuring herd health. Catch up with that story here.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more from KC Sheperd and Rosslyn Biggs as they talk about the 2021 fall-calving season.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Listen to KC's conversation with Dr. Biggs here.
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