Beef Cow Herd Calendar

Transcription

1 A L F A L F A C O U N T Y C O O P E R A T I V E E X T E N S I O N December 2013 / January Cooperative Extension News Inside this issue: Beef Cow Herd Calendar Beef Cow Calendar 1 Canola Performance Trials 3 Grain Sorghum Meeting 4 OHCE News & Notes 9 OHCE Events 10 4-H Share the Fun Results Special Point of Interest Pruning Shrubs Landscape & Maintenance Pesticide Applicators Training Tips for Giving Pets at Christmas Home Energy Credits OHCE Executive Meeting Share the Fun Results 4-H at Oakwood Mall 4-H Horse Club 4-H Dates to Remember 12 4-H Ranch Horse Show 14 This Beef Cow Herd Calendar was developed as a production practice and management guide for Oklahoma cattle producers. Local adjustments and adaption in some areas may be necessary due to differences in types of grass and cattle, amount of rainfall, length of growing season or other factor. December Fall Calving 1. Continue winter feeding program. Vaccinate cows 30 days before breeding season with Leptospira/ Campylobacter bacterins, IBR, BVD, PI3 BRSV vaccine depending on the local veterinarian s recommendations. 2. Castrate, dehorn, implant, and vaccinate new calves with 7-way Clostridial bacterin and Intranasal IBR, PI3 BRSV vaccine. Don t implant replacement heifers. 3. Treat cows for internal parasites and lice. If needed. 4. For wheat or other small grain pasture: a) Limit-graze cows for protein needs. b) Provide a special area for calves to creep graze. 5. Watch the herd continuously for health problems. Pay particular attention to cattle grazing fescue for signs of fescue foot. 6. Provide OSU Silver creep for calves. Spring Calving 1. Continue feeding program which was begun in October and November. 2. Limit-graze dry cows on fescue three to four days per week. 3. Watch the herd continuously for health problems. Pay particular attention to those grazing fescue for signs of fescue foot. 4. Continue to monitor herd for lice infestation. Implement control program as needed. 5. Indentify the purebred herds and test stations at which you want to look for herd sires. Check sale dates and

2 Page 2 Continued from page one review performance criteria to use. January Fall Calving 1. If a high percentage of cows return to heat after 40 days of breeding, have bulls rechecked for fertility and cows and bulls examined for reproductive diseases by a veterinarian. Change bulls if necessary, and re-evaluate the nutrition program. 2. Assign yearling bulls 15 to 20 cows, two and three-year old 20 to 25, and aged bulls 25 to Continue supplemental feeding of bulls, cows, and calves. If small grain pasture is available, adjust supplemental feeding to requirements of cows. Spring Calving 1. Continue supplemental feeding of pregnant females, so that they will be in good condition at calving. 2. Check first calf heifers (due to calve) several times daily for possible calving difficulties. 3. Feed in evening to encourage daytime calving. 4. Weigh yearling heifers, adjust weights, and calculate ratios. Base selection on both weaning and yearling information. Also select for good disposition and temperament, sound feet and legs, and dam s udder structure. 5. Purebred breeders should send performance data to the national breed association office. General Recommendations: 1. Water is as important in the winter as it is in the summer. Keep tanks or other water supplies open by breaking ice at least daily or by using a heater or freeze-proof stock tanks. 2. Provide free choice mineral mix year around (a commercial mix or one part salt and one part dicalcium phosphate). 3. When grass tetany is a problem on fescue or small grain pastures, supplement with one and a half to two ounces of magnesium oxide per cow daily in mineral mix. 4. Use small grain pasture efficiently. Limit-graze cows to meet protein needs or to stretch limited dry pasture of hay. 5. Plan the financial management program for the year, including cash flow and deadlines for payment of interest and taxes. Set both yearly and long-term ranch goals.

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4 Page 4 Grain Sorghum Meeting Thursday, January 30th, :00 pm (Noon) Exhibit Building Fairgrounds Cherokee, OK Headworm Decision Tool Dr. Tom Royer, OCES, IPM Coordinator 2013 Results & Herbicide Update Rick Kochenower, OCES Area Agronomist Sorghum Soil Fertility Dr. Brian Arnall, OCES Nutrient Management Specialist Check Off Program Update Sue Ann Clauden, USCP Lunch will be provided; Please RSVP by January 27th. For more information call the Cooperative Extension Service at

5 Page 5 Pruning Shrubs Recently, there have been a number of calls from gardeners wanting to cut back shrubs. Though light pruning and removal of dead wood are fine this time of year, severe pruning should be left until spring. Keep in mind that even light pruning of springblooming shrubs such as lilac and forsythia will reduce flowers for next year. We normally recommended that springbloomers be pruned after flowering. Shrubs differ in how severely they can be cut back. Junipers do not break bud from within the plant to keep the full shape. Overgrown junipers should be removed. On the other hand, there are certain shrubs that can be pruned back severely during the spring. Rejuvenation is the most sever type of pruning and may be used on multi-stem shrubs that have become too large with too many old branches to justify saving the younger canes. All stems are cut back to 3-5 inch stubs. This works well for spirea, forsythia, pyracantha, ninebark, russian almond, little mock orange, shrub roses, and flowering quince. Just remember that spring is the correct time to do this, not now. Landscape and Maintenance December January Continue mowing coolseason lawns on a regular basis. (F-6420) Remove leaves from coolseason grasses or mow with a mulching mower. (F- 6420) Continue to control broadleaf weeds in well established warm or cool-season lawns with a post-emergent broadleaf weed killer. (F-6421) Irrigate all plantings at least 24 hours before hardfreezing weather if soil is dry. (F-6404) Review the year s schedule and make plans for next year s improvements. If precipitation has been deficient (1" of snow = ~ 1/10" of water), water lawns, trees, and shrubs, especially broadleaf and narrowleaf evergreens. Double check moisture in protected or raised planters. Check on supplies of pesticides. Secure a copy of current recommendations and post them in a convenient place. Dilution and quantity tables would also be useful. If you did not treat young pines for tip borers in November, do so before March. Check that gardening tools and equipment are in good repair sharpen, paint, and repair mowers, edgers, sprayers, and dusters. Inspect your irrigation system and replace worn or broken parts. Control overwintering insects on deciduous trees or shrubs with dormant oil sprays applied when the temperature is above 40 o F in late fall and winter. Do not use "dormant" oils on evergreens. (F-7306) A product containing glyphosate plus a broadleaf herbicide can be used on dormant bermuda in January or February when temperatures are above 50 o F for winter weed control. (F- 6421)

6 Page 6 Drilling Mud & Land Applications The Oil and Gas boom has generated jobs and revenue for rural Oklahoma and especially. This industry has also generated waste from the drilling process that must be disposed. Whether or not application of Drilling Mud to agricultural land will have any long term effects on production depends on many factors. The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service has produced a new fact sheet titled An Introduction to the Land Application of Drilling Mud in Oklahoma WREC 102. This fact sheet will address the various types of Drilling Mud such as: Water-based Mud (WBM) and Oil-based Mud (OBM). For a copy of fact sheet WREC 102 and the Guidelines for applying Drilling Mud according to the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, stop by the Extension Office. Producers should also consult with their Crop Insurance provider and the FSA on CRP land before application of any Drilling Mud. Private Pesticide Applicator License & Renewal Training January 14, 2014, 1:00 PM Fairgrounds Cherokee, Oklahoma Private Pesticide Applicator licenses are required by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Food & Forestry (ODAFF) for the purpose of purchasing and using Restricted Use pesticides on their operations or personal property. The Private Applicator License is valid in 5 year blocks. Current Licenses will be invalid December 31, January 1, 2014 will begin a new 5 year cycle for this license. This training is designed to provide Agriculture producers and other individuals with the knowledge and understanding of the requirements for the Private Applicator License. Individuals will be able to purchase the Private Applicator packet on site or prior to the training at the Alfalfa County OSU Extension Office for $15.00 each. To assure ample testing packets are available on site and to reserve your spot, contact the Alfalfa County OSU Extension office at