The Cow/Calf Planner

Author: Co-Authors:
Dr. Ryon Walker, University of Minnesota Dr. Cliff Lamb, University of Minnesota
Dr. Bethany Lovaas, University of Minnesota
Lori Weddle-Schott, University of Minnesota

The Cow/Calf Planner is a Cow/Calf Management Calendar that offers timely information and suggestions on
managing your herd utilizing five different management categories.

CALVING - Calving is a critical time of year that requires equipment, supplies, labor and facility preparations. This calendar prepares
you for the calving season and offers suggestions to manage your calf crop.

BREEDING - Reproduction is one of the most important economical traits in the beef industry. Breeding season success is a reflection
of your herd management practices of the previous year. This calendar helps you prepare and manage for the breeding season and offers
tips on breeding season success.

MANAGEMENT - Management plays a large role in all aspects of an operation

and greatly impacts economics. This calendar provides strategies for managing
areas of an operation that can easily be over-looked and have major impacts on
your economic returns and production goals.

NUTRITION - Nutrition impacts reproduction, lactation and performance in a herd. Nutrition is an area of management that should be
monitored year round. This calendar includes suggestions to ensure that your cows, replacement heifers, bulls and calves are conditioned
to exceed your management expectations.

HEALTH - Health, along with nutrition, can have a major impact on reproduction, lactation and performance in a herd and greatly
affect carcass quality. This calendar provides a monthly schedule for vaccinating your herd and suggestions for monitoring herd health.

This program offers two work-sheets: Cow/Calf Planner Worksheet provides you topics under each category relevant to
the time of year and gives you pertinent information for each topic by touching the cell for that topic where a window will
appear. The Cow/Calf Planner Print Sheet allows you to print each calendar month with all the pertinent information for
each topic.
 University of Minnesota Beef Team
The Cow/Calf Planner

CALVING BREEDING MANAGEMENT NUTRITION HEALTH

January
Monitor winter feeding

Pre-calving body conditioning

of cattle

Consultation with local

Begin calving area preparation Herd bull conditioning veterinarian

Begin lining up calving season Monitor replacement heifer Replenish calving supply
help Facility maintenance performance equipment

February
Schedule calving help

Calving area preparation

Sort & monitor heifers close to Monitor your replacement Navel dip newborns & aid
calving heifers nursing if necessary

Record-keeping and Monitor herd bull body

Record individual calving data Bull breeding soundness exams production data mgmt conditions Herd bull vacinations

March
Sort springing heifers to Estimate number of bulls
calving area needed for breeding season

Begin monitoring cows close to Navel dip newborns & aid

calving Bull breeding soundness exams nursing if necessary

Monitor newborn calves for

Rotate calvers Replace in-fertile bulls Grazing first-calf heifers sickness

Continue recording individual Re-manage poor conditioned Monitor cows for retained
calving data Plan for the breeding season cows & heifers placentas
 University of Minnesota Beef Team
The Cow/Calf Planner

CALVING BREEDING MANAGEMENT NUTRITION HEALTH

April

Female tract scoring and Monitor conditions of cows

pelvic measurements and first-calf heifers

Monitor your heifer and cow Second culling on replacement

cyclicity status heifers Herd bull nutrition

Wrap up the calving season Breeding season preparations Schedule breeding help Summer grazing strategies Monitor health of calves

May

Plan help for summer cow/calf

working

Begin breeding of your Monitor bull breeding in heifer Inventory cow/calf working
Wrap up the calving season replacement heifers pasture supplies

Check status of remaining Natural service vs AI &

cows left to calve estrous synchronization Monitor for bull injuries Summer Cow/Calf working

June

Optional breeding on pregnant

cows

Begin the regular breeding Monitor performance of Evaluate your breeding

season breeding bulls w/ cows pastures

Re-evaluate management of Begin to plan help for the hay

leftover pregnant cows Turning bulls out after AI Monitor for bull injuries season Summer cow/calf working
 University of Minnesota Beef Team
The Cow/Calf Planner

CALVING BREEDING MANAGEMENT NUTRITION HEALTH

July
Work closely with the weather
man

Monitor grazing pasture

resources

Optional AI pregnancy Monitor calf nutrition and

determination body condition

Remove bulls from heifer

breeding pasture Monitor cow body condition Summer cow/calf working

August

Plan for fall pregnancy

determination

Remove bulls from the main

breeding pasture Begin calf weaning schedule Summer cow/calf working

September

Bulls should be pulled from Body condition cows and first-

the breeding pastures calf heifers

Fall pregnancy determination Weaning time Pre-weaning creep feeding

 Univeristy of Minnesota Beef Team
The Cow/Calf Planner

CALVING BREEDING MANAGEMENT NUTRITION HEALTH

October Weaning time

Manage your heifer calves

Selection criteria/heifers Pre-weaning creep feeding

Manage your late bred and Body condition cows and first-
open cows calf heifers

Plan your replacement heifer

Fall pregnancy determination Manage cull cows winter feeding

November
Prepare for winter feeding
needs

Manage cull cows

Re-locate cows for winter

Compare calf markets and

market your calves

December

Monitor replacement heifer

performance

Vacation time and repair time Monitor herd bull conditioning