Welcome to the July issue of Beef Cattle Tips.  Beef Cattle Tips is a monthly newsletter designed to remind you of timely production practices that could benefit your operation.  Items presented in this newsletter should be completed sometime this month, if it has not already been addressed.
Tips for Calving Herds:
 
  • Monitor pasture conditions for growing replacement and retained cattle.  Pasture quality usually diminishes this time of year.  Decisions of extended ownership should be based on current calf value and fall feeder cattle futures.  Replacement female weight gain should be monitored through the fall to make sure heifers are on track to reach their target weight for fall breeding.
  • Pay attention to feedstuff markets.  Many commodity feeds that are low in starch and moisture store well and purchasing commodities early can help reduce winter feed costs.  Reports of corn crop conditions and the effects of acreage and crop condition begin to influence the corn market this time of year.  Commodity feeds are greatly influenced by the corn market.
  • The heat and humidity of a typical Arkansas summer combine to make a very uncomfortable environment for beef cattle. Moderate signs of heat stress may occur when the temperature is between 80° and 90°F with the humidity ranging from 50 to 90%.
  • Heat stress may include rapid shallow breathing, profuse sweating and a decrease in milk production and feed intake. As heat stress increases, cows may show severe depression in milk yield and feed intake as body temperature elevates. In addition more significant signs of heat stress such as open mouth breathing with panting with her tongue hanging out may become evident.
 
  • Water requirements increase as the environmental temperature rises. It also is very important that cows have water in a location that is close to shade, since they will not travel great distances for water in a hot environment.
  • Water also should be clean, fresh, at approximately ground temperature.
  • Shading from direct sunlight is also very important, as this allows cows to rest in a more comfortable environment. The possible sources of shade range from trees, to portable shade cloth structures, to permanent roofed structures. Each approach has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
  • Provide a free - choice mineral through-out the hot summer months.
  • As the hot summer season drags on, check cows for body condition.
  • Vaccinate fall born heifers for brucellosis.

 

 
Forage Management Tips:

 

Fertility management
Store hay on pallets, poles or rock to avoid storage losses.
  • After third cutting of alfalfa
    • Alfalfa removes 50 lbs of K per ton of DM and 6 lbs of P per ton of DM
  • After each cutting of bermudagrass
    • Removal per ton of DM: N = 50 lbs, P = 15 lbs, and K = 40 

Weed control in pasture

  • Summer months are the time for brush weed control
  • Spray also for perennial broadleaf weeds
    • Resources for keying out species and herbicide rates can be found in:
      • MP522, pasture weed control in Arkansas
      • MP44, recommended chemicals for brush and weed control

 

Grazing management

  • Rotate pastures on a weekly basis to keep grass in a growing stage.
    • This will be worthwhile when the drought sets in during late summer. (Savings from improved grazing management = 2-3 weeks more grazing when drought hits)
  • Pick one or two bermudagrass or bahiagrass pastures to be stockpiled for fall grazing.
    • Clip or graze the stubble to about three inches tall by the end of July
  • Summer annual forages
    • Graze pearl millet at about 20-24 inches of height
    • Don't graze further down than 6 inches to avoid nitrate problem
    • Graze sorghum-sudan at about 24 inches, aim for 8-10 inches stubble

 

Hay harvest

  • Summer annual forages
    • For sorghum-sudan and pearl millet aim at 30-40 inches cutting height
    • Leave 6-8 inches of stubble to promote regrowth
  • Fertilize for the last hay cutting of summer hay and then cut and put it in the barn or cover it well. Don't plan on using it until late winter because you will be planning to grow lots of fall pasture.
    • Barn stored hay will keep through next year and longer.  (Savings from reducing hay waste with covered storage = 15% to 25% of your crop).
 

 


 

University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating.

 

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