Give thanks this holiday for Kentucky’s 85,000 farm families

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kentucky farmers grow and raise a wide variety of food commodities and food products that are part of a nutritious diet. In this time of Thanksgiving, remember to thank at least one of Kentucky’s more than 85,000 farm families for providing a healthy, abundant food supply.

Timely Tips from Dr. Roy Burris, UK Beef Specialist

Spring-Calving Herd.Culling decisions should be made prior to winter feeding for best use of feed resources. Consider open, poor-producing and aged cows as candidates for culling.

Evaluate body condition of cows after weaning their calves.  Sort thin (less than CS5) cows away from the cow herd and feed to improve their condition. Two and three-year olds may need extra attention now.

Dry cows in good condition can use crop residues and lower quality hay now (but don’t let them lose any more body condition). Save higher quality feed until calving time. Keep a good mineral supplement with vitamin A available.

Replacement heifers require attention during the winter, too. Weaned heifer calves should gain at an adequate rate to attain their “target” breeding weight (2/3 of their mature weight) by May 1. If you need to replace cows, consider buying bred heifers in some of the Kentucky Certified Replacement Heifer sales which are being held across the state this month.

A post-weaning feeding period will allow you to put rapid, economical gains on weaned calves, keep them through the fall “runs” and allow you to participate in Kentucky CPH-45 sales. Consider this health and marketing program that is designed for producers who are doing a good job of producing high quality feeder calves. 

Fall-Calving Herd.Continue to watch fall-calving cows this month.  Catch up on processing of calves including identification, castration and vaccinations.

Vaccinate the cows while they are open and prior to the breeding season.  Move cows to accumulated pasture or increase feed now.

Start the breeding season about Nov. 25 for calving to begin in September 2012.  If you are using AI and/or estrous synchronization, get your supplies together now. Don’t forget Breeding Soundness Evaluations (BSE) on your bulls. Make final selection of replacement heifers now.

Hay

Have your hay supply analyzed for nutritive quality and estimate the amount of supplementation needed.  Consider purchasing feed now. 

Don’t waste your feed resources.  Avoid excessive mud in the feeding area.  Hay feeding areas can be constructed by putting rock on geotextile fabric.  Feed those large round bales in hay “rings” to avoid waste.

This is also a good time to freeze-brand bred yearling heifers and additions to the breeding herd.

Graze alfalfa this month after a “freeze-down” (24 degrees for a few hours).

Upcoming dates of interest

Nov. 28:“Coammon Equine Parasites & A New Strategic Approach to Deworming” talk by Dr. Mary Rossano, UK Equine Professor, and information about the upcoming 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey, 7 p.m., Grant County Extension Office.

Dec, 5: 4-H Council meeting, noon, Carroll County Extension Office.

Dec. 6:Legislative breakfast, 8-9 a.m., Carroll County Extension Office.

Dec. 6:Kentucky State Police Farmer Outreach Program, 5:30 p.m., Carroll County Extension Office.

Dec. 7:Agricultural Development Council meeting, 7 p.m., Carroll County Extension Office.

Christin Herbst is the Carroll County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. Call her at (502) 732-7030 or send e-mail to Christin.Herbst@uky.edu.