•Growers need to keep in mind about the quality of bermudagrass and bahia. The forage quality declines rapidly from now to frost. Keep an eye on heifers and supplement as needed.
• Take stock of your hay supply so additional cuttings or purchases can be made. (Send samples in for analysis.)
• Keep a close check on supplemental feed prices. Corn and byproduct feeds such as cottonseed can usually be bought cheaper in the fall.
• Plan where winter grazing will be overseeded into pastures. Graze these areas close or clip prior to planting.
If you are spring calving then consider the following:
• Wean heifers and select replacements based on weaning weights. Use weights to project needed gain between now and breeding (March). Wean calves depending on pasture conditions and marketing plans.
• Consider options for selling weaned calves, back-grounding or maintaining ownership through the feedlot.
• Deworm calves at weaning.
• Separate cull cows at weaning.
• For late calves (weaning in late Oct. or Nov.), consider creep feeding and vaccination for respiratory diseases 45 days prior to weaning.
• Cull open and poor-producing cows after weaning.
If you are fall calving then consider the following:
• Move heavy-springing heifers to clean pastures where they can be checked 2-3 times daily.
• Establish an ID system and tag calves at birth.
• Gather and clean your calving supplies. Be ready to assist with calving difficulties and to castrate, implant and deworm calves at birth.
• Feed requirements increase 10-15% during the last 30-45 days prior to calving (about 1 lb of extra TDN per day). On fall pastures, cows may need a small amount of supplemental feed.