You have several options as far as feed is concerned. First off, I have found it beneficial to creep feed about 2 weeks prior to weaning. In my opinion, this eases the transition from milk to feed and may make this period less stressful. A good product is Producers Creep Pellet. Once you wean these calves, you can continue using this product. However, it will need to be hand-fed rather than free-choice. You can feed up to 1% of body weight along with good quality hay or pasture. If you anticipate health problems or have experienced them in the past, it may be a good idea to use our Stocker Starter which is medicated with oxytetracycline. In the event you require a free-choice feed, our Cattle Pellet 1.5 (contains intake limiters) or our Beefmaker (no limiters-pellet available bulk only) work very well. Also, it is a good idea to keep a mineral available. Our Special Pasture Mineral or Grass Gainer C-2800 (2800 g/ton chlortetracycline) would be my two recommendations. Proper vaccination will require several products. 1. 8-way clostridial preferably with Somnus. Vision 8 HS is a good product. You will give 2cc and 2-4 weeks later give another 2cc. 2. Respiratory vaccine containing PI3, BRSV, IBR and BVD. Most require a 2cc injection with a 2cc booster given 2-4 weeks later. Cattlemaster and Prism are two respiratory products. You can get killed, killed and modified live or modified live. As far as immunity is concerned these can be considered good, better, best respectively. The modified live products must be mixed and used promptly. Also, it is not advisable to use these products in cows. The killed vaccines may be kept refrigerated as long as it is not contaminated by a dirty needle. 3. Pasteurella is another suggested vaccine. The vaccines for Pasteurella contain Pasteurella hemolytica. Another option is a product called Titanium 5 +PHM Bacl. This contains all your respiratory vaccines (BVD, BRSV, PI3 and IBR) as well as Pasteurella hemolytica and multocida.

be the best way to go. It contains 20% protein with a high energy content that is limited with 20% salt. It also contains a high level of minerals and vitamins. They should consume 3-5 pounds per head per day depending on body size. In the case that forage is going to be limited, then our Cattle Pellet 1.5 may be a better choice. They will still need some forage. They should consume approximately 1 1/2 % of bodyweight. This pellet is medicated with

Spring comes warmer weather, green grass and horn flies. Horn flies will begin to emerge when the average daily temperature reaches 65 F for two weeks. According to USDA, two adult horn flies can produce over 3.3 million adult horn flies over an eight week period. Each horn fly will bite a cow and suck blood about 20 times per day. Untreated, there can easily be 1,000 to 4,000 flies per cow. That could mean 80,000 bites per cow per day. USDA estimates the horn fly costs the cattle industry $730 million. Horn flies will decrease grazing time resulting in 20% less milk produced and decrease weaning weights by 13 to 14 pounds. Average daily gain of growing cattle may be 0.25 to 0.5 pounds lower when horn flies are not controlled. To obtain maximum control, it is best to start a program prior to emergence. So the best time to start is now. There are several control methods including ear tags, sprays, pour-ons and dusts that are somewhat effective depending on the level of resistance. Another tool that is available to us is IGR. IGR is an insect growth regulator that passes through the animal and into the manure where horn flies lay their eggs. It breaks the life cycle by preventing horn fly pupae from developing into adult flies. Producers manufactures two mineral products containing IGR. Grass Gainer C2800 + IGR is designed for growing cattle and Stress Aid + IGR is for mature cattle. Give us a call or stop by for assistance in developing a fly control program that will work for you.