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Last week in this column I mentioned the initial offering of online courses tailored to the needs of newer, smaller landowners. This week I want to talk about another tool from the Texas AgriLife Extension Service to assist newer beef cattle producers in planning the annual to-do list for their operation.

The Beef Herd Health Management Calendar is an interactive compact disk-based program that producers can use to generate and print management calendars for their operation, based on their own typical calving seasons.

The program breaks apart a typical year in the operation of a cow-calf enterprise into five major segments: pre-calving, calving, post-calving, pre-breeding and breeding. It also provides tips for the appropriate time to conduct animal husbandry practices based upon the optimal time frame for each to be conducted in your own operation.

For example: a cow herd that calves from February to April would now be transitioning into the calving timeframe, where closer observation of the herd should be initiated so that early assistance with any calving problems (dystocia) can be provided to help minimize the risk of cow and/or calf loss at birth. Newborn calves during this time frame should be watched closely to ensure they can nurse without assistance and have received the colostrum (first milk loaded with immune protecting white blood cells) from their mother shortly after birth.

The program details husbandry practices for all segments of the cow herd: heifers, mature cows, bulls, nursing calves and weaned calves. The program allows a producer to select a calving interval (up to three months at a time) and then print out a management calendar for that timeframe. Producers who manage both spring and fall calving herds in their operations can print out a separate management calendar for each group.

This tool will prove less useful for those operators who leave the bulls with their cows all year long and do not have defined calving seasons. Another limit to the program is that it provides recommendations for the minimum vaccines needed in the herd at each time during the year when vaccinations are suggested. However, a producer could work with his personal veterinarian to customize the vaccination list for each suggested vaccination event in order to address local health needs and concerns.

One bonus that people receive with the compact disk is a computerized library of videos and publications that complement the topics addressed in the management calendar. In keeping with the calving example, the program has a video that walks a producer through the steps in visually evaluating a cow as she approaches calving and also provides accompanying publications on recognizing and handling calving difficulties.

Persons interested in purchasing this computer program, which costs $98 (plus tax and shipping), are encouraged to view a copy of a management calendar print out for a February to April 2008 calving season, which can be found at http://tceblogs.tamu.edu/mt/smith/. The program can be ordered by visiting http://tceboostore.org and searching for publication SP-289 (or by calling 888-900-2577).

Finally, while we are on the topic of February to April calving, this is a critical time of the year in relation to your herd’s mineral program, especially if your cows are going to calve in the near future.

Cows grazing the typical small grain and ryegrass winter pastures in East Texas can experience a physiological condition known as grass tetany. This occurs when the cow’s blood magnesium levels get too low and is often seen in late gestation to early lactation. Cool, cloudy weather conditions also seem to be a predisposition to the disorder occurring in the cow herd. Soils low in magnesium and phosphorous, but high in nitrogen and potassium also seem to be a factor in the disorder. Make sure that your mineral contains at least 8 to 10 percent magnesium and that cattle do not run out of mineral while grazing these forages.

Early signs of the disorder include hyperactivity, muscle twitches, ear twitches and staggering. Affected cattle may need to be treated by a veterinarian quickly or they may lie down, exhibit seizures and die in a short period of time.

Brian Triplett is the Smith County Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources. He can be reached at 903-590-2980 or via e-mail at b-triplett@tamu.edu.