Herd health management for beef cow/calf operations

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the components of a herd health program for beef cow/calf herds. The paper will be directed at improving and maintaining optimal reproductive efficiency in the beef cow and management of the calves up to weaning.

There are four components of a beef herd health program. These components are: 1) prebreeding, 2) pregnancy diagnosis and weaning of calves, 3) winter feeding mangement, and 4) precalving and calving. These are the primary times that the herd health veterinarian will want to visit the ranch.