Beef cattle calendar guideline

Beef cattle calendar guideline
JANUARY
End of bulling for mature cows on 31 January
De- worm all stock above six months against liverfluke in problem areas
De –worm against roundworms in badly affected properties
Pay attention to fly control
Weekly dipping to control ticks particularly brown ear tick adults
Dipping may be reduced if cattle have been vaccinated against tick borne diseases
Tick borne diseases are a menace at this time particularly theileriosis (January disease)
Cattle to be on phosphate/salt supplementation

February
Pregnancy diagnosis for heifers
Weaning of calves
Vaccinate weaners and yearling against contagious abortion and blackleg
Booster vaccinate yearling against blackleg at 18 months of age
Continue fly control
Tick control paying particular attention to brown ear ticks
Tick borne diseases are major menace as well as lumpy skin disease, rift valley fever, blue-tongue and other vector borne diseases
Provide cattle with phosphate/salt supplement

March
Pregnancy diagnosis on mature cows
Cull non-pregnant heifers
Vaccinate young stock (18months of age)against blackleg
Continue fly control in problem areas
April
Breeding soundness examination for bulls should be carried out
Cull non- pregnant mature cows and poor performers
Deworm all young stock and adults against roundworm
Begin protein supplementation and start using of crop residues eg groundnut hay
May
Continue with activities as in April
May reduce dipping frequency (fortnightly to monthly ) depending on tick challenge

June
Reduced dipping frequency (fortnightly to monthly ) depending on challenge
Vaccinate against tick borne diseases (theileriosis, red water, gall-sickness, heart-water). Consult your govt vet on the use of these vaccines in your area. (animals can be vaccinated using the vaccines from May to October as long as they are above 3 months of age)
Protein supplementation and usage of crop residues

July
Calving for heifers starts to implement livestock identification trust tagging for calves
Control brown ear tick nymphs which become active until September
Protein and phosphate supplementation and usage of crop residues

August
Calving for mature cows starts so implement identification tagging for calves
Vaccinate breeding bulls against vibriosis and leptospirosis
Protein and phosphate supplementation and usage of crop residues

September
Dehorn calves at one month of age
Vaccinate cows and heifers against vibriosis and leptospirosis
Continue protein and phosphate supplementation. Do not forget draught animals which should be fed to improve condition in preparation for tillage
Plant toxicity is expected at this time of the year take precautionary measures eg over grazed pasture are a great risk for plant toxicity
Beware of calf scours in new born calves (birth to 3 months)

October
Start bulling of heifers
Castrate calves using burdizzo at three months or surgical at 1 month
Cull cows for old age before bulling
Vaccinate against vector-borne diseases eg lumpy skin disease, rift valley fever, stiff-sickness, blue tongue
Deworm all stock over 6 months against liverfluke, paramphistomes and round worms
Continue protein supplementation. Do not forget draught animals which should be fed to improve condition in preparation for tillage
Watch out for bont legged and red legged ticks under the tail
Plant toxicity is expected at this time of the year take precautionary measures

November
Start bulling of mature cows
Remove protein supplementation and replace with phosphate/salt supplement in summer
Fly control in problem areas

December
Ticks and tick borne diseases are on the increase intensity tick control (weekly dipping recommended depending on challenge)
Stop bulling of heifers on 15 December
Fly control in problem areas
Phosphate/salt supplementation