GUIDELINES ON THE CARE AND FEEDING OF YOUNG BULLS
AND BRED HEIFERS.

Heifers should be fed well until about six months into pregnancy, then removed from very rich grass and not grained.  About 2-4 weeks before due, we recommend moving them into a smaller area where they can be checked twice daily. 

If a heifer does not calve within 2-3 hours after feet are first observed, we recommend putting her in a chute and seeing if there is a need for assistance.  She may be fine, but its easier to be conservative than have a problem and loose a calf. ALL piedmontese need a high quality mineral supply with high levels of selenium.  We recommend ADM's Mormon's range minerals or the Purina high mag minerals.  These run about $30 a bag in our area.  Critical for reproductive success.

Young bulls can EITHER breed or grow unless supplemented with grain.  We recommend grain feeding to yearling bulls put with a small number of cows or heifers.  This insures they will continue to grow, and satisfy the ladies. Calves should be dehorned, tagged, tattooed and hair pulled for DNA as soon as possible.  We do ours at about age six weeks. 

We worm two to three times a year using a topical wormer such as Cydectin.  We also vaccinate calves at weaning and a second time approximately three to four weeks later.  We follow the Laura's Lean vaccination protocol. 

We select breeding bulls at weaning based on pedigree, conformation and initial ADG, then reassess again at the time calves are revaccinated.  Calves at this age must be castrated surgically since they are too large to band.  Calves that will not be kept as bulls should be banded no later than at the time of dehorning.

 

BEAVERCREEK FARM DEWY ROSE, GA AEPIED@AOL.COM

WWW.BEAVERCREEKPIEDMONTESE.COM
(706) 213-1197

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