Updated: January 19, 2023

Beef Herd Management

Good herd management practices are imperative for ensuring profitability and viability of the beef operation.  Below are some resources related to general herd management and herd health management.

Articles and Factsheets
  • Beef Herd

    Record Keeping for the Beef Herd

  • Beef cattle and calves are grazing

    How to Evaluate Animal Performance in the Cow-Calf Herd

  • Cattle feeding

    Managing Bloat in Pastured Cattle

Videos

Wintering Cows and Bulls
Presentation Length: 29:59  |  Date: December 2022
Description: In this presentation, University of Maryland Extension Educator, Jeff Semler, discusses strategies for ensuring animals remain healthy and productive throughout the winter.


Benchmarking for Beef Herd Success
Presentation Length: 22:36  |  Date: November 2022
Description: In this presentation University of Maryland Extension Specialist Dr. Sarah Potts discusses how benchmarks can be used to improve the cow-calf herd and how to get started using benchmarks.

 

Benchmarking for Success of the Cow-Calf Herd
Video Length: 26:49  |  Date: January 11, 2023
Speaker: Sarah Potts, Ph.D.
Description: Benchmarks can be valuable tools to help producers assess current animal performance and monitor progress toward improving overall herd productivity. This webinar will discuss the benefits of using benchmarks in beef cattle production and describe how to use some of the most informative benchmarks to improve the cow-calf operation.

Spring Stocker Recap: Successes and Lessons Learned
Presentation Length: 52:58  |  Date: September 2022
Description: In this presentation, University of Maryland Extension Agent, Charlie Sasscer, discusses his experience with managing stocker cattle. Charlie shares how he got started raising stocker cattle and how he managed them throughout the 2022 season.

Managing Heat Stress in Your Cattle
Length: 37:08
Presenter: Sarah Potts, Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Dairy and Beef
Description: In this webinar, University of Maryland Extension Specialist Dr. Sarah Potts discusses the impacts of heat stress on cattle, how to recognize it, and ways to reduce its effect on cattle.

Winter Management Strategies for Beef Cattle
Length: 18:00    |  Date: December December 2, 2021
Presenter: Racheal Slattery, Coordinator, University of Maryland Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
Description: In this webinar, Racheal Slattery in the University of Maryland Department of Animal and Avian Sciences discusses tips and strategies for keeping the beef healthy and productive throughout the winter.

Cull for the Future of Your Herd
Length: 16:56
Presenter: Racheal Slattery, ANSC's Beef and Dairy Extension Coordinator
Description: In this webinar, Racheal Slattery, Extension Coordinator in the Department of Animal Science, discusses the importance of having a sound culling strategy for the cow-calf herd.

To deworm or not to deworm?
Length: 41:00  Date: March 2022
Presenter: Dr. Sarah Potts, UMD Extension Specialist, Beef and Dairy
Description: During this video, we discuss the components of an intestinal parasite management program and provide recommendations for judicious deworming use in beef cattle herds.  Slides are available upon request.  Please contact Sarah Potts (sbpotts@umd.edu).

Does your deworming program need a tune-up?
Length: 46:56    Date: April, 2021
Presenter: Dr. Sarah Potts, UMD Extension Specialist, Beef and Dairy
Description:  This recording provides an overview of current recommendations for deworming cattle and details on how to assess the efficacy of the deworming program. Slides are available upon request.  Please contact Sarah Potts (sbpotts@umd.edu).

Infographics