Health Management Calendar for Elk

                      by Glen Zebarth, DBM





JANUARY-FEBRUARY 



- Whole herd test for TB

- Worm all animals when in chute, using appropriate wormer based on fecal test, 

   and past parasite problems in herd.  Worm for both external & internal parasites. 

- Vaccinate for Lepto; 8-way Clostridial; tetanus toxoid



MARCH - APRIL



- Assure high level of nutrition for calves and bulls

- Record button casting dates of bulls

- Assure adequate exercise and nutrition for cows

- If indicated, vaccinate cows for neonatal calf diseases



MAY-JUNE



- Udder check cows and group close calving cows

- Observe for calving difficulties, orphan calves, scours in calves 

- Tag new born calves

- Velvet bulls

- Weigh and worm bulls

- Increasing nutrition for cows by providing excellent forage and begin supplementing grain 

- Submit registration of calves





JULY - AUGUST



- Keep cows and calves on good forage and give added grain if needed 

- Check fecal samples for parasites 

- Select bulls for breeding

- Semen test bulls at the end of August

- Creep-feed calves

- Get velveting bulls to maximum weight for optimum velvet yield the following year 

- Remove velvet regrowth

- Remove hard horns on spikers

- Forage test hay

- Review ration formulation





SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER



- Wean and weigh calves

- Vaccinate and worm calves

- Put bulls in for breeding; change to back-up bull after 5-6 weeks 

- Work and weight cows - body condition score at 3 and increasing 

- Start tick treatment

- Submit breeders report

- Draw purity test blood samples

- Collect blood or hair for DNA testing





NOVEMBER-DECEMBER



- Remove bulls Nov. 1 or 15

- Assure high energy diet for bulls to regain weight

- Provide calves with excellent quality forage and grain supplement 

- Repeat tick treatment 

- Worm for internal & external parasites 

- Collect & freeze semen for insurance purposes of select bulls

- Pregnancy check cows

- Separate groups for the Winter Calves:

         Yearling heifers

         Adult cows

         Yearling bulls

         Adult bulls







Reference; Haight and Hudson, "Farming Wapiti & Red Deer," 1993