Der with sucklers pre-calving

not work.

The cow will put this extra feeding into the calf leading to a bigger calf at calving and more difficulties. This means if you have thin cows feed concentrate in conjunction with silage from the day you house cows.

You can monitor their condition and if they are getting too fleshy, pull back on the concentrate levels. Cows need to be monitored throughout the winter so that cows are “fit and not fat” before calving.

Spring calvers in good condition – Feed 1kg extra below for thin cows: • 72 DMD Feed restricted access silage (80% of requirements). • 65 DMD Feed silage ad lib. • 60 DMD Feed silage ad lib + 0.5kg to 1.0 kg concentrates. 55 DMD Feed silage ad lib + 1.0 kg concentrates. Fluke and lice are the most troublesome parasite of suckler cows. Well fed, healthy cows have strong immunity to worms.

All housed cows should have been treated for fluke at this stage. If treating cows now, consult your vet on the most effective product to use.

When treating for lice, ensure to cover all the stock in the shed. Silage is generally well balanced in major minerals but is deficient in trace elements such as Copper, Selenium and Iodine.

Pre-calving mineral licks (in buckets) can be offered to cows six weeks prior to calving.

Alternatively, a dry cow mineral mix can be sprinkled on the silage at a rate of 100g/ head per day for six weeks before calving. If feeding thin cows concentrate check mineral content as compound rations will contain minerals.