Keep an eye on your youngstock

During the summer months, it is important to keep a close eye on growing youngstock. There are many things that can cause disease or ill-thriftiness while calves are growing. Some of these diseases, such as coccidiosis and yersiniosis are caused by micro-organisms that are common in the environment. The cattle may be exposed to them on a regular basis, but disease occurs when other risk factors are present.

One of the main risk factors for illness is nutritional stress.

This is especially important over the summer months as quality of pasture drops and things start to dry out. It is crucial to keep your youngstock well fed, even if this means providing supplementary feeds to fill in any nutritional gaps.

Well-grown stock will go from strength to strength, but once yearlings are challenged with disease, you can be fighting an uphill battle to get them back to a good weight.

Another risk factor is a high worm burden. For this reason, it is essential to ensure that youngstock are drenched appropriately and on time. If you do not know which drench to use, have a chat to your vet about what would work best for your situation.

Other risk factors include inclement weather, transport, mixing mobs and overstocking.

While prevention of disease is beneficial, it is not always under our control.

Youngstock affected by yersiniosis or coccidiosis will often have dirty tails and haunches as both diseases can cause diarrhoea. Some or all of the mob may be affected. The yearlings may look depressed, stop eating and lose weight.

If you are worried about any youngstock you may have on the property, it is important to get your vet involved.

They will be able to help you to work out what disease may be affecting the yearlings and provide advice on how best to treat them.