Maximising winter thrive

Anthony O’Connor

not recommended during housing.

CONCENTRATE SUPPLEMENTATION

Meal supplementation rate will be dictated by silage quality and type animals being fed.

Less concentrates are required when high digestibility silage is available.

From experience, visual assessment, texture and smell, most farmers will know whether they have good or poor quality silage.

However, a more detailed laboratory chemical analysis costing only €36 would be very beneficial.

This would tell you how good your silage actually is and what level of meal feeding is required for your stock.

For store cattle on moderate quality silage of 65 DMD percent, then feed 2kg of meal per head per day.

Concentrates should be front-loaded when animals are housed and gradually reduced four to five weeks before turnout to grass.

As cattle go from a diet of grass to silage at housing, the extra concentrate is fed to make the changeover as easy as possible.

This will mean the cattle keep thriving and gaining weight in the shed.

For weanlings, feed a high energy 16pc crude protein ration with minerals and vitamins included. Don’t over feed concentrates to weanlings as they will get too fat and are not ideal for sale or grass.

STORE CATTLE

Store cattle are older animals that are being housed for a second winter, with the intention of going back to grass again the following spring.

These would usually be steers or heifers fattened minerals will be required. Any ration being fed to weanlings and store cattle should be palatable, fresh smelling and free of dust.

Ensure clean, fresh drinking water is available at all times, this is especially important where concentrates are being fed.

Check water bowls daily for dirt and ice. Adequate feeding space at feed barriers/shutters should be available for all stock being fed concentrates.

Again, fresh, dry silage needs to be in front of housed stock at any time.

PARASITES

Lice infestation can reduce cattle performance by 30pc ensure all cattle are dosed and treated for lice and tick, also treat against all stages of liver fluke after 14 days of being housed.

Any worm treatment used should be effective against both larvae and adult worms. All bought in weanlings and stores should be treated for all stages of fluke.

It may be necessary to treat all stock again in six to eight weeks time depending on veterinary product used.

VENTILATION

It is vital for housed stock and if there have been problems in the past it may be necessary to remove side sheeting on the roof. Consider vaccination for stock against respiratory diseases.