It’s a good time to prepare cattle for winter housing
IN ANTICIPATION of housing cattle soon in some parts of the country, this is a good time to ensure all feed barriers, gates and water troughs are in good working condition.
Many farmers will have ensured that houses have been washed and disinfected to prevent the spread of disease. Complete these jobs as soon as possible, as a sudden change in weather and ground conditions could mean cattle needing to be housed unexpectedly.
The weather this autumn has resulted in cattle grazing for longer with such ground conditions. However, weather conditions can change quickly and force cattle to be housed.
For spring calving sucklers, it is time to scan cows and heifers now.
With the high costs involved in wintering, this is not the year to be carrying passengers. Therefore, if empty cows are identified, consider early weaning and/or introducing supplementary feed to allow for them to be slaughtered or sold before the winter housing period.
This will help savings on winter feed and allow for these cows to be sold before the traditional flow of cull cows onto the market after the main weaning period.
Autumn calvers:
Autumn calving is under way on most farms, though remember close observation is needed for both pre- and postcalving. Large calf size can be more of a problem with autumn calving, particularly where grass has been plentiful.
Therefore, be prepared with all the necessary calving equipment and items to reduce the risk of calf mortality.
Post-calving, be mindful of grass tetany. This is caused by magnesium deficiency and can sometimes be a problem in autumn calvers.
Stress triggers can include factors such as changeable weather or prolonged wet periods. Risk can be reduced through magnesium lick buckets and boluses.
Fertiliser closing date:
September 15 was the closing date for the spreading of chemical N and P fertiliser. Chemical fertiliser containing N and P cannot be applied until after midnight, January 31 (if ground and weather conditions permit).
“IT’S worth remembering that pasture infection builds over the summer months, so by early September young cattle may be carrying a significant worm burden,” explains Maura Langan, Norbrook Veterinary Advisor.
“It’s important that herd health is optimised at this time of the year, so that cattle are healthy and at a good weight prior to housing, as that will help reduce the possibility of other health and welfare issues down the line.”
The industry is moving towards a more responsible approach to parasite control, with cattle treated only when necessary and reducing the number of doses throughout the grazing period where appropriate.
By allowing immunity to develop in young stock and leaving adult cattle untreated wherever possible, farmers and vets aim to achieve a balance between welfare and performance and the need to preserve anthelmintic efficacy.
“We’re making real change in the way we dose cattle, especially at this time of year.
“A pre-housing dose five weeks before housing means that farmers are using the right product at the right time, and that can maximise the benefits of late summer grass and remove the need to worm cattle at housing.
“Lungworm can be a real problem at this time of year, so an effective treatment with a persistent product will help alleviate respiratory problems ahead of housing,” Maura continued.
Taurador Pour-on contains doramectin – a persistent wormer that continues to protect cattle from a range of gutworms, lungworm and external parasites after treatment.
Cattle treated with Taurador Pour-on five weeks prior to housing should not need a further worm dose when they are housed.
However, they may need to be treated for fluke, depending on the seasonal risk and in line with a parasite control plan.
A fluke-only treatment is likely to be the most appropriate treatment for these cattle, and also for adult cattle that have good immunity to gut worms and may not have received a wormer.
There are a range of different flukicides on the market and they are generally classified according to the stages of fluke they are effective against.
For this reason, it is important that the most appropriate product is used at the correct time in the fluke season.
Treating cattle with Solantel Pour-on at least seven weeks after they are housed will mean any fluke ingested just before housing will then be susceptible to treatment and therefore lead to a more complete fluke kill.
“Of course, it is always hard to predict exactly when cattle are housed, with the weather and the cost and availability of feed important factors in keeping herds at grass into the autumn.
“As a result, this protocol may need to be reviewed in cattle that are housed more than five weeks after treatment with Taurador, or in cases of extreme challenge. Farmers should always seek advice specific to their farm.
“Although as an industry we are trying to reduce the number of treatments wherever possible, there will always be times of the year when cattle are more at risk of fluke and worms, and should be dosed accordingly.
“The welfare of our cattle and the sustainability of our industry depend on it,” added Maura.
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There will always be times of the year when cattle are more at risk of fluke and worms, and should be dosed accordingly
FARM Innovation Visits (FIVS), delivered by the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), provide farmers with the opportunity to visit farm businesses in other parts of the UK or Europe to learn about new innovations in farming.
A number of local farmers took part in a FIV to the Netherlands before Covid-19, explains Michael Garvey and Gavin Duffy, CAFRE Dairy Advisers.
Farmers saw dairy heifer calves that were fed on an accelerated growth programme pre-weaning. Calves fed on such programmes achieve higher growth rates, resulting in reduced age at first calving and increased milk production.
Michael Garvey, CAFRE Dairying Adviser, Armagh, said: “At CAFRE, the calving pen design facilitates easy colostrum collection.
“Using the calving gate and a mobile milking unit, colostrum can be harvested safely, and the calf fed 3.5 litres as soon as possible after calving.”
Michael continued: “Good quality colostrum contains a high level of antibodies, which the calf requires to provide immunity to disease.
“While milk harvested at the first milking is highest in terms of milk quality and immunoglobulin content, evidence suggests that feeding of transition milk aids the calves’ digestive development and overall health.
“Some 20 litres of milk from the first three milkings are retained in sealed containers, stored in a fridge and fed over five days in the Greenmount herd.”
Of the calf management at Greenmount, Michael said: “On entry to the calf unit, calves are fitted with a jacket and housed in an individual pen for the first six days. Transition milk is fed and calves have access to water and starter concentrate from day two.
“From day six, calves are fed milk replacer, and on day seven they move into a group pen onto the automatic feeder.”
If the norm during the first two months is to feed four litres containing 600gms of milk replacer to give 0.6kg of daily live weight gain, the accelerated programme targets feeding a minimum of seven litres containing 1kg of milk replacer, to give up to 1kg of daily live weight gain.
This will cost an additional £1 per day per calf at the current cost for milk replacer.
CAFRE calves are grouped and on the automatic feeder for 55 days and fed 60kg of milk replacer until weaning. Target age at weaning is 62 days.
In the 10 days prior to weaning, milk intake is reduced and concentrate intake increases.
‘Gained weight steadily’
Michael concluded: “CAFRE’S experience has been that calves have doubled their birth weight at weaning and gained weight steadily over the rearing period, with maiden heifers well grown at service and on target to calve into the herd at 550kg at 24 months.”
Gavin Duffy, CAFRE Dairy Adviser, Dungannon said:
“Philip Kyle from Aughnacloy participated in the first FIV to the Netherlands in March,
2019.
“On his return, he implemented an accelerated growth programme for his pre-weaned calves. Emphasising colostrum feeding and calf house management, calves are built up from five to eight litres in starter pens, then moved to automatic feeding and weaned at 60 days old.
“Now Philip has two years of accelerated grown heifers milking in his herd, and intends to continue with this higher level of milk replacer feeding as he sees the extra cost for milk powder offset by the good weights at bulling and improved calf health benefits.”
Philip is also a technology demonstration farmer focusing on feed efficiency.