New list to help house cattle

Farmers are being encouraged to take steps to ensure beef cattle experience a smooth transition to housing this autumn.

Animal health company Zoetis has teamed up with leading beef vet Rob Dr ysdale to produce a 10-point checklist ahead of bringing beef cattle in for the winter.

Firstly, producers are told to bring cattle in at the right time. The checklist says although housing brings additional costs, it is worthwhile as cattle weights can be maintained and animals can finish quicker than being outside when g ra s s growth is tailing off.

Secondly, farmers are encouraged to precondition cattle prior to the transition. This can be done by gradually changing things prior to housing, such as giving a pneumonia vaccine and creep feeding ahead of weaning.

Farmers are also encouraged to get on top of parasite control at housing by carrying out tests to assess the problem and devising a treatment plan with their vet.

Zoetis and Mr Drysdale also recommend taking steps to ensure all cattle are transitioned on to a new diet when being housed off grass. This can be achieved by offering creep feed at least 21 days before weaning but up to six weeks before.

They also recommend clipping the backs of cattle before housing because a lot of sheds have inadequate ventilation – this can prevent overheating and helps keep cattle cleaner.

The checklist also recommends getting all cows pregnancy tested, so any empty cattle can be culled, and getting silage analysed to see if anything needs added to feed.

Farmers should also check feet and treat any lame cattle before housing, and ensure all cattle have the right tags.

Lastly, farmers are told weigh c a tt l e prior to housing and wait a month before weighing them again. They should weigh growing cattle once a month, but weigh animals nearing finishing every couple of weeks. In both instances, the cattle should be fed and weighed at the same time of day.

“To work out suckler cow efficiency it is important to weigh calves at weaning and then do an agecorrected weight for 200 days,” said the checklist.

“You then divide that by the weight of the cow at bulling, multiplied by 100. The aim should be to wean at 50% of the adult bodyweight or better.”

TIPS: The 10-point checklist ensures cattle wintered indoors are well managed.