Worm control: Recent warm wet conditions in some areas will have increased the chances of worm burdens rising on pastures.

Grazing management can have an influence on the level of infection. Pastures where cattle and sheep have been grazed together should have a lower cattle worm burden and also paddock grazing systems will carry lower worm burdens than set stocking systems. Spring-born calves have no immunity to worms but adult cattle will have attained some immunity in their first grazing season. Dairy-bred calves are very susceptible to worm infection and should be treated as priority when treating stock.

Faecal sampling is a good way of determining whether a dose is needed and will help in reducing wormer resistance on your farm. First-calving heifers can sometimes have a low level of immunity built up if dosed a number of times in their first grazing season. If you think they are performing poorly or thin, take some faecal samples and get them analysed.

Clinical signs of lungworm infection include coughing and difficulty breathing. Infected animals will have an increased susceptibility to pneumonia. Incidences of lungworm infection will tend to be later in summer months.

Rushes: As part of the Basic Payment Scheme, farmers have to demonstrate that their land is in a grazeable condition. This will mean controlling rushes in heavily infested areas of grassland. Applying herbicide to fresh green re-growth will achieve a better kill. This will mean topping first and then spraying a green rush. If there is a dense mat of dead material, the spray won’t penetrate the rush as well. MCPA is an effective treatment for rushes.

With increased focus on water quality, take care to use the recommended rates and make sure no heavy rain is forecast after spraying. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on when to allow stock graze fields after spraying. Glyphosate can be used when applied via a weed licker and this gives good targeted control but care is needed as it could potentially kill some grass if applied incorrectly. Rushes should be left for about four weeks after spraying/licking before being topped. Rushes will occur in areas which have poor drainage and low soil fertility and longer term control will involve a number of these measures.

Tullamore Farm: Drought continues to affect Tullamore Farm, with very little rain falling over the past seven days. Cows are being fed hay and silage via a round feeder to slow them up on the rotation and prolong the grass supply on the farm. Sixty bales have been made from surplus paddocks so far in 2020 and this will now be fed back to cows.

Ewes have been weaned and lambs will be given priority to any grass left on the farm. Ewes will be tightened up on paddocks to allow them dry off and conserve grass supplies. Breeding heifers are being fed 3kg of meal and calves have been also started on creep feeding in adjoining paddocks to cows to avoid any check in growth. Fertiliser spreading is still on hold until rain arrives.