What New Year resolutions do farmers make? Reduce my calving interval... Reduce my mortality... Reduce my cost of production... Reduce my waistline...

It is clear more so than ever that inefficient and averagely efficient farmers will have to reign in expenditure in order to increase profitability. The markets for beef and milk cannot be relied on to hold anyway steady.

This time of the year is the catalyst for change. Set out the stall from the beginning. Focus on what you want to get right and start putting the wheels in motion.

The vast majority of the sucklers have calved, on the home farm, and the dairy cows will commence calving from early February. On the suckler side of things, calf health and performance is of paramount importance. I have had substantially more cases of scour this year than previous years, and have taken the decision to administer a vaccine to the calves.

This vaccine is administered intra-nasally and is given to healthy calves as soon as they reach nine days of age. The method of vaccination is adequate for this year, but the dairy cows and the suckler cows will be vaccinated pre-calving for calf scour going forward.

The pre calving vaccine will be given at two months prior to calving. This will ensure that the colostrum will contain the necessary antibodies required to fight any scour causing bacteria.

It is important to have clean, hygienic facilities for calf rearing. The autumn born suckler calves require a large quantity of straw in the bedded area now that they are four months old and the dairy calf shed has been disinfected and is currently being set up with gates and water for the imminent arrival of the dairy calves and the purchased suck calves.

Simple calf rearing facilities is the key to successfully rearing strong, healthy calves. The milk powder, hot and cold water and washing facilities beside the calves is important as it will limit workload when the calves hit the ground. The first sign of disease is the trigger to move the calf to the isolation pen and it’s treated and allowed recover before returning to the group.

So get one step ahead of the work. Start preparation for the onset of calving. Maximise the profit by working on decreasing the cost of production.