BVD tags: As we move into peak BVD sample posting season, we asked a number of labs this week for some simple tips to avoid samples being lost and having to retag.

First, use a padded envelope.

The sharp edges of the tags can cause the envelope to rip, leading to samples getting lost on they way to the lab. It’s a good idea to write your herd number on the back of the envelope as a point of contact if samples are lost. You also need to include the text “Animal Specimen – Exempt” on the back of the envelope.

Placing the tags inside a sealable plastic bag will help protect them from the sorting process in the post office.

It costs a minimum of €2 to post up to 10 samples. After 10 samples, you need get the envelope weighed at the post office to get the appropriate cost of postage.

Most labs operate a text service for results. If you haven’t received results after seven to 10 days, it’s no harm to chase up with the lab to make sure.

Meal prices: Meal prices look set to increase in the next week or so, according to merchants. With turnout just around the corner, meal feeding levels should be reduced on most beef farms at this stage, especially those feeding weanlings.

The only case where increased meal feeding is required will be where calved cows are still indoors and are being fed poor-quality silage.

It’s really important that these cows are fed 2-3kg of ration to keep milk going and to avoid excessive body condition loss in advance of breeding.

While cows will pick up condition when they go to grass, excessive body condition loss could lead to a delay in breeding.

You may be able to get another load at current prices if ordered in time. Take a look and see if a full load will be required. There is no point filling a meal bin and then keeping cattle indoors until it’s used up. See more on meal prices on page 6.

Weighing: Labour and time issues are often given as reasons why more weighing is not carried out on farms. However weighing is a really important tool in assessing performance of stock and, more importantly, your management skills.

If you weigh a group of weanlings this week and they have only gained 0.3kg/day over the winter period then you know that something went wrong and you can go about correcting it.

If no weights are taken, the same thing could happen again next winter.

Taking a turnout weight now will also help you assess grazing performance during the year.

It is equally important in assessing cow performance in terms of calf weight gain.

September-born calves are now coming close to 200 days, an ideal age to get a picture of how good a job the cow has done on the calf.

Cows with very light calves or poor performers can be culled.

Inputting these weights on the ICBF database will also improve the accuracy of a cow’s index and increase the reliability helping you make more informed decisions.

Recording weights could also count towards a BEEP 2 payment. Make sure to weigh the cow and calf on the same day.