Grazing

The improvement in the weather over the last week has meant stock have been turned back out and grazing conditions are pretty good on dry farms. If turning out stock for the first time, allow them a while in a closed-in area like a yard.

This will allow them settle before being turned out to grass. Fences can be tested if you allow cattle straight out of the shed to the field and sometimes animals can injure themselves.

Try to set up paddocks so that animals have two to three days in each division. Some rain is forecast for the end of the week and if stock are moving into fresh pasture it will be easier to keep them settled. Hungry animals will do the most damage walking around so try and move regularly.

If the weather changes you could be delayed in getting fertiliser out so use the opportunity when you have it. On some farms with May-calving cows, there may be an opportunity to let these out to a paddock near the shed.

The exercise will reduce silage feeding and labour. Silage will keep if sealed correctly and, who knows, it might be needed in April again. If conditions deteriorate a lot, don’t be afraid to house again until ground conditions mend again.

Castration

With the move away from bull beef production, castration methods have been a topic of conversation in the last 12 months. Autumn and winter-born calves are coming up to six months now so it’s a good time to look at castration if that’s the road you are going down.

It’s important to get it right as if it is completed incorrectly it can result in sick animals and will affect animal thrive for a prolonged period. One of the most important points is that it is illegal to castrate calves over six months of age without using local anaesthetic. Good hygiene is essential to minimise infection risk, especially after surgical castration.

It is best to castrate calves as young as possible and less than six months of age. You should administer a clostridial vaccination to protect against tetanus when using the banding or rubber ring method.

Try to provide a clean dry environment with adequate space for movement to relieve stiffness for calves after castration. Outdoors is the best option at this stage in the year. Monitor calves closely for two weeks after castration. With latex bands the scrotum should drop off within four weeks. Look for swelling, signs of infection, tetanus and abnormalities. Treat wounds as needed. Seek advice or help from a vet sooner rather than later if calves show signs of severe pain, swelling or infection.

Cashflow

It’s important to work out the cash requirements for the farm over the coming weeks and months. Make a list of money owed and money due from cattle and sheep sales. Factor in delays because of things outside of your control. Factor in household living expenses also. The first six months of the year can be a difficult time, especially on farms selling weanlings in autumn. It may be just a case of extending an overdraft for a couple of months but it’s important to sit down and look at where you are.