Grazing brassica crops

It has been near perfect weather for those grazing brassica crops for the first time over the past few weeks. Farmers are reporting excellent utilisation with good ground conditions. While this won’t last, it’s nice to get an easy start. Take note of how fast you are proceeding through the crop. It needs to be finished being grazed by mid-March (before flowering), so increase the stocking rate if you won’t hit this target. Don’t forget to feed a fibre source (baled silage or straw) when grazing kale. The diet should be made up of 70% brassicas and 30% silage/hay/straw. Brassica crops are generally high in protein (16-20%) so meal feeding is not required when grazing. Make sure animals receive adequate minerals as brassica crops are deficient in trace elements. Animals should receive boluses before starting to graze the crop. In terms of cross compliance make sure animals have access to a lie-back area and animals have a dry place to lie down. Be careful where tractors are going in and out of a field with bales, if the soil becomes liquefiable it could attract a penalty during a cross-compliance inspection. Some farmers, that were having problems with fences and animals knocking posts over, have changed to posts that carry current to the ground and are finding these are working better. Make sure there is a good current in the fence, maybe switch off other areas to leave more shock going to the brassica crop.

Injection sites

When injecting an animal, consider carefully where you insert needles. Ideally, injections should be given in the neck as it is an area of lower carcase value compared with the loin or ribs. It also tends to be less dirty than the hind quarter, where faeces can accumulate due to the animal lying on slats. Operator and housing hygiene is important. As injections pierce the skin, it is possible for bacteria to enter the opening and cause an abscess. When the abscess subsides, the muscle develops scar tissue and the meat is unfit for consumption, meaning it has to be trimmed off the carcase making it less valuable. Always massage the skin after injecting an animal. Products that require more than one shot should have each shot administered on opposite sides of the neck.

First calver nutrition and health

Pay attention to first calving heifers and their body condition score in the shed. This is especially important for autumn-calving heifers sucking calves. Heifers can lose condition very quickly and this will result in delayed resumption of cycling and poor conception rates. If silage quality is poor, first-calved heifers should be getting 2-3kg/day of a good, quality ration, high in energy. If you can separate these heifers out into a pen on their own, it will make meal feeding easier and prevent any bullying issues. Make sure you are on top of worm and fluke control with this group as well, as any stress or burden will result in body condition loss. It’s especially critical where you are calving at 2 years old.