Grass tetany: The recent uptake in grass growth is welcome, particularly for those worst affected by the drought but it does come with a warning. Lush, soft grass due to rapid growth with a high nitrogen content can spell disastrous from the point of view of grass tetany.

Grass tetany is where the animal is unable to absorb sufficient magnesium, with staggers or a lack of co-ordination/animal being common signs of this. Steps need to be taken to help reduce the risk of tetany, particularly when temperatures dip at night.

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Magnesium boluses can be used, which is a sure-fire way to ensure that cows are getting sufficient magnesium. The most common practice among farmers is to include a bucket lick with a high-magnesium content in the field, though as with all licks, there is no guarantee that every cow is getting sufficient quantities of it.

Slowing down the rumen through the use of roughage such as hay will also help magnesium absorption in cows. Pay particular attention to older cows who are most prone to get grass tetany.

Housing preparation: Look at your own shed and assess the air inlet and outlet spacing. If you feel the air inlet spacing is inadequate, look to improve it by changing solid/poor porosity vented sheeting to space or Yorkshire boarding. Simple fixes such as kicking out the bottom of side sheeting away from the wall to leave a gap can also work well.

Where there is a lack of air outlet spacing (0.1m² required per weanling) then there are also options to increase it. A solid roof can be converted to a ‘breathing’ roof by removing sheets and creating a 25mm gap between sheeting. This can also be achieved to a lesser extent by raising two sheets per bay up with timbers, with the sheet sitting 25mm higher.

All of the above are options where a covered ridge canopy on an A-framed roof is not effective enough. It is also worth inspecting older roofs after the storms last year to ensure that sheeting has not become loosened.

Sheds should also be power washed and disinfected if not already done.

Mart events: Five more mart events are coming to you this week with four suckler beef events and a winter finishing event scheduled to take place.

Mid-Tipp Mart (Thurles) will celebrate 60 years of trading alongside an information meeting covering topics such as pneumonia, breeding and dealing with a fodder shortage with a charity auction at the end. The event kicks off at 7pm on Thursday 1 October with Enniscorthy Mart also hosting its event at 7.30pm with similar topics covered.

On Monday 5 October, Cillín Hill in Kilkenny will host a beef finishing event, with topics including winter finishing diets and housing, budgets and market outlook.

Ennis Mart, Co Clare and Inishowen mart, Co Donegal are the final destination this week, with a practical suckler information meeting on breeding, health and nutrition to take place at 7pm in each location.