Docks:

I was on a farm this week with a big problem with docks. They seem to thrive in this weather, especially in the aftergrass and second-cut silage. A lot of the clover-safe sprays don’t seem to be as effective at controlling docks in the new reseeds or else the older docks re-emerge after the spray has gone out. In any case, they’re a big issue where clover is being protected.

While it’s probably too late to go spraying for them with a selective herbicide now as they are gone into the reproductive stage, the farmer intended to spray them with Roundup in a weed licker after grazing.

Almost all of the paddocks were affected, so he was just going to bite the bullet and use the weed licker on every paddock after grazing for the next rotation. An important thing is to make sure that there are no drips or leaks on the weed licker or else grass will be burned.

Lameness:

I’m hearing reports of a good few cases of lameness on farms. One of the big causes are stony roads and cows being driven too fast over rough surfaces. Any more than 2% of the herd lame at any one time is indicative of a problem. Don’t wait until the cow can’t put weight on the hoof to get it sorted.

Keep an eye on cows walking off form and tender on the feet and get them checked out immediately. Don’t wait for a couple of cows to be lame before calling the hoof parer. If you do the paring yourself, are you sure you’re good enough at it?

Paring is a treatment – prevention is always better. Fix the roadways – make sure water runs off by having a good camber and that the road is above the height of the field. Some road surfaces are too sharp. Limestone is not suitable as a top dressing material – slig or sandstone dusting is far better when vibrated in. Make sure that cows aren’t being rushed around yards and on roads. They should be footbathed regularly.

The professional hoof parers I know all prefer copper-sulphate footbaths as they are less severe on cows than formalin but formalin is better at hardening hoofs and claws. Other products tend not to be as effective but are easier and safer use.

Yard Work:

Now is the time of year to sort out the yard for next winter. Fix cubicles and hanging gates. Clean out and disinfect the calf and calving sheds if not already done. The longer they have been clean and left to dry out the better.

A lot of bugs such as cryptosporidium will carry over from year to year in dirt on walls and on floors, so get these sheds thoroughly cleaned out and power-washed. Get the help of a handyman in for some of the jobs and keep safety on top of the agenda, especially when working at heights and with electricity. Finally, do your liners need to be changed?