All of a sudden, the winter routine is upon us once again. The winter period is the most expensive time of year on livestock farms, with increased costs for what typically is a period of lower production.

It comes with added pressure on the system in terms of animal health, with disease risk much greater indoors compared to outside at grass.

Unfortunately, for many, a housed winter period is inevitable and therefore the focus must turn to both managing and minimising these risks.

This week I take a look at the vaccination protocol on the Irish Farmers Journal Thrive dairy calf to beef demonstration farm.

The aim here is to make the transition from grass to housing as easy as possible, in order to maintain performance throughout the winter period.

Poor weather conditions in recent weeks have seen many sheep farmers house lambs for finishing in greater numbers. Darren Carty takes a look at the health risk factors around housing and indoor finishing.

Housing on dairy farms has also ramped up over the past week to 10 days. Aidan Brennan outlines the

">risk factors around mastitis at housing time on, and looks at the importance of hygiene in the cubicle shed.

Finally, Kieran Mailey takes a look at the routine health treatments required for suckler herds this winter in terms of controlling both internal and external parasites, vaccinations and mineral supplementation.