Grazing and supplementing:

The severe weather is making life tough for most farmers. There are contrasting stories between farmers who have been forced to house due to ground conditions and those who find themselves with low grass covers near the end of the first rotation. Where grass supply is tight due to low growth rates, and farmers are fortunate enough to have ground that is relatively trafficable, supplementation is key. This can be done in the form of silage in the field or on hardcore areas. Where cows have access to grass and silage, no concentrate supplementation is required in the short term.

Many farmers on heavy ground were forced to rehouse last weekend due to ground conditions. With the breeding season starting, maintaining cows in a BCS of 2 or more is key as a rapid reduction will have a negative effect on conception rates. Where it is envisaged that cows will only be housed for a week or less, they should be fed good-quality silage and 1kg concentrates. However, where it looks necessary to house cows for longer, concentrate supplementation will be required to maintain BCS, particularly for cows calved in early spring or those in slightly poorer condition. The advice here is to supplement with about 2kg concentrates along with ad-lib good-quality silage to maintain energy intake. Cows in BCS <2 and first-calved heifers will require 1kg extra concentrates per day. As priority stock will most likely return to grass within the week, good-quality silage alone will suffice.

Tetany Alert:

With this disease, losses occur rapidly, so all efforts should be made to avoid the risk. Where cows remain out with calves at foot in poor weather, there is a risk of grass tetany. Feeding hay or dry silage at grass will help to reduce the passage of grass through the cow’s system. However, supplementation with magnesium is also necessary. Placing mineral lick buckets with cows will also help to reduce the risk. Farms with high soil potash levels may have an increased risk of tetany where there is a history.

Avoiding scour:

With many farmers forced to re-house stock, maintaining high levels of hygiene is essential. Scour usually becomes prevalent from now on in spring-calving herds where stock remain housed. Faecal contamination and close calf-to-calf contact are often the main modes of transmission. For that reason, ensure calf creep areas are bedded daily to keep the calves’ lying area clean and dry. Any calf exhibiting signs of scour need to be isolated with her dam immediately to avoid the spread of the disease. Where an outbreak occurs, it is advised that faecal samples are tested to identify the main causes and suitable treatment should be discussed with your vet.

Pneumonia: The changeable temperatures are resulting in increased incidence of pneumonia. Pay close attention to cows and calves indoors and outdoors.