Spring-born calves will be getting an increasing percentage of their nutritional requirement from grazed grass in late summer and early autumn.
Therefore, these animals need access to the best swards on farm to drive weight gains, resulting in heavier calves weaned, housed and sold this autumn.
Creep feeders are a common sight in fields during the latter stages of the grazing season. Concentrates will boost calf performance as grass quality and the cow’s milk production tail off in autumn. Creep feeding also reduces the stress levels as calves enter the weaning phase.
Creep grazing
Another way to drive weight gain is to allow calves to creep ahead of cows and graze fresh grass.
It does takes a bit of time to train calves to move ahead of cows and there can be plenty of headaches along the way with animals breaking fences. But once calves get the hang of it, they tend to graze ahead of the cow as often as possible. The next stage is to combine forward grazing with creep feeding concentrate, giving calves the best of both worlds.
Creep gates can be set up as an alternative to raising electric wire.
Pros
The advantages of creep grazing is that young calves always get the best grass available. During August and September, well-managed swards will be mostly leaf, which is highly digestible.
As calves have a high feed conversion rate, grazing lush swards increases daily liveweight gain. Calves will also be less reliant on the cow, reducing the cow’s grazing demand in late lactation.
Creep grazing also helps to break the bond between cow and calf, reducing the stress on animals during the weaning period.
Purpose-made field gates will allow calves to creep into the next paddock or laneways for feeding.
Cons
It does take a bit of time to get calves used to creeping under a wire, or through a gate, and there is a requirement for good fencing to be in place. Ideally, mains electric fencing works best but it is not essential.
When fencing is set up incorrectly, calves can have too big a grazing area which creates problems as they can struggle to get back to their dam again which stresses animals.
But, overall, the advantages outweigh the negatives when carried out properly. Outlined are some tips to set up fencing to allow calves creep ahead of cows this autumn.
Start off with small grazing areas
When training calves to creep graze, start off by closing off a smaller area in the corner of a field, or the headland areas. Close off an area big enough to graze calves anywhere from three days right up to a week.
As calves cannot get too far ahead of cows, and both animals are within sight of each other, this helps to keep animals more settled and less inclined to break fences.
Offering calves access to concentrates using static creep feeders or portable troughs will entice calves to come forward. It may take the best part of a week to get all calves to creep forward, so stick with it.
Raising
the wire
Where cows and calves are grazing paddocks and electric wires are common, small calves may well be creeping ahead of cows already. But as calves get bigger, they will need the electric wire raised to allow them pass under without getting a shock. Raising the wire at several points works best, as this helps calves to find their way back to the cow, rather than trying to locate one single entry point.
Ideally, the wire should be raised where it meets the perimeter fencing wire, fence posts or hedgerows. This way, if you have to move calves forward manually, or back to cows, they are easier manoeuvred.
You can use larger plastic posts such as those for horse paddocks to raise the wire. Alternatively, simply tape two normal posts together to give added height. Mains electric works best in this option to hold cows back. But a good battery fencer with a 9v to 12v current will work fine provided battery charge is maintained. Once cows get used to the calves creeping ahead, they are less inclined to break the wire, unless they run out of grass.
Creep gates
An alternative to raising the wire is to make use of a creep gate. The gates can be attached to perimeter fencing posts to give extra stability as calves pass through.
Electric wire should then run from gate to the opposite side of the field, closing off an adequate-sized area for calves.
Alternatively, creep gates can be used at gateways to give calves access to the next paddock, or a laneway to access creep feeders.
Specialised gates
Field gates that are specifically designed to allow calves to creep through are also an option. While they work well, they should only be used once calves are well-trained to move ahead of cows and can make their way back to their dam unaided.
On farms where fields have stock-proof fencing in place, these gates are a good way to securely lock calves off cows as weaning approaches.
Creep feeding
Once calves are used to creeping ahead, there is the option to offer concentrates to young stock.
Where calves are grazing in a rotation, a static ad-lib feeder is less practical, unless it can be set up on a hardcore laneway that calves can access from multiple paddocks.
Ideally, feeding concentrates in light, portable troughs works best in a rotational setup. In a set stocking system, ad-lib creep feeders and portable troughs will work well.
Read more
Beef Management: BEEP weights, autumn reseeding and farm safety
Beef management: time to introduce the creep feeder for weanlings
Spring-born calves will be getting an increasing percentage of their nutritional requirement from grazed grass in late summer and early autumn.
Therefore, these animals need access to the best swards on farm to drive weight gains, resulting in heavier calves weaned, housed and sold this autumn.
Creep feeders are a common sight in fields during the latter stages of the grazing season. Concentrates will boost calf performance as grass quality and the cow’s milk production tail off in autumn. Creep feeding also reduces the stress levels as calves enter the weaning phase.
Creep grazing
Another way to drive weight gain is to allow calves to creep ahead of cows and graze fresh grass.
It does takes a bit of time to train calves to move ahead of cows and there can be plenty of headaches along the way with animals breaking fences. But once calves get the hang of it, they tend to graze ahead of the cow as often as possible. The next stage is to combine forward grazing with creep feeding concentrate, giving calves the best of both worlds.
Creep gates can be set up as an alternative to raising electric wire.
Pros
The advantages of creep grazing is that young calves always get the best grass available. During August and September, well-managed swards will be mostly leaf, which is highly digestible.
As calves have a high feed conversion rate, grazing lush swards increases daily liveweight gain. Calves will also be less reliant on the cow, reducing the cow’s grazing demand in late lactation.
Creep grazing also helps to break the bond between cow and calf, reducing the stress on animals during the weaning period.
Purpose-made field gates will allow calves to creep into the next paddock or laneways for feeding.
Cons
It does take a bit of time to get calves used to creeping under a wire, or through a gate, and there is a requirement for good fencing to be in place. Ideally, mains electric fencing works best but it is not essential.
When fencing is set up incorrectly, calves can have too big a grazing area which creates problems as they can struggle to get back to their dam again which stresses animals.
But, overall, the advantages outweigh the negatives when carried out properly. Outlined are some tips to set up fencing to allow calves creep ahead of cows this autumn.
Start off with small grazing areas
When training calves to creep graze, start off by closing off a smaller area in the corner of a field, or the headland areas. Close off an area big enough to graze calves anywhere from three days right up to a week.
As calves cannot get too far ahead of cows, and both animals are within sight of each other, this helps to keep animals more settled and less inclined to break fences.
Offering calves access to concentrates using static creep feeders or portable troughs will entice calves to come forward. It may take the best part of a week to get all calves to creep forward, so stick with it.
Raising
the wire
Where cows and calves are grazing paddocks and electric wires are common, small calves may well be creeping ahead of cows already. But as calves get bigger, they will need the electric wire raised to allow them pass under without getting a shock. Raising the wire at several points works best, as this helps calves to find their way back to the cow, rather than trying to locate one single entry point.
Ideally, the wire should be raised where it meets the perimeter fencing wire, fence posts or hedgerows. This way, if you have to move calves forward manually, or back to cows, they are easier manoeuvred.
You can use larger plastic posts such as those for horse paddocks to raise the wire. Alternatively, simply tape two normal posts together to give added height. Mains electric works best in this option to hold cows back. But a good battery fencer with a 9v to 12v current will work fine provided battery charge is maintained. Once cows get used to the calves creeping ahead, they are less inclined to break the wire, unless they run out of grass.
Creep gates
An alternative to raising the wire is to make use of a creep gate. The gates can be attached to perimeter fencing posts to give extra stability as calves pass through.
Electric wire should then run from gate to the opposite side of the field, closing off an adequate-sized area for calves.
Alternatively, creep gates can be used at gateways to give calves access to the next paddock, or a laneway to access creep feeders.
Specialised gates
Field gates that are specifically designed to allow calves to creep through are also an option. While they work well, they should only be used once calves are well-trained to move ahead of cows and can make their way back to their dam unaided.
On farms where fields have stock-proof fencing in place, these gates are a good way to securely lock calves off cows as weaning approaches.
Creep feeding
Once calves are used to creeping ahead, there is the option to offer concentrates to young stock.
Where calves are grazing in a rotation, a static ad-lib feeder is less practical, unless it can be set up on a hardcore laneway that calves can access from multiple paddocks.
Ideally, feeding concentrates in light, portable troughs works best in a rotational setup. In a set stocking system, ad-lib creep feeders and portable troughs will work well.
Read more
Beef Management: BEEP weights, autumn reseeding and farm safety
Beef management: time to introduce the creep feeder for weanlings
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