There has been much talk about the decline of the suckler cow in the last months, and even years. The reality seems that numbers will continue to decline. However, she is still an important part of Irish agriculture. Although per hectare not the most efficient animal being farmed, she does have the ability to be a part of Ireland’s farming future. Key to this will be many things, but certainly the quality product that she produces is the main part of our export story. There will be opportunities in the future to add further value on farm by having high health and welfare standards. There may be a future even in the carbon-neutral suckler cow. To do this we need to focus in on suckler health planning. Lots of farmers have engaged with health plans, these are often stagnant documents that require box ticking. Beef health planning is a dynamic process that is ever-evolving and ever-improving.
I have seen first-hand by implementing this process that there can be huge strides forward in animal health. There are several reasons to engage with health planning.
Improve the profitability of your farm.Reduce your use of antibiotics.Improve animal welfare.Improve lifestyle with increased efficiency.Reduce GHG (green house gases).Better use of farm medicines.The big one is that beef health planning is more profitable. With any plan or change it is important that the farmer themselves want to change and improve. Some of these schemes have really failed to make big impacts and engage people with ongoing herd health planning. While it is important to engage vets and advisers, you must drive it yourself.
So, there are three major steps:
First, set out a benchmark to see where the farm is. When we consider the most important benchmark is kg live weight/gain, we must look at production figures first in suckler cow systems. Then look at the 10 specific areas I have listed out to look for risk within these. Within each of these areas there are KPIs that allow us to assess risk. This of course requires work, having some data to interpret and then picking an area to prioritise and work on.The most important part is taking action in a structured fashion under a time frame for improvement. Then remeasuring progress and moving to the next area to focus on.Step one: the benchmark
Keep this very simple as an overall review process to begin with. One of the fundamentals of this benchmark is the use of weight gains over a period of time. A weighing scales is a must for any serious beef enterprise that wants to track and improve overall performance.
Focus on three key parameters first:
Calves born per 100 cows in a year and aim for >95%Look at weaning weight as a percentage of cows bred on farm. Look for a target of 0.5kg/1kg/year. So, for each cow on farm we want to wean 50% of their body weight.For calves this requires a growth rate of 1kg a day to weaning as an average.These figures can be achieved but rarely are, so at the very least create a benchmark to work towards.Step two
There are 10 key areas to focus on and create a risk assessment for below. This can allow us to see where improvements can be made, in areas such as fertility and calf health, and will then potentially have the most impact, if we start working on these areas first. It is also a good time to reflect on what’s working well.
1. Genomics
Good genetics is where the potential production of the herd starts. Already we are seeing farmers involved in the BDGP scheme starting to see the results. This is probably an opportunity for farmers to reflect on whether they have the right cow for what the market wants, in the coming years.
2. Environment
Genetics creates the potential and management can achieve it. The environment the animals are managed in is so important. Look at cow comfort and stocking densities at housing. Look at ventilation and hygiene with particular emphasis at calving time. Lameness management comes into this category in my system here. I created a check list of points within this, to look at overall farm performance.
3. Fertility
This is the big one and improved efficiency here directly relates to increased profitability. There are a number of KPIs we can use to quickly assess overall fertility, such as calving interval, % cows that calve in the first three weeks and % of cows producing a live calf. With ICBF most farmers have the ability to utilise some phenomenal data and by focusing on a number of areas, make improvements.
Heifer management calving <24 months.Bull fertility.BCS.EBV genomics calving ease.Herd health.There is obviously some overlap between different areas when considering beef health planning. By looking at improving areas like BCS we can have a positive impact on a number of other areas.
4. Biosecurity
This is an area where big improvements can really be made on Irish farms. Keeping disease out and reducing its spread within the farm gates is paramount. Quarantine procedures with existing health screening can dramatically reduce the introduction of disease onto our farms. When buying in cattle, what are they being tested for, what dosing and vaccination do they receive on arrival? Proper disinfection protocols should be practised, right across the farm.
5. Calf health
Another huge area where we can make improvements on, is when looking at % cows that calve, % calves born, % calves that die etc, we can see here what diseases might be affecting calves and we can rule out still-births. Looking at management in the first 48 hours is really important. Getting calves disease-free after minimal calving intervention is key. This is where we focus on scour and pneumonia prevention in younger animals. We also can draw up standard operating procedures (SOPs) around routines for the farm, so anyone could walk in and clearly follow the protocols.
6. Infectious disease
Most people think herd health plans are often just vaccination calendars. Infectious diseases are important, by looking at which ones are a risk to the farm and vaccinating where appropriate.
IBR.Leptospirosis.Johnes.BVD.TB.Salmonella.Some farmers who improve monitoring and biosecurity may be able to reduce vaccination. Where vaccines are used, there must be a clear cost benefit to them. Certain vaccines like lepto and IBR probably need to be done, as standard on most beef enterprises.
7. Diagnostics
What testing are we doing on farm and what could we start doing? Again, there must be a cost benefit and this may need to be looked at each year. Things like silage analysis, faecal egg counts, blood testing of purchased stock, post mortems, young stock blood screens, etc.
People will think this may be excessive but it’s not about every farm doing everything and more about looking and discussing what may be needed to make an impact on overall production. What tests and what times of the year. Again, these results are no good unless they feed into actions and changes.
8. Parasite control
I regularly get asked “what’s the best dose I should be using?”. Every farm needs to build up their own dosing regimen that is specific to the parasite risk on their farm. When can we carry out some egg counts to feed into a plan? What are reports from the factories telling us about livers and any post mortems showing us? With wormer resistance now an issue, this type of approach is the best and also means we get much more value from any products used.
9. Nutrition
This is a key area on farm for profitability, remember:
Profitability= production (kg) x value (kg) – cost of production.
We can’t control value per kg often and most costs are often fixed, so aiming to increase production by maximising cheap available feed (grass) is key. Feeding supplementation at the key times to cows to get the best results. Body condition monitoring is the cheapest and best tool we have to monitor nutrition. Key times are 2-3 months out from calving and six weeks out from breeding.
While we often look for solutions in bottles, nothing gives a return like good nutrition management on farm.
10. People add resources
The biggest factor in health planning is the person driving it. Making clear decisions about what you want and where you’re going. Doing any of the necessary training and up-skilling to help you achieve your goals. Utilising expertise in the people you work with to help you achieve those goals, your vet, nutritionist and advisers.
Any task or goal can be achieved but needs to be done within a time frame and avoid burn out by trying to do it all by yourself.
Herd health planning can seem daunting and too detailed. Yes, the first year it requires some work. Once started though, a beef health plan can be very easy to manage. It must be dynamic and needs to be constantly fed into and reviewed. Data is a key part and starting to look at records helps us benchmark our progress.
The future of the suckler cow may seem uncertain, but many will be sticking with her. Just remember, you can’t control the wind but you can control the sail.
So take control and start developing a beef health plan in 2019.
There has been much talk about the decline of the suckler cow in the last months, and even years. The reality seems that numbers will continue to decline. However, she is still an important part of Irish agriculture. Although per hectare not the most efficient animal being farmed, she does have the ability to be a part of Ireland’s farming future. Key to this will be many things, but certainly the quality product that she produces is the main part of our export story. There will be opportunities in the future to add further value on farm by having high health and welfare standards. There may be a future even in the carbon-neutral suckler cow. To do this we need to focus in on suckler health planning. Lots of farmers have engaged with health plans, these are often stagnant documents that require box ticking. Beef health planning is a dynamic process that is ever-evolving and ever-improving.
I have seen first-hand by implementing this process that there can be huge strides forward in animal health. There are several reasons to engage with health planning.
Improve the profitability of your farm.Reduce your use of antibiotics.Improve animal welfare.Improve lifestyle with increased efficiency.Reduce GHG (green house gases).Better use of farm medicines.The big one is that beef health planning is more profitable. With any plan or change it is important that the farmer themselves want to change and improve. Some of these schemes have really failed to make big impacts and engage people with ongoing herd health planning. While it is important to engage vets and advisers, you must drive it yourself.
So, there are three major steps:
First, set out a benchmark to see where the farm is. When we consider the most important benchmark is kg live weight/gain, we must look at production figures first in suckler cow systems. Then look at the 10 specific areas I have listed out to look for risk within these. Within each of these areas there are KPIs that allow us to assess risk. This of course requires work, having some data to interpret and then picking an area to prioritise and work on.The most important part is taking action in a structured fashion under a time frame for improvement. Then remeasuring progress and moving to the next area to focus on.Step one: the benchmark
Keep this very simple as an overall review process to begin with. One of the fundamentals of this benchmark is the use of weight gains over a period of time. A weighing scales is a must for any serious beef enterprise that wants to track and improve overall performance.
Focus on three key parameters first:
Calves born per 100 cows in a year and aim for >95%Look at weaning weight as a percentage of cows bred on farm. Look for a target of 0.5kg/1kg/year. So, for each cow on farm we want to wean 50% of their body weight.For calves this requires a growth rate of 1kg a day to weaning as an average.These figures can be achieved but rarely are, so at the very least create a benchmark to work towards.Step two
There are 10 key areas to focus on and create a risk assessment for below. This can allow us to see where improvements can be made, in areas such as fertility and calf health, and will then potentially have the most impact, if we start working on these areas first. It is also a good time to reflect on what’s working well.
1. Genomics
Good genetics is where the potential production of the herd starts. Already we are seeing farmers involved in the BDGP scheme starting to see the results. This is probably an opportunity for farmers to reflect on whether they have the right cow for what the market wants, in the coming years.
2. Environment
Genetics creates the potential and management can achieve it. The environment the animals are managed in is so important. Look at cow comfort and stocking densities at housing. Look at ventilation and hygiene with particular emphasis at calving time. Lameness management comes into this category in my system here. I created a check list of points within this, to look at overall farm performance.
3. Fertility
This is the big one and improved efficiency here directly relates to increased profitability. There are a number of KPIs we can use to quickly assess overall fertility, such as calving interval, % cows that calve in the first three weeks and % of cows producing a live calf. With ICBF most farmers have the ability to utilise some phenomenal data and by focusing on a number of areas, make improvements.
Heifer management calving <24 months.Bull fertility.BCS.EBV genomics calving ease.Herd health.There is obviously some overlap between different areas when considering beef health planning. By looking at improving areas like BCS we can have a positive impact on a number of other areas.
4. Biosecurity
This is an area where big improvements can really be made on Irish farms. Keeping disease out and reducing its spread within the farm gates is paramount. Quarantine procedures with existing health screening can dramatically reduce the introduction of disease onto our farms. When buying in cattle, what are they being tested for, what dosing and vaccination do they receive on arrival? Proper disinfection protocols should be practised, right across the farm.
5. Calf health
Another huge area where we can make improvements on, is when looking at % cows that calve, % calves born, % calves that die etc, we can see here what diseases might be affecting calves and we can rule out still-births. Looking at management in the first 48 hours is really important. Getting calves disease-free after minimal calving intervention is key. This is where we focus on scour and pneumonia prevention in younger animals. We also can draw up standard operating procedures (SOPs) around routines for the farm, so anyone could walk in and clearly follow the protocols.
6. Infectious disease
Most people think herd health plans are often just vaccination calendars. Infectious diseases are important, by looking at which ones are a risk to the farm and vaccinating where appropriate.
IBR.Leptospirosis.Johnes.BVD.TB.Salmonella.Some farmers who improve monitoring and biosecurity may be able to reduce vaccination. Where vaccines are used, there must be a clear cost benefit to them. Certain vaccines like lepto and IBR probably need to be done, as standard on most beef enterprises.
7. Diagnostics
What testing are we doing on farm and what could we start doing? Again, there must be a cost benefit and this may need to be looked at each year. Things like silage analysis, faecal egg counts, blood testing of purchased stock, post mortems, young stock blood screens, etc.
People will think this may be excessive but it’s not about every farm doing everything and more about looking and discussing what may be needed to make an impact on overall production. What tests and what times of the year. Again, these results are no good unless they feed into actions and changes.
8. Parasite control
I regularly get asked “what’s the best dose I should be using?”. Every farm needs to build up their own dosing regimen that is specific to the parasite risk on their farm. When can we carry out some egg counts to feed into a plan? What are reports from the factories telling us about livers and any post mortems showing us? With wormer resistance now an issue, this type of approach is the best and also means we get much more value from any products used.
9. Nutrition
This is a key area on farm for profitability, remember:
Profitability= production (kg) x value (kg) – cost of production.
We can’t control value per kg often and most costs are often fixed, so aiming to increase production by maximising cheap available feed (grass) is key. Feeding supplementation at the key times to cows to get the best results. Body condition monitoring is the cheapest and best tool we have to monitor nutrition. Key times are 2-3 months out from calving and six weeks out from breeding.
While we often look for solutions in bottles, nothing gives a return like good nutrition management on farm.
10. People add resources
The biggest factor in health planning is the person driving it. Making clear decisions about what you want and where you’re going. Doing any of the necessary training and up-skilling to help you achieve your goals. Utilising expertise in the people you work with to help you achieve those goals, your vet, nutritionist and advisers.
Any task or goal can be achieved but needs to be done within a time frame and avoid burn out by trying to do it all by yourself.
Herd health planning can seem daunting and too detailed. Yes, the first year it requires some work. Once started though, a beef health plan can be very easy to manage. It must be dynamic and needs to be constantly fed into and reviewed. Data is a key part and starting to look at records helps us benchmark our progress.
The future of the suckler cow may seem uncertain, but many will be sticking with her. Just remember, you can’t control the wind but you can control the sail.
So take control and start developing a beef health plan in 2019.
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