While herd health requirements will vary from farm-to-farm, having a plan in place is essential.

Below is a template that will be circulated to the BETTER Farm programme farms for use where applicable.

April

Breeding stock

  • Initial BVD vaccine early in the month.
  • Pre-breeding scan for cows and maiden heifers.
  • Don’t forget the booster BVD vaccine for heifers at the end of the month.
  • Calves

  • IBR vaccine.
  • Cryptospiridium control in late calves.
  • Coccidiosis control.
  • First clostridial vaccine.
  • May

    Breeding stock

  • Heat and service recording.
  • Calves

  • Don’t forget the booster clostridial vaccine.
  • June

    Breeding stock

  • Heat and service recording.
  • Calves

  • Begin monitoring worm burdens and treat, if necessary.
  • July

    Breeding stock

  • Monitor worm burden particularly in first-calving cows and treat, if necessary.
  • Calves

  • Monitor worm burdens and treat, if necessary.
  • August

    Breeding stock

  • Pregnancy scan.
  • Calves

  • Monitor worm burdens and treat, if necessary.
  • Initial pneumonia vaccine.
  • September

    Calves

  • Booster pneumonia vaccine.
  • October

    Calves

  • Pre-housing worm treatment.
  • IBR vaccine.
  • November

    Breeding stock

  • Initial leptospirosis vaccine early in the month.
  • Don’t forget leptospirosis vaccine for heifers at the end of the month.
  • Calves

  • Clip backs and tails.
  • Lice treatment.
  • December

    Breeding stock

  • Fluke treatment (after eight weeks indoors).
  • Lice treatment.
  • Scour vaccine in early-calving cows.
  • Calves

  • Fluke and worm treatment.
  • Monitor lice and treat, if necessary.
  • January

    Breeding stock

  • IBR vaccine to all cows.
  • February

    Breeding stock

  • Monitor lice and treat, if necessary.
  • Scour vaccine in late-calving cows.
  • March

    Breeding stock

  • Magnesium bolus pre-turnout.
  • Calves

  • IBR vaccine.
  • Cryptospiridium control, if necessary.
  • Coccidiosis control.