With the onset of winter rapidly approaching and grass quality decreasing, Wynnstay’s beef and sheep manager, Bryn Hughes, advises farmers to plan ahead for housing cattle over winter.
Roundworms in cattle can reduce growth rates by up to 30% (1) so it is important not to delay the mid-season pour-on dose as this potentially leads to a loss of production as the worm burden could start to impact on growth rates. It can be hard to notice the economic impact of worms unless regular weighing is taking place as reduction in growth rates will take place before any more obvious clinical signs are seen.
The transition period impacts cow health, fertility and production, therefore, effective and efficient management during this time is key. To do so, Wynnstay dairy specialist David Jones, recommends focussing on four F’s: feet, forage, feed and facilities.
As a farmer, planning worm control prior to turnout is vital to prevent cattle from becoming infected at grass, which could lead to subsequent production losses. Asking the following questions can help you and your animal health care provider understand when to treat cattle and with what product:
Restore 5 + is a new mycotoxin binder for use in 2021 dairy rations, available exclusively through Wynnstay.
It is the first of its kind in the UK market, it offers complete mycotoxin binding and immune support, with 5 scientifically proven modes of action.
All good nutritionists know that every single farm has a minimum of three rations. The first is the ration that the nutritionist formulates, the second is the one that is loaded, mixed and fed out and the third is the one the cows sort out and consume. The difference between the first and final ration can be enormous & the principal affects grass-based herds as much as TMR fed ones. Afterall there is the grass that is measured (either by eye, sward stick or plate meter), the grass that is allocated to the cows (by field or fence) and the grass (and concentrate) that the cows consume and digest.
It is no secret to everyone in agriculture that public perception is putting increasing pressure on running a more sustainable enterprise.
It is fair to say that we have a responsibility to not only be the most sustainably efficient farms possible, but also to publicise and educate the general public.
Those who have worked with me know my opinion regarding beef and dairy calves - a calf is a calf! Whether beef or dairy, it should be reared to the highest standard, and the first 3 months is when they are most feed-efficient, therefore enhancing higher daily live weight gains. Nutrition is not the only area we should focus on, we also have to consider health and housing in order to maximise calf performance.
A key factor in producing quality forage is a carefully planned reseeding programme revolving around the core principle that you should aim to reseed 15% of the farm each year.
It is estimated that reseeding costs £250/ acre, making it a major investment, which requires attention to detail throughout the process. The starting point to this is selecting the right grass seed mixture which will suit your end requirements.
