After a difficult spring, cows were slow to come into heat due to the poor grazing conditions. Re-housing of cows and a change of diet can have a negative effect on cow fertility which is why the farms prioritised the cows this spring over store cattle. Stock bulls were also allowed to run with cows for an extra few weeks to reduce the likelihood of a high number of barren cows.

Scanning cows will identify the cows which are empty at an early stage.

Where fodder reserves are still likely to be under pressure this winter, these animals can be sold off to reduce the feed demand.

They can be replaced with an in-calf heifer, or a cow with calf at foot, to maintain breeding numbers, which is important to prevent a drop in output for future years.

Silage

The unsettled weather is delaying the harvesting of any second cut silage that has yet to be cut. The programme advisers have said that the yields of second cut are excellent and will go a long way to replenishing silage reserves on farm.

Where possible, the farms are trying to harvest the silage on dry days to get a short wilt of grass to improve quality.

The staggering of cutting is of benefit on some farms as it means that the entire silage ground is not coming back into the grazing rotation at one time. Instead, silage ground is coming back in phases, which has improved grass utilisation once livestock are grazing.

Pneumonia

Temperatures at night are starting to drop which is increasing the risk of pneumonia in young stock. Over the next few weeks, some of the programme farms will start to give calves and weanlings their first shot of vaccine. The calves will then receive a booster shot just prior to, or at housing. Calf health should be a primary concern on all farms.

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Calves that are not vaccinated will be at high risk when housed, especially if this coincides with weaning. In such instances, a pneumonia outbreak can quickly multiply and treatment will far outweigh the cost of the vaccine.

WEEK IN REVIEW

Spring calving cows are now being scanned.

Empty cows will be sold and replaced with in-calf heifers or cows with a calf at foot.

Rain is delaying the harvesting of second cut silage.

Where second cut silage has been made, the ground is now coming back into the grazing rotation.

Some farms are giving weanlings a primary shot of pneumonia vaccine.

TOP TIPS

Cows that are suckling strong February and March-born calves will be at risk of tetany when grazing lush grass or silage aftermaths. Ensure that cows have access to lick buckets with one bucket per 10 cows.