Weather forecasts indicate there is plenty of rain expected in the coming days and this will see grazing coming to an end on many farms.

When it comes to housing cattle, don’t wait until every field is saturated or poached before starting to shift cattle inside.

Be proactive and start housing ahead of heavy rain, taking every opportunity to bring cattle inside when they are dry.

Housing cattle when they are dry, and in phases, greatly reduces animal stress and disease risks in the shed.

Protecting grazing ground from poaching in autumn will also have a positive effect on grass growth next spring.

Weight gain

Grass quality is extremely poor as October comes to an end. Weanlings and stores destined for sale next spring are better off inside on a silage diet of high dry matter as liveweight gain will improve.

Management

To help cattle settle in sheds, offer good quality silage with a high dry matter. Concentrate should also be fed morning and night for the first week.

It does not have to be a big volume of meal. Feeding 1kg/head will suffice. The meal will show animals that are slow to come forward and feed in the days immediately after housing.

Cattle that are slow to eats may be in the early stages of an illness and early treatment can prevent a herd breakdown.

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