Vet's corner: keep the good start going

At this time, it can be useful to reflect on what has so far been a good farming year. We have had what I would regard as a healthy spring and certainly one of the best that I have experienced.

Of course, the good weather has been a big help, but much of the improvement is the reward for all the time and effort that farmers are putting into improving animal husbandry.

This can be seen in the big numbers of cows that calve in the first few weeks of the calving season and the increased attention paid to good calf-rearing on most farms.

People can now really see the benefits of good colostrum management, good straw beds and good ventilation in calf houses. Of course, there will always be a place for vaccinations, but they are of little value if the husbandry is sub-optimal.

Attention to detail has to be part of the daily routine and pays well in the long run.

We are now midway through the breeding season and the temptation can be there to take the foot off the pedal.

At this stage, there is still time to get late-calvers and problem cows scanned by your vet and given appropriate treatment. Putting the late-calvers on a breeding programme now will definitely increase their chance of remaining in the herd for next year.

Many dairy farmers will now have stopped AI and let off the bulls for the remainder of the breeding season. This makes the bull the most important animal on the farm for the next four to six weeks.

Good strong mature bulls are always best. If there is any doubt about a bull, he should be semen-tested by your vet.

It is generally accepted that up to 20% of bulls are sub-fertile. This means they will not put enough cows in calf to satisfy any commercial dairy farmer. These bulls should not be left out with the herd at all, as they will get in the way of other bulls mating with cows.

Also beware of bulls going lame and getting sick. Any bull that gets pneumonia, red water, suffers a bad injury or goes lame at this time of year is a write-off for the remainder of the season.

This is because it takes at least six weeks for his sperm production to recover after such a problem.

Attention to detail on the second half of the breeding season will be rewarded next spring.

Edwin Murphy works at Adare Veterinary Surgery, Adare, Co Limerick. Adare Veterinary Surgery is part of XLVets. XLVets is a group of progressive practices working together to achieve a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland. For further information, see www.xlvets.ie.