10 steps to reduce the health risks when buying cattle

Autumn is a key period for buying and selling cattle. When animals move to a new farm, they come under stress which can suppress their immune system, thereby making them more susceptible to picking up a new disease.

It can also cause an underlying health issue already present in the animal to become a problem. For example, IBR can lie dormant within a herd but only cause issues during periods when cattle become overly stressed, such as at housing.

Farm to farm

Generally speaking, farm-to-farm sales present a lower disease risk when purchasing cattle. Buyers can view the entire herd, gaining an insight into the level of herd management, especially herd health. Farm-to-farm sales tend to be easier on cattle compared with selling through a mart. Cattle can be loaded quickly and moved straight to their new holding, reducing the stress of handling and transport on animals.

In addition, cattle avoid coming into contact with other animals which are a potential source of infection; this is not possible in a farmyard. However, it is not always practical to source sufficient numbers of cattle when needed through farm-to-farm sales.

Mart sales

Buying cattle in the mart can be much more convenient for farmers who purchase animals on a regular basis. Such buyers quickly develop experience in knowing which animals to bid on and which ones to avoid.

Regardless of where cattle are being purchased, you should be following a similar protocol to improve your chances of sourcing healthy animals. This can be achieved by following the outlined steps.

1 Inspect animals first: Regardless of where you buy cattle, always check that they are moving freely and carrying weight on all feet. Check that eyes are bright and clear of any sign of discharge.

When buying breeding cows, make sure there are no blind quarters on the udder and that it is free from swelling and signs of mastitis.

Make sure that weanlings are not breathing heavy, or at an accelerated rate. Always try to observe animals in a settled state as breathing will be affected after cattle have been herded.

Cattle that are heavily soiled at the hind quarter may require dosing, but check to see if cattle were grazing lush swards that have been well fertilised as this also causes loose dung.

2 Buy from a known source: Buying cattle from the same farmer can reduce the chances of you bringing disease on to your farm. But there is still a disease risk, so remain vigilant regardless of where animals are sourced. Talk to the farmer who is selling and ask a few questions about the health background of the herd.

3 Buy weanlings that have been properly weaned: For farmers purchasing weanlings this autumn, try to select animals that have been properly weaned before sale.

Calves that are taken off the cow and moved straight to the mart will have a much higher risk of developing pneumonia once they reach their new holding.

Such calves will be bawling and unsettled. They may also appear dull and have laboured breathing due to stress and the effect of standing in holding pens for several hours prior to sale.

4 Buy cattle before the housing period: If possible, buying cattle in early autumn is a good idea. Newly purchased stock can be turned out to paddocks close to the yard to settle.

Putting these cattle to grass is better than moving them from the mart straight to cattle housing where they could spread disease to other animals on farm.

5 Isolate animals where possible: Newly purchased cattle should be isolated from the main herd for a period of 10 to 14 days. This gives ample time for the new cattle to settle and exhibit any signs of illness. Bought-in cattle can still be a source of infection even if they do not appear sick.

6 Vaccinate and dose: Before joining the main herd, bought-in cattle should be vaccinated and treated for internal parasites if they have not already been covered.

7 Group cattle in even batches: Group weanlings and forward stores based on type, age, size and weight. This will cut down on bullying within the group, especially if feed space is limited, preventing all animals from eating at the same time.

When working with bulls, keep the group size consistent from the start. Mixing bulls later in winter increases the level of aggression and stress in animals.

8 Offer meals: Offering bought-in cattle meal as soon as they arrive on farm is a good idea. Not only will it help animals to settle, it will show up any animals that are slow to come forward and feed. These animals are possibly in the early stages of pneumonia and can be isolated for treatment and monitoring.

9 Airflow: Fresh air is essential for healthy cattle. Make sure there is a steady flow of fresh air passing through sheds. Increase air inlet and outlet space but make sure you do not create a draught. Young calves should not be in the same airspace with bought-in cattle for finishing.

10 Blood sample: For farmers who only purchase in-calf heifers or cows for breeding, taking a few blood samples will provide a good overview of the animal’s health status for both disease and minerals. Dung samples will do a similar job, indicating if the previous treatments for internal parasites have been effective.

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Special focus: winter animal health