Beef and Sheep Notes September 2011
Suckler cows
Suckler cows are always at risk from magnesium deficiency. However, during September and October summer and early autumn calved cows are particularly at risk. Cows require magnesium on a daily basis and are more susceptible to deficiency when under stress and when grazing lush swards during poor weather.
Provide 60g per cow per day of calcined magnesite. The method of supply is personal choice.
Feeding magnesium rich concentrate and/or a magnesium bolus has proved successful for many farmers. Providing magnesium blocks or licks is a good alternative, however sufficient daily intake is not guaranteed. Also dosing with a magnesium bolus provides added security.
Soils with a high potash content can reduce magnesium uptake. This can lead to deficiency in breeding stock. A soil analysis of grazing areas (based on analysis every four years cost 25p per acre per year) will lead to more effective fertiliser use thus reducing costs.
Suckled calves
Gradually step up creep feeding of suckled calves while maintaining access to good sward covers (2600 - 3000 kg dry matter per hectare, 9-11cm in height). For example, limit to a maximum of 2.5 kg per head per day for 250 kg bull calves and 1.5 kg per head per day for 200 kg heifer calves.
Start your pneumonia vaccination programme now and if not already carried out dose for lungworm.
Beef cattle
To maintain at least one kg of liveweight gain per day during autumn
finishing cattle need good quality swards with average covers of 3000 kg dry matter per hectare. Aim to graze down to 1600 kg dry matter per hectare, ground conditions permitting.
As the energy value in grass is much less in the back end, finishing continental cattle need to be supplemented with 2.5 kg per head per day for heifers and 3.5 kg per head per day for bullocks. Traditional breeds will require less. Grass along with concentrates is a lot cheaper than a silage/concentrate diet.
Plan now to extend the grazing season for store cattle by sowing fertiliser before 15 September on your better swards and drier areas and then rotationally graze. Plan to have at least 30 grazing days ahead with average covers of 3000 kg dry matter per hectare. Some of the best grassland farms are achieving 200 days at grass.
SHEEP
Ewes
Graze bought in breeding stock separately for at least two weeks. Also treat any feet problems which are often traced back to bought in sheep. Pare feet if necessary and footbath in a Zinc Sulphate or Formalin solution immediately after purchase. Hold the sheep in the footbath pen until the feet are dry.
Target all ewes to have a body score of 3.0 - 3.5 at the point of tupping (assess condition scores every three weeks). Plan to have sufficient grass by sowing 40/50 kg nitrogen per hectare (1.3 bags per acre) on the more productive and drier areas before mid September. Ewes with a body score of 2.5 will need to be grazed on swards with more than 2250 kg dry matter per hectare cover (7cm) for 6-10 weeks to hit target body score at tupping.
Carry out all ewe preparations for tupping, including veterinary treatments, at least three weeks before mating.
There are a number of important veterinary issues that need addressing.
- Vaccination against ‘clostridial’ diseases. (correct usage/timing)
- Increasing fluke problems and increasing cases of anthelmintic ‘fluke’ resistance
- Abortion disease on farm and treating bought in sheep
Discuss these issues with your Veterinary Surgeon and develop a sheep health plan to prevent these diseases affecting ewe survival and lamb rearing percentage.
Rams
It takes about seven weeks to prepare rams for tupping.
- If you are limited in ram numbers it is worthwhile getting your vet to carry out a fertility check now
- Feed rams a suitable ration; high energy with 16-18 percent protein. Feed 0.75 kg per head per day on good swards
- Do not feed a ewe ration to rams as high levels could cause ‘Urinary Calculi’
- Aim for a condition score of four pre tupping
- Vaccinate against Clostridial diseases and fluke drench at least three weeks in advance of tupping
