Beef and sheep notes January 2010

Getting soil analysed is often overlooked or neglected on some farms. January or February is an ideal time to carry out this task.  Finding out the phosphate, potash and lime status is essential before purchasing or applying any chemical fertilizer.  Why pay to apply nutrients that maybe already at a sufficient level in the soil.  Under the Nitrates Directive a soil analysis is compulsory for any field receiving compound fertilizer containing phosphate.

Soil pH for grassland should be between 6.0 and 6.5 for optimum fertilizer utilisation and plant growth.  An index of two for phosphate and potash should be the target.  Slurry and farmyard manure can be more efficiently used and consequently fertiliser costs reduced if the results are put into practice.

Collecting a soil sample is a simple task and can be carried out using either a specific soil auger or spade.  Samples should be taken at regular intervals over the field in a ‘W’ pattern and each core taken to a depth of 75mm (three inches).  One sample should represent four ha (10 acres) and should contain about 25 soil cores. Smaller fields can be grouped together if they are receiving similar fertilizer treatment.

For more information on soil analysis and nutrient planning, contact your local DARD development adviser.

Cow condition at calving influences a number of factors including on calf mortality but also poor body condition at calving will delay rebreeding, resulting in a lengthening of calving intervals and potentially more barren cows.  Research has indicated that cows less than condition score 2.0 at calving will be up to three weeks slower going back in - calf.  Where there are a significant number of cows in a herd less than condition score 2.0 at calving, the calving interval (period between calvings) will not be maintained at the 365 day target.  For these reasons aim to have cows in forward or fit condition of 2.5 to 3.0 at calving.  On the other hand, at a herd average of over 3.5 there is likely to be an increasing trend of calving difficulties with no benefits in terms of fertility.

In practical terms cows calving in January or February should calve down at a condition score nearer 3.0 because they will likely loose condition post calving  in the sheds with calves suckling and will not have an opportunity  to rectify the situation  at grass prior to service.  Feeding average to good quality silage should achieve these aims for early calvers.  Cows carrying their second calves, aged cows and good milkers where condition may be suspect may benefit from 1- 2 kgs of meal to supplement the silage.  Pre-calving minerals should always be fed with silage only diets at a rate of 100 g per cow per day.

Lots of sheep across NI will now be housed in preparation for lambing.  Here are four questions to help assess how well the housing period will be managed on your farm:

1) Is there good ventilation in the sheep house?

Typical signs of poor ventilation in the sheep house include lots of condensation, cobwebs, sheep with wet and dirty fleeces etc.  If your sheep house suffers from these symptoms, remedial action must be taken.  Poor ventilation leads to the build up of bacterial and viral infections, and costs you money in terms of poor performance and extra veterinary costs.

2) How many sheep per pen?

In a straw bedded scenario large ewes (90kg) need 1.4m² of lying space each. On wire mesh or concrete slats this reduces to 1.2m² per head.

Measure the size of your pens to work out how much floor space you have. Do not overcrowd the pens.

Example: A slatted pen 4.54m (15’) x 4.54m (15’) = 20.6m²

This size of a pen will hold 14 large sheep (90kg).

3) Is there enough space for all ewes to feed at once?

Unless ewes are being fed a TMR (Total Mixed Ration) using a diet feeder, it is essential that there is enough feed space for all ewes to feed at one time.  A large ewe (90kg) needs 0.6m feed space.  Smaller ewes need 0.5m per head.

4) What can be done to improve labour efficiency?

Some of the most progressive sheep farmers have adapted their sheep housing and lambing facilities to reduce labour input.  Seeing is believing - take time to visit some of the new Sheep Focus Farms to see what they are doing to improve labour efficiency.

The occurrence of three wet summers in a row, as well as mild winters, has significantly increased the threat posed by liver fluke.

Many farmers who believe that fluke was not a threat on their holdings are finding that they are having fluke related losses, while others are finding that their control strategies are inadequate.  Samples and carcases received at the Veterinary Laboratories indicate liver damage and condemnations of livers at the Meat Plants are rising.

In conjunction with your Vet, it is important to adopt a good treatment programme.  Treatment of animals after housing or after buying in is a good practice.  If your flukicide only kills adult or later immature flukes you will need a repeat dose some weeks later, when the remaining flukes are old enough to be killed with that product.