Over 1,500 farmers attended the Beef Roadshow events held at seven livestock marts in recent weeks.
The events, which took place in Ballinasloe, Tullamore, Roscommon, Cootehill, Ennis, Castleisland and Kilkenny, were organised by members of XLVets, a group of 25 progressive veterinary practices which aims to deliver excellence in veterinary services to farmers through sharing experience, knowledge and skills.
The initiative was supported XLVets Skillnet; MSD Animal Health; Munster Cattle Breeding Group; Progressive Genetics; and Chanelle Veterinary. It was approved by the Department of Agriculture for farmers participating in its Knowledge Transfer discussion group programme.
Farmers attending each event got expert and practical advice on critical aspects of nutrition, health, breeding and management of suckler cows and their progeny. All seven events were expertly chaired by Tullamore-based veterinary practitioner Donal Lynch, a founding member of XLVets.
Donal Lynch, XLVets, who chaired all seven Beef Roadshows
Breeding
Sisters Rose Goulding of the National Cattle Breeding Centre and Dr. Doreen Corridan of the Munster Cattle Breeding Group highlighted important aspects of cow fertility and breeding.
They stressed the benefits of breaking the cow/calf bond in getting the cow back in heat and the importance of good cow body condition to a successful breeding programme.
Speakers at the Beef Roadshow in Roscommon livestock mart: John Heslin, MSD Animal Health; Ciarán Lenehan, Chanelle Veterinary; Donal Lynch, XLVets; Donal Flynn, All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, Roscommon; Rose Goulding, National Cattle Breeding Centre; and Suzanne Naughton, MSD Animal Health
They highlighted the importance of the Replacement Index in choosing bulls to breed replacements. They warned about the dangers associated with sourcing bulls through pedigree bull sales, saying that many of these animals have excessive condition and the shock of moving to a ‘working environment’ can have a big impact on health and fertility.
Looking on the brighter side of things at the Beef Roadshow in Roscommon
Ideally, a bull should be bought between two and six months before he is needed. He should be fertility tested and concentrate levels should be eased back gradually.
Stress
John Heslin, who managed the Derrypatrick suckler herd at Teagasc Grange before joining MSD Animal Health last summer, gave pointers on key practices around weaning and housing.
John Heslin, MSD Animal Health, speaking at the Beef Roadshow in Roscommon
Animals that are stressed have lower immunity to respiratory diseases. Meal feeding before weaning, combined with vaccination and well-ventilated housing, are all important in ensuring healthy animals.
Ciarán Lenehan from Chanelle Veterinary dealt with the importance of managing cow condition score over the winter period.
A section of the large attendance at the Beef Roadshow in Roscommon
The first priority is to establish the quality and feeding value of the silage. This will determine the level of concentrate to be fed to weanlings and cows.
If silage quality is poor, thin cows will need 2.5kg/day of concentrate. Feeding minerals and soya bean meal in the weeks leading up to calving are also important.
The events were also addressed by veterinarians working with MSD Animal Health on the role of vaccines in preventing respiratory diseases and on the safe and effective use of these vaccines.
