Have you clipped your cattle yet?

Housing time on beef farms can result in a farmer having a list of management tasks to undertake while the cattle are in the shed. The clipping of the cattle’s backs should be one of these tasks.

Even if the animals have been clipped back in October, the regrowth of hair will be well established soon after the new year and may require a repeat cut.

Clipping should begin at the top of the head and follow right through to the end of their tail. There should be one run of the clipper along the base of the animal’s spine, with a further one or two runs either side to complete a full clipping of the topline.

It’s important that clipper’s are maintained and oiled before use and blades are sharpened if necessary.

Benefits of clipping

As cattle are housed it can result in humid and high temperatures being created within a shed. Cattle’s coats are encouraged to grow thick and long as a result of decreased access to UV sunlight.

By clipping the backs of the animal, it allows excess heat to leave their body and cool down more effectively – which reduces a potential risk of pneumonia occurring.

Potential increases in growth rates and daily liveweight performance may be noted – as the animal will not be uncomfortable or stressed.

From another herd health perspective, it allows for the effective management of external parasites. By clipping the hair on the top of the animal, it removes the shelter area for lice to hide.

If using a pour-on dose to treat lice, ideally and practically it should be completed after the animals have been clipped, as this will allow for a close skin contact treatment.

For cows calving in early 2021, by clipping their hair it will ensure that dung will not gather on their tails causing their udders to get dirty pre-calving.