Beef Technical
Many farms rearing calves are at a stage where calves are eating sufficient amounts of dry feed and are ready to be weaned off milk replacer.
Beef
As many beef farmers have moved away from bull-beef production, many are now choosing to start castrating males this spring.
With cows being turned out to grass, the attention must turn to the prevention of grass tetany at pasture as we enter a high-risk period.
With the wet weather returning over the past week, the wind and rain proved to be a hard on stock that had been turned out in recent times.
Farmers should aim to have 60% of there cows calved in the first month and 80% of their cows calves by the second month.
The recent heavy rainfalls and reduced lengthy dry spells has left land that more challenging for farmers to start grazing cows or weanlings.
As the calving season falls upon us it is important to always be vigilant of cows and heifers coming up to calving.
No farmer wants to see their cows requiring a caesarean section, especially during a busy calving season.
Coming up to the spring-calving season, it is important that farmers offer the right minerals both pre-calving and post-calving.
As farms reach the mid-way point of the housing period, it may be time to review remaining feed supplies and complete a fodder budget.
The winter is drawing to an end and spring time on the horizon, it is time for suckler farmer to start thinking of their cows calving down.
On beef farms, the quality of grass silage is a critical aspect to the winter feeding period, especially in calf-to-beef systems.
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.
Liver fluke can be a major threat to beef farms. Farmers should aim to reduce the impact of internal parasites on cattle's thrive
Beef management: If not being outwintered, one of the most important animals being housed during this time is the herd's stockbull.
The management of weanlings over the winter is a very important factor in achieving a margin from these cattle.
