Michael and Niall Biggins November/December Update 2024
- Weanlings & in calf heifers housed
- Dosing for rumen fluke
- Changes to shed to improve ventilation
Dosing & shed environment
- Silage sample results
- Feeding rates of ration
- Straw added to diet for bull weanlings
Winter feeding
Breeding
This year they have decided to try out the new cryptosporidium vaccine that is available from MSD. Historically there has been an issue with crypto on the farm in the calves. Michael and Niall were administering 8ml of Cryptisel (similar to Halocur) for 7 days to each calf after birth as a preventative. The labour involved with restraining and dosing the calf, along with monitoring the 7 days administration on the chart, plus the danger of the freshly calved cows nearby, meant that Michael and Niall were more than happy to try the vaccine. It cost €20 per cow as the cows had to get two shots; one between 7 to 12 weeks pre calving, and the second one 4-5 weeks later (at least 3 weeks pre-calving). Next year a single booster shot it all that the cows will need which will be cheaper per head.
Around Christmas time, Michael and Niall will separate the cows according to calving date. They are happy with the body condition of the cows and heifers at present, and none have been picked out for preferential treatment. However the silage quality is exceptionally good so they are restrict feeding it to avoid the cows gaining too much weight. There are 14 cows per bay in a 5 bay shed and they receive 2 bales of silage every 2 days. Most importantly, there is enough head space for every cow to eat at the same time.
Figure 1: Cows are being fed restrictively on good quality silage
Bagged pre-calving minerals will be fed for at least 6 weeks before calving. The recommended feeding rate is max. 108g/head/day and it will be dusted along the silage. The mineral is very good quality and is meeting most of the nutritional demands of the cows before calving, despite being slightly low in phosphorus, manganese and vitamin A. At €28 for a 20kg it works out at 15c/head/day at a feeding rate of 108g/head/day.
Figure 2: Pre-calving mineral spec that is being used on the farm
The calving cameras will also be checked.
Animal Health
All cattle have been treated with Spot On.
The weanlings were housed at the end of November and will be FEC sampled this month. The in calf heifers are housed 1 month.
The cows were treated for liver fluke and the bulls were treated for rumen fluke. Michael and Niall have noticed that has been an issue for the last few years for cattle grazing on the Bog fields. These are heavier in nature than other fields on the farm and are something they have been monitoring. The rumen fluke dose does not treat for early immature liver fluke, immature liver fluke, lung worms or stomach worms so a separate dose is needed to treat for them.
Michael and Niall raised the sheeting on the shed where the weanlings are housed to improve the ventilation by increasing the air outlet. They raised 2 sheets for every span. While there were no health issues in the shed, there was a smell of ammonia on calm, non-windy days and there was no direct air outlet in the shed roof.
Figure 3: Raised sheeting to improve air flow in the shed
Animal Nutrition
The silage was tested on Michael and Niall’s farm and the results were excellent. The first cut grass silage is 73.9% DMD with 14.24% crude protein at 31.91% dry matter.
The first cut red clover silage is 78.67% DMD with 22.07% crude protein at 19.37% dry matter so it is quite wet. However the second cut red clover silage is 75.4% DMD with 17.44% crude protein at 34.33% dry matter.
Figure 4: Second cut red clover silage results
This is the silage that Michael and Niall are feeding to the weanlings. They reduced the ration from 2-2.5kg to 1kg/head/day. It could be further reduced to 0.5kg/head/day but they are front loading it to help with the transition to the shed from grass and can cut it back after Christmas. Intakes appear to be good as they are eating 1 bale every 2 days. They are also feeding a small bit of straw to help dry up some weanlings where their dungs are loose after housing.
Figure 5: Bull weanlings being fed red clover silage and straw