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FIRST WINTER
TARGETS: target average daily live weight gain of 0.5 - 0.7kg/heifer/day over the first winter period.
ANIMAL NUTRITION
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● GAIN Wean ‘N’ Build should be offered alongside grass silage. Feeding rates will be dependent on silage quality. ● Typically, silage and 1.5 - 2kg concentrate/day will result in weight gain of 0.5 - 0.7kg/day
First Winter Target Growth 0.5 - 0.7kg
Poor
60% DMD
Average
65% DMD
High
70% DMD
Very High
75% DMD
Silage +3.2kg Silage +2.5kg Silage +1.4kg Silage +0.7kg
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY
Prior to the first winter period, heifers must be weighed to ensure targets are being met, in order to achieve the desired weight at breeding. Daily live weight gains can be recorded using a electronic weigh scales or using a weight tape.
How to use a weight tape
Make sure the animal is adequately restrained and that your safety is not at risk. Drop the tape down the far side of the animal and pull around the chest, making sure the tape is just behind the elbow of the calf. Bring the end of the tape up to the side of the animal and align with the measurement markings to obtain a reading.
ANIMAL HEALTH
Leptospirosis To protect heifers from the negative effects of leptospirosis, the primary vaccination course of two shots should be completed before heifers are turned out. If heifers received the primary course during their first grazing season, a single booster shot is needed ahead of turn-out for the second grazing season.
Salmonella To protect heifers against the negative effects of salmonella infection, the primary vaccination course of two shots should be completed before heifers are bred.
Parasite control Usually it is not necessary to dose calves for liver fluke until housing. The bulk tank herd disease screening can be used to gauge the fluke risk in your herd.
Lice and mites Some anthelmintics will also eliminate lice and mites, however, specific treatments during housing may be required.
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is often referred to as a ‘multi-factorial disease’. Besides infectious agents, nutritional, environmental and management factors may also be responsible for the outbreak of disease.
Viruses associated with pneumonia include IBR, RSV and PI3; bacteria include Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida. Veterinary advice should be sought on the treatment and control of pneumonia. Start treatment as early as possible in the course of the disease and treat for the necessary period of time; by failing to do so, the calf may relapse with recurrent bouts of pneumonia. Prevention of pneumonia is better than treating outbreaks. Ensuring good colostrum intake and nutrition, controlling scour and avoiding stress plays an important role. Highrisk periods for pneumonia outbreaks coincide with stress inducing conditions, such as at grouping or mixing of groups, housing, transport, weaning, or unfavourable weather. To prevent pneumonia it is important that every effort is made to minimize stress among calves, provide access to plenty of fresh and clean air, without draughts, and a good, clean, dry, well-bedded lying area.
