Farm management tips for October
By Daniel Hession (Nutritionist & Technical Manager) & JJ Connolly – Aurivo Agribusiness
1. Grassland Management
- Graze paddocks/fields down to 4-5cm, avoid any poaching if possible. If weather conditions remain poor, heavier stock should be housed. Start to close off paddocks/fields from mid – late October onwards.
2. Dairy
- Complete a simple cash budget detailing likely income and expenses for the coming 4-6 months.
- Replacement heifer weights and body condition scoring cows are vital chores for this month. Check each heifer carefully and if they are under target weight, they should get 1-2kgs of concentrates. If in calf heifers are under target now, they will calf down underweight in spring resulting in lower milk yields.
- Do you have a plan in place for use of selective dry cow therapy?
3. Beef
- Scanning – Scan all cows if you haven’t done so already. Scanning will tell you which cows/heifers are not in calf. Cows/heifers not in calf should be sold or fattened for slaughter. This will help with unnecessary stock numbers for housing in the winter.
- Feeding weanlings - Continue to feed weanlings at grass. Ensure animal health procedures are up to date such as lungworm control. Contact your vet to discuss pneumonia vaccinations. Avoid abrupt weaning.
4. Sheep
- The final checks should be done on the ewes and rams before breeding season commences. Check rams for signs of lameness and foot bath rams and ewes. Ewes should receive mineral supplementation before mating.
- Change raddle colour every 2 weeks. Start with light colours such as yellow and build your way up to darker colours like red, blue, and black.
- Be careful the number of ewes you give young rams in their first season, the ideal ratio is 1:25 ewes to a young ram.
- Rotating rams halfway through the breeding season can help reduce a high empty rate where rams have a fertility problem.
5. Preparing for winter housing
- Clean and wash all sheds. Carry out necessary repairs now. Test your silage and complete a fodder budget to know the quantity and quality available. Contact your local Farm Commercial Specialist to arrange a silage test. Please follow the link for further tips on preparing for winter housing. https://www.homeland.ie/about-us/tips-advice/winter-housing-preparation-tips