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Considerations for housing calves this autumn

Planning now for spring will yield dividends. Start by reviewing how well calves have performed on grass this summer.

Discuss winter health requirements, such as worming and vaccines, with your vet, nutritionist and dairy specialist. If calves have done well and are on target for bulling at 14-15 months, will silage alone support their required growth?

Some research has suggested that heifers on a rising plane of nutrition in the spring hold better to first service.  Work on beef heifers found more were not ovulating at the start of the breeding season when offered a high plane of nutrition (+1kg day LWG) versus those at 0.6kgs/day.

This probably means heifers need to be fit not fat at turnout, so is silage quality good enough to support their growth? If most animals are on target and winter facilities and feed are good, it may be

Consider if there is enough feed space to ensure all animals can eat their requirements, says Dr Dunn.

“There will be some smaller animals that may need extra care but it’s worth looking at these animals to see why they are behind their individual, not group, target.

“If they are the youngest calves that’s fine but was it disease, birthweight or other issues that held these poorer heifers back.

“It’s worth putting a plan in place now for next year to try to eliminate these issues.’’

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