Animal Health

‘Healthy beef animals’ leads to ‘healthy profits’. Maintaining a healthy herd and keeping infectious diseases outside the farm gate has to be the first priority of all beef farmers. Having the proper biosecurity measures in place will go long a way to achieving this.

Recognising the common diseases of beef cattle and how they can be prevented is an important skill that beef farmers need to have. Prevention is always more desirable as it works out less expensive in the long term and lowers the impact on future animal performance.

Health issues often come to the fore around calving. Maintaining both a healthy cow and a healthy calf around this stage of the production cycle are critical on any suckler farm. A successful calving ensures calves can start growing immediately and cows will return to breeding without delay.