Maximise weanling performance at housing
Martina Harrington, Manager of the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, provides guidance on preparing weanlings for housing by focusing on disease prevention and minimising stress.
Pre-housing dose: dose weanlings four weeks pre housing to ensure their lungs are healed from any infection when housed. Use a product with persistency. Ivermectin has a 21-day persistency, doramectin (Dectomax) a 35-day persistency, and moxidectin (Cydectin) a 42-day persistency against lungworm. Always read the data sheet for up-to-date information.
Vaccinations: ensure that weanlings are vaccinated against respiratory diseases such as pneumonia (IBR, RSV, and PI3). Pneumonia can be a major issue after housing due to the stress and close confinement. All injectable vaccines should have their course completed a month pre housing. Intranasal vaccines are faster acting, but the duration of immunity is shorter. Talk to your vet about a suitable programme for your farm.
Weaning: have calves weaned a month pre housing to reduce stress levels and therefore illness. Calves should be on 1kg concentrate per day for four weeks pre weaning, and 2kg per day for the two weeks post weaning, as per the Beef Welfare Scheme.
Housing management for weanlings
Ventilation: ensure housing is well ventilated but not draughty. Proper air circulation reduces the risk of respiratory diseases, especially pneumonia.
Clean and dry bedding: provide clean, dry bedding (straw or alternative materials) to maintain comfort and reduce the risk of infection.
Space: ensure there is adequate space for each weanling to lie down
(1.5-2.0m2/head) and eat (400-500mm) comfortably. Overstocking can reduce performance, and increase stress and disease risk.
Clean and disinfect: thoroughly clean and disinfect the housing area before bringing in the weanlings to reduce the risk of infection from previous batches of livestock.
Complete works on sheds: ensure barriers, gates, pens, lights, plugs, etc., are all working. It is easier and safer to complete these works in daylight and when sheds are empty.
Tidy your yard: winter is coming and with it dark evenings. Clean the yard to avoid trip hazards. Fix existing lighting, see if there are any dark spots, and install lighting before winter.