Beef Newsletter - October 2024

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In this month's edition:

• Grassland
  Closing up paddocks in autumn is essential to ensure you have adequate grass next spring, especially for breeding heifers, calved cows and finishing cattle. Here are some key points to remember.
  • Rest period: grass needs a rest period of about four months to accumulate for spring grazing. Begin closing your paddocks in October.
  • Rotation plan: 60-70% should be closed by the end of October. The earlier you start grazing in spring, the higher proportion of area you need closed.
  • Proper grazing: ensure that paddocks are grazed out fully before closing to allow sunlight to reach the base of the grass plant for tillering next spring.
  • Avoid re-grazing: once a paddock is closed, do not re-graze it over winter. This grass will be much more valuable next spring.
• Maximise weanling performance at housing
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
• Research Update - Feed efficiency in beef cattle
  Kate Keogh, David Kenny, and Mark McGee of Teagasc report on research that examined what makes one animal more feed efficient than another. To date, our analyses have identified biological processes (fat metabolism and immune system function) that are contributing to feed efficiency in beef cattle. It has also highlighted a potential role for the NR1H3 gene in regulating feed efficiency.
• Health & Safety
  • Grant for PTO shaft covers
    Reminder – the National Farm Safety Measure 2024 provides a financial contribution for up to four PTO shaft covers. Closing date for applications is November 1. For further information talk to your advisor or go to: www.gov.ie/farmsafety
  • Plan for winter housing of animals
    It is important to make a list of repairs needed and plan to get them done in preparation for winter housing. Farm maintenance drives farm efficiency, saves time and labour, and improves safety.