FIRST WINTER

TARGETS: target average daily live weight gain of 0.5 - 0.7kg/heifer/day over the first winter period.

Animal Nutrition

• GAIN Wean ‘N’ Build should be offered alongside grass silage. Feeding rates will be dependent on silage quality.

• Typically, silage and 1.5 - 2kg concentrate/day will result in weight gain of 0.5 - 0.7kg/day

Animal Husbandry

Prior to the first winter period, heifers must be weighed to ensure targets are being met, in order to achieve the desired weight at breeding. Daily live weight gains can be recorded using a electronic weigh scales or using a weight tape.

How to use a weight tape

Make sure the animal is adequately restrained and that your safety is not at risk.

Drop the tape down the far side of the animal and pull around the chest, making sure the tape is just behind the elbow of the calf.

Bring the end of the tape up to the side of the animal and align with the measurement markings to obtain a reading.

Animal Health

Leptospirosis To protect heifers from the negative effects of leptospirosis, the primary vaccination course of two shots should be completed before heifers are turned out. If heifers received the primary course during their first grazing season, a single booster shot is needed ahead of turn-out for the second grazing season.

Salmonella To protect heifers against the negative effects of salmonella infection, the primary vaccination course of two shots should be completed before heifers are bred.

Parasite control Usually it is not necessary to dose calves for liver fluke until housing. The bulk tank herd disease screening can be used to gauge the fluke risk in your herd.

Lice and mites Some anthelmintics will also eliminate lice and mites, however, specific treatments during housing may be required.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is often referred to as a ‘multi-factorial disease’. Besides infectious agents, nutritional, environmental and management factors may also be responsible for the outbreak of disease.

Viruses associated with pneumonia include IBR, RSV and PI3; bacteria include Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida. Veterinary advice should be sought on the treatment and control of pneumonia. Start treatment as early as possible in the course of the disease and treat for the necessary period of time; by failing to do so, the calf may relapse with recurrent bouts of pneumonia.

Prevention of pneumonia is better than treating outbreaks. Ensuring good colostrum intake and nutrition, controlling scour and avoiding stress plays an important role. Highrisk periods for pneumonia outbreaks coincide with stress inducing conditions, such as at grouping or mixing of groups, housing, transport, weaning, or unfavourable weather. To prevent pneumonia it is important that every effort is made to minimize stress among calves, provide access to plenty of fresh and clean air, without draughts, and a good, clean, dry, well-bedded lying area.

DID YOU KNOW?

Testing a group of 8 - 12 month old unvaccinated heifers will give a good indication about the circulation of pneumonia and poor fertility causing viruses such as IBR in the herd.

Second Season At Grass

TARGETS: 60% of mature body weight at breeding at 15 months of age (e.g. 600kg mature cow = 360kg target breeding weight).

Animal Nutrition

• Turn heifers out to pasture in early spring, at least 6 weeks before breeding occurs.

• Weight gains of more than 1kg/day are achievable in early spring at pasture.

Animal Health

• Heifers should be offered an all-grass diet throughout this period.

• Heifers below target weights should be prioritized, separated and offered concentrates in early spring if required.

Early pregnancy scan To monitor conception rates and predict accurate calving dates.

Parasite control plan Second season grazers are not fully immune to stomach worms and lung worm and can experience production losses and occasionally disease. Lack of exposure to infection during the first grazing season, as seen in late-born calves or under intensive anthelmintic treatment protocols may result in lower levels of immunity at the start of the second grazing season. Use the FEC testing service to determine the need for dosing and to check the effectiveness of the products used. Treat against lungworm when signs of coughing appear. Keep in mind that many products used for dosing calves cannot be given to pregnant heifers. Always read product labels or check the Tirlán Anthelmintic Usage Guide.

Animal Husbandry

Treat heifers on a group average basis, there can be up to 100kg difference in genetic mature live weight in the same herd. In an un-uniform herd, this must be taken into account when selecting a target 15 month breeding weight.

TARGETS: Growth rates of 0.7 - 0.8kg/day are recommended during first pregnancy. Heifers should be 440 - 450kg at housing, or approximately 80% of mature live weight. Heifers must achieve 90% of mature body weight at calving at a Body Condition Score of 3.0 - 3.25.

Animal Nutrition

• Achieving target weights at calving dictates first-lactation performance, lifetime performance of the heifer and ultimately the milking herd.

• Where heifers are below target weight at the point of calving, growth continues during the first lactation at the expense of milk production.

• Avoid heifers becoming over fat during this period.

Animal Health

• Good quality silage and a high quality pre-calver mineral (GAIN Pre-calver Gold @ 120g/head/day) is generally sufficient during the second winter provided they are housed at target weights.

• Spring born in-calf replacement heifers will eat approx. 1.1t of 20% DM silage/month over the winter period.

• Heifers below target weights should be offered concentrates (GAIN Pre-calver Activator) pre-calving.

Salmonella Where heifers have not been vaccinated against salmonella yet, now is the time to start with the primary course of two injections 3 weeks apart to prevent abortions.

Rota/coronavirus and E-coli Vaccinate pregnant heifers 3 - 12 weeks before calving to increase colostrum quality and provide additional protection against calf scour for the newborn calf.

Parasite control Usually it is not necessary to dose heifers for liver fluke until housing. Bulk tank herd disease screening can be used to gauge the fluke risk in your herd. Based on heifer growth rates and faecal egg count results there may not have been a need to dose late in the grazing season for stomach worms. Dosing at housing will clear any remaining parasites and prevent problems during the winter and in early spring. Pay attention to the products used as not all products are allowed in pregnant heifers. Please refer to the Tirlán 2022 Guide to Responsible Use of Antiparasities in Dairy Animals for more information.

Lice and mites Some anthelmintics will also eliminate lice and mites, however, specific treatments during housing may be required.

Animal Husbandry

• Clipping tails over the first winter period is recommended to ensure heifers have a clean, dry udder at the point of calving.

• Training heifers to the parlour & cubicles over this period is also recommended to avoid issues in early spring.

• Heifers should be included in the herd’s footbath routine to control mortellaro.

• Where possible, calve heifers ahead of the adult herd or provide separate calving pens for heifers. Always keep calving pens freshly bedded and clean.