Farmer Focus: Investigation before fluke treatment essential

With calving due to commence anytime, we are now offering silage to cows on an ad-lib rather than restrictive basis.

Cows and heifers have been batched according to their due dates.

Last year, some of our calved heifers were slower to get back in calf than we would have liked.

To counteract this problem we plan to keep the calved heifers in a batch on their own.

This will allow us to monitor how long it takes them to begin cycling after calving and how many are having repeat heats.

See also: Read more from our Livestock Farmer Focus writers 

We can prioritise the heifers with quality grass levels and if necessary introduce a couple of kilos of concentrate during the bulling period.

We believe this to be a cheaper option than to have an extended calving interval with a longer dry period to feed the cow and ultimately a later born calf which will wean at a lighter weight.

The mineral blood samples that were taken from our suckler herd all returned to show good levels.

Therefore we will continue to feed precalving minerals at 120g a head a day.

Previously, we have had to bolus cows for a specific mineral deficiency.

See also: Read more from the livestock Farmer Focus writers

Dung samples from the suckler herd revealed no presence of liver fluke, but a strong presence of stomach fluke.

Interestingly, stomach fluke was also present in the samples of the weanlings and other youngstock grazing in 2015, but again there was no liver fluke.

All relevant batches have since been drenched with Zanil.

Personally, I find an investigation before treatment to be essential where possible, as it ensures the investment you are making is targeted specifically for what the stock on your farm need.

There is also potential to save money from carrying out the samples, as last year we had no fluke of any kind – meaning no treatment was required.

Previously the fluking of stock would have been a routine annual job.

Matthew Brownlee farms 121ha alongside his father. They run 100 Limousin-cross suckler cows and buy in-store cattle to finish.