Management Notes for August 2017

Management Notes are prepared by staff from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). CAFRE is a college within the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Reseed grassland by using an air seeder and sowing into a shallow tilth

DAIRYING

Prepared by: Christopher Breen

Reseeding

August is traditionally the key time for reseeding. Before work starts consider:

• If drainage repair is needed.
• If ploughing or alleviation of soil compaction are necessary.
• Using soil analysis to determine the correct lime and fertiliser requirements.
• Using grass varieties with similar heading dates suitable for intended use.
• Using a maximum of four grass varieties.

Minimal cultivation and stitching-in techniques can be used to establish new or renovate existing swards.

• Minimal cultivation - if the old sward contains scutch it should be destroyed before cultivation. Following hard grazing (3-5cm) or silage cutting, spray off the regrowth. About a week later (follow product recommendation) drill the seed into a shallow tilth prepared by harrowing the surface and rolling afterwards.
• Stitching-in - use this technique to improve swards with a significant proportion of perennial. It is particularly suitable for open silage swards or stoney ground. Most drills sow grass seed into existing swards. Minimise competition from the existing grass sward by hard grazing or mowing for silage immediately before seeding.

Inspect all reseeds for signs of pest damage, particularly frit fly and leatherjackets.

Management of spring heifers

To get heifers used to the milking parlour introduce them before they calve. Research at AFBI has shown that trained heifers have an increased milk yield of 1.3kg per day over the first 100 days of lactation and a reduced somatic cell count (95,000 versus 156,000).

Introducing heifers into the milking herd in small groups is also beneficial. The research found that introducing heifers as pairs rather than individually produced 2kg more milk per day during the first month after calving. There is some suggestion that heifers find it easier to integrate if they are introduced into the milking herd after the evening, rather than the morning milking as cows are less socially active then.

‘Close up’ dry cows

The last four weeks of the dry cow period are the most critical in terms of establishing the subsequent lactation. If dry cows have grazed, they should be housed for the last four weeks of pregnancy. A low calcium diet stimulates the cow to mobilise calcium from her own body reserves coming up to calving reducing the risk of milk fever; the Dietary Cation Anion Balance diet.

Body condition dictates the amount and quantity of feeding. Ideally cows should be condition score 3, if they are too fat or too thin alter their feed to allow them to achieve this condition score at calving. Fibrous silage and straw are good for keeping the rumen expanded and working. However, as the cow approaches calving, her intake declines and concentrates should also be fed.

Usually the ‘close up’ Greenmount dry cows are offered 1-2kg of a pre-calver feed. Up to one week before calving they are moved to straw bedded pens where they are fed the same diet as the milking cows.

August jobs checklist

• Grazing swards containing old dead grass or seed heads should be topped to maintain sward quality.
• Calibrate parlour and out of parlour feeders to ensure accurate feeding.
• Consider reseeding fields not performing well. Apply lime, where necessary, based on soil analysis results.
• Assess heifer performance – are they performing to meet desired targets?

BEEF AND SHEEP

Prepared by:   Darryl Boyd

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Clover

The ability of clover to fix nitrogen can help offset the cost of fertiliser on farm. Recent studies show that white clover growth is very seasonal and its contribution to sward herbage mass varies across the year. When included in grass swards, white clover can reportedly increase overall herbage production by between 1.0 and 1.5t dry matter per hectare along with:

• an increase of 12% in grass production.
• a reduction in chemical nitrogen applications.
• increased animal performance of 12-15% higher output.

The establishment in new swards can be difficult due to the likelihood of a spray being required in the first season. A simple, low cost method is recommended by over sowing the seed into existing grass swards. Clover does not resolve soil fertility issues and phosphorus and potassium indices, along with pH, must be rectified if these plants are to persist and thrive. Clovers are most productive in soils with a pH of 6.3. Small leaved varieties survive best under intensive grazing and medium leaved are generally tolerant of a wide range of conditions. Large leaved are best for general purpose use where some silage is taken along with grazing. Very large leaved varieties are the highest yielders but generally least persistent and should be used in fields which will have minimal grazing.

SUCKLER COWS

Scanning cows

A cow having a calf every 365 days is key to profitably. Delaying scanning until cows are housed or mid-winter results in higher feeding costs. Leaving the bull with the cows results in a spread calving season. This means more time observing cows, more difficulty controlling body condition score and calves at very different stages/size at sale time.

Autumn calvers and abortions

Autumn calving is underway on many farms. Abortions naturally take place but it is important to investigate if levels are higher than expected. A common cause is neospora. This usually causes abortion around the six month stage and a number can take place at one time if it’s the initial infection. Once infected, animals remain infected for life. In the rare case of a live, full-term calve being born neospora will pass from generation to generation. This is known as vertical transmission and culling is recommended. If diagnosed, a cow is highly likely to abort in future years. Cattle can also become infected with neospora by eating feed contaminated with the faeces of an infected dog. Dogs become infected by eating cleanings or aborted foetuses infected with neospora and once infected remain so for life.

How to prevent and control neospora infection

• Minimise the risk of cattle ingesting dog faeces. Collect and dispose off foetuses and cleanings so that dogs cannot access them.
• A closed healthy herd has less chance of infection.
• Identify carriers and do not breed from these animals.
• If positive animals are retained their progeny should be fattened and slaughtered.

SHEEP

Management pre-tupping

The target body score at tupping for lowland ewes is 3.0-3.5 and 2.5-3.0 for hill ewes. Assess body scores every three weeks. It takes three to five weeks on good grass (2300 kg dry matter per hectare or 7 cm) to put on 0.5 body score. Carry out all ewe preparations for tupping, including veterinary treatments, at least three weeks before mating.

Managing rams before mating

It takes about seven weeks to prepare rams for tupping, therefore:

• Get your vet to carry out a fertility check now.
• Feed a high energy, 16-18% protein ration at 0.75 kg per head per day and graze on good swards. Aim for body score 4 pre-tupping. Do not feed a ewe ration to rams as high levels can cause urinary calculi.
• Vaccinate against Clostridial diseases and fluke drench at least three weeks before tupping.

HORTICULTURE

Prepared by:   Kieran Lavelle

Vegetable crop protection

To encourage clean and healthy vegetable crops for winter harvest, it is important to be vigilant at this time of year for signs of fungal problems. Early control measures can lead to cleaner and healthier crops going into winter and hopefully improved harvests. On field crop walks check for:

• spotting or discolouration on leaves.
• proper formation of fruit/flower/head as appropriate.

It is also important to understand the mode of action of fungicides which are:

• Protectant - the product needs to contact the leaf surface, where it will form a protective barrier on the plant surface. As protectant products do not move within the plant tissue good coverage is important. These products are prone to washing off in wet weather, however they certainly have a place in a fungicide programme for prevention, especially when the plant leaves are large and growth is less active.
• Systemic - the active ingredient penetrates and moves within the plant tissues, usually moving upwards through the plant. These products tend to be more persistent and can have curative action against fungi. Systemic products are useful during periods of fast plant growth as they help to protect newly forming plant tissue by moving through the plant.
• Translaminar – also called ‘locally systemic’, this mode of action moves across the leaf and into the cell layers from top to bottom. These products can be useful when targeting fungal problems that have taken hold within the leaf.

When using any plant protection product it is always important to ensure it is still approved for the intended crop and purpose. The CRD pesticide register database is a useful online resource to check all current product and crop approvals. Also available is the Extension for Authorisation of Minor Use database which details any products available for use with an EAMU. Both can be found on the Health and Safety Executive website.

Thrips in greenhouse crops

Thrips are attracted to a range of ornamental, vegetable and fruit crops. In ornamental production pay particular attention to Chrysanthemum, Gladioli and Fuchsia crops. Thrips are normally evident in greenhouse crops from June onwards as the adult emerges from its pupae stage in the soil.

The first signs of damage, described as ‘speckling’ or ‘flecking’ are pale thin linear markings with frass (droppings) on the upper leaf surface, which is a result of feeding damage. Flower petals can also be similarly damaged with ‘streaking’. Like aphids they also transmit plant viruses and are found in the growing tips of plants. Barely visible to the naked eye winged adults are 1-2mm long, linear in shape and yellow to light brown in colour. Eggs are laid in leaves and flowers causing some blistering. Eggs hatch into wingless nymphs which feed on the plant and after two larva stages drop into the soil to pupate. Life cycle under ideal conditions can be as quick as two weeks.

Blue sticky or roller traps placed vertically above or along the crop will help to monitor their presence. Pheromone lures can be used every two to three days over the summer months to catch adult thrips. These can also be used before spraying to make thrips active thus ensuring good contact. One lure per 100 square metres of crop is recommended. Biological controls, such as the predatory mite Amblyseius can be released as a preventative when temperatures are above 15oC to feed on the larvae stage. Another predatory mite Hypoaspis controls the thrips pupae stage in the soil. Other predatory insects that eat all or most stages includes Orius and Chrysoperla.

A number of products recommended for the control of thrips are described as predator friendly and include Conserve. Other chemicals are broad spectrum and include Calypso, Dynamec and Gazelle. Resistance to chemical controls has been recorded so repeat sprays using chemicals with different modes of action may be necessary. Always check label and ‘off label’ approvals for maximum number of applications, total dose or other restrictions, for example not for knapsack application.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Prepared by: Pamela Gardiner

Rate-IT and have your say!

DAERA Online Services have recently introduced a satisfaction survey called Rate-IT within their APHIS online application. This is your opportunity as an APHIS Online user to provide feedback on the current system and suggestions for improvements as we develop the new Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS), the replacement for APHIS.

Rate-IT is a simple system whereby you can click on a link and provide a rating and comments for the APHIS feature you are using.

Maintain your herd register

Cattle farmers now have the option of maintaining their herd register on APHIS instead of using an on-farm electronic or paper herd register. To take advantage of this new herd register facility, the user must comply with certain conditions:

• Access - you need to have access to APHIS Online.
• Accuracy - you must take responsibility for the accuracy of your herd information.
• Electronically - you must record all of your births, deaths and movements electronically, using APHIS Online, rather than sending notification documents to DAERA.
• Timing - you must record births within 23 days, your intention to move animals off your farm on the day of movement and all other events within three days of each event.

Download Online herd register guidance for cattle from the DAERA website.

To avoid financial penalties, please read the guidance carefully before you start maintaining your herd register on APHIS. Please pay particular attention to the conditions with which you must comply.

Although keeping a herd register (paper, electronic or APHIS Online) and retaining a record for ten years are legal requirements, choosing to maintain your herd register on APHIS is entirely voluntary. You can use APHIS Online to access your herd information and notify births, deaths and movements and at the same time continue to use an on-farm electronic or paper herd register.

Training available

Over 8000 farmers are currently using APHIS Online, almost 350,000 calves are registered online every year. Would you like to join this growing band of farmers choosing this convenient and easy to use service? A limited number of APHIS Online training events will be held between September and April at venues across Northern Ireland. The training will take place over two evenings. You will get the opportunity to work through a number of exercises on our APHIS Online training system. You can practise notifying animal births and deaths, moving animals and view the various reports available. Everybody attending will be registered to use DAERA Online Services, so you can access your own data when you finish the training.

Only basic IT skills are required to use APHIS Online. If you can turn on your computer and open a web page, you have all the skills needed .You are welcome to bring along a family member or friend to the training event. 

Dates and locations for Aphis Online training from October 2017 onwards will be published via the DAERA website.

Further help

If you would like to register to access APHIS Online or apply for a place on our APHIS Online training, please visit the DAERA website or call the Online Services Help desk 028 9442 6699. You can also access APHIS Online help videos via this page.

Notes to editors: 

1. Follow us on Twitter @daera_ni.
2. All media enquiries to DAERA Press Office or tel: 028 9052 4619.

Share this page