Management notes for October 2022

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).

DAIRYING

Prepared by: Richard Gibson

Autumn grazing management

The focus of autumn grazing management is to increase the number of days at grass and set the farm up, during the final rotation, to grow grass over winter and provide grass the following spring. While grass quality is lower during autumn it still has a role in reducing feed and housing costs.

The rotation length should be 30 days for mid-September and pushed to 35 days from 1st October. On 1st October, if you have 100 cows grazing 35 hectares on the milking platform, to have a 35-day rotation allow the herd 1.0 hectare/day. If this doesn’t provide enough grass then supplement with silage and additional concentrate.

The average farm cover will vary depending on farm location. However, it needs to be approximately 2,700 kg DM/hectare for 1st October. As a general guideline, start closing paddocks from 1st October. Ensure paddocks are grazed tight to encourage tillering over the winter months. During this last rotation, focus on grazing residuals if you want to have top quality swards for your milking herd next spring.

Calculate your forage requirements

Estimate the tonnage of silage available on your farm and compare this with the likely winter demand. Start by measuring the length and width of the pit and the average depth of silage. After consulting your silage analysis, use the below table to multiply by the correct conversion factor to calculate the total tonnes of fresh weight silage.

For example, assuming the DM of the silage is 25 per cent multiply the volume of the silage pit by 0.68.

Next establish the forage demand of the herd. Use the estimated feed requirements in Table 2 for all livestock on your farm. Multiply the number of each type of stock by the number of months to be fed by the monthly silage requirement. For example, 80 cows in milk, fed for seven months require 784 tonnes (80 cows x 7 months x 1.4 tonnes per month).

Get your silage analysed

Get your silage analysed so you know its potential feed value (M+). This allows you to make decisions on the level of concentrates needed. Table 3 shows the difference in concentrate needed to feed a cow in early lactation fed average and good quality silages.

Group cows as follows to achieve good feed efficiency:

Group 1 - highest yielding/early lactation group (cows giving more than 28 kg milk or less than 150 days in milk).

Group 2 - lowest yielding/late lactation group (cows giving less than 28 kg milk or more than 150 days in milk).

Set the amount of concentrates fed per cow in the wagon to suit the lowest yielding cow in the group. The lowest yielding group does not always need blend in the wagon if parlour feeding is also taking place. Good quality (M+12) silage and up to 7.0 kg daily of parlour feed allows cows with yields of 28 kg of milk to be managed satisfactorily without extra concentrate in the wagon.

The same silage requires 7.0 kg of concentrates in the wagon to support a base production of 28 kg in the high yield group with cows yielding more than 28 kg of milk being topped up in the milking parlour. It is important cows in late lactation are not over fed, to make the most efficient use of concentrates this winter.

BEEF AND SHEEP

Prepared by:  Jack Friar

Breeding ewe lambs

If you plan to breed ewe lambs over the next few months it is important they are at least 60% of their mature weight when put to the ram. Weight and age influence puberty, fertility and pregnancy rate. As a guide, a pre-tupping weight for continental crosses is 48 kg, mules 45 kg and Lleyns 36 kg. Ideally, when breeding ewe lambs use an experienced ram from a breed with a small mature size and mate ewe lambs on relatively small areas of land.

It is important to remember ewe lambs are still growing and a growth rate of at least 150 g/day is desirable. As ewe lambs need 20% more feed than mature ewes during early and mid-pregnancy ensure they have access to the best grass on the farm. This may mean keeping them separate from mature ewes.   

General health of ewe lambs is also important. Worm burdens can impact on growth and development and affect pregnancy rates. Carry out a faecal egg test to determine if there is a problem with worms and keep on top of worm treatment.

Body condition scoring spring calving cows

Body condition scoring (BCS) is an important and practical management tool that can be used to manage feed requirements over the winter period. The target BCS for a spring calving cow is 3.0-3.5 at housing. Ideally, the cow will have built up body reserves from grazed grass which can be used over the winter period when feed costs are higher. Restricted feeding should only take place if every cow can eat at the feed barrier at the same time.

Pen thin cows with a BSC less than 3.0 separately and offer them unrestricted access to moderate to good quality silage. If cows are too thin at calving the birth process takes longer, colostrum quality is lower, calves are less vigorous and are less able to absorb antibodies. Milk yield is also reduced and thin cows may take longer to start cycling after calving and are therefore less likely to maintain a 365 day calving interval.

Changes required to body condition score should be gradual and ideally done around mid-pregnancy. The aim is to have the fat and thin cows back on track 50 to 60 days before calving. Avoid significant changes to body condition in the last month before calving. Excessive feeding during this time can significantly increase the weight of unborn calves without improving body condition.

Silage testing

It may come as a surprise, but many farmers still do not regularly test their silage and miss out on the benefits of doing so. The information provided can be used to optimise feeding strategies and animal performance, as well as potentially saving money, particularly when it comes to feeding additional concentrates.

Reminder

Organic manures, including slurry and poultry litter cannot be spread from midnight 15 th October until midnight 31st January. Farmyard manure can be spread until midnight 31st October. Keep a record of exports of organic manures as these must be submitted to NIEA annually before 31st January for the previous calendar year. It is the responsibility of the person exporting the slurry to submit the details to NIEA.

PIGS

Prepared by: Liz Donnelly

African Swine Fever (ASF)

I recently asked Gemma Daly, Senior Principal Veterinary Officer with DAERA a few questions about ASF.

What are the signs of ASF?

The clinical signs of ASF vary, with many signs similar to other pig diseases. Early signs include high fever, lethargy and loss of appetite. Pigs may die suddenly without the appearance of other signs. Later signs include reddening of the skin with patches on the tips of the ears, tail, feet, chest or under the belly, diarrhoea, vomiting, laboured breathing, swollen red eyes and discharge from the eyes.

Has the risk of ASF increased and if so, why?

Yes, the risk of ASF occurring within the UK has increased. In recent months ASF has spread over long distances to previously unaffected areas in Europe. The most recent case was in northwest Germany close to the border with the Netherlands. None of the recent cases are due to the movement of infected pigs. Human mediated transport of infected products or contaminated equipment/products are the likely cause of spread.

What are the top three things a pig farmer can do to reduce the risk?

Biosecurity, biosecurity, biosecurity! ASF virus is extremely resistant and can survive on clothes, boots, wheels and other materials. Therefore, only allow essential visitors to your farm and insist they wear clean or disposable clothing and footwear and wash their hands (or shower in if possible). Do not allow people who have been in contact with other pigs onto the farm. Vehicles and equipment should only be allowed onto the farm if they have been cleaned and disinfected.

ASF virus can also survive in pork products. Do not allow staff/visitors to bring pork products onto the farm and do not feed catering waste or scraps to your pigs. Feeding food waste of animal origin or food waste which has been in contact with products of animal origin, whether raw or cooked, is illegal.

New Red Tractor standards

A few changes have been made to the Red Tractor pig standards. These came into effect on 1^st October. Version 5.1 of the standards manual is now available on the Red Tractor website. It is important you download this version and save it onto your computer or print off a copy.

Maintenance requirements for all euthanasia equipment must be recorded in the Euthanasia Policy. You need to keep a written record of any maintenance carried out on equipment and/or checks made to determine if maintenance is required.

A new standard introduced requires the inspector to confirm the farm has an environmental permit, if required. A permit is needed if you have more than 2,000 places for pigs over 30 kg and/or more than 750 places for sows.

Weaning age

The average weaning age in Northern Ireland is 28 days. However, there is a move towards later weaning due to the desire to wean a heavier pig with less setback and to prepare for the removal of zinc oxide in 2023. Indeed 27% of farms that take part in CAFRE benchmarking wean pigs at 30 days or more.

However, there are costs associated with later weaning and it is important these costs are at the very least matched by improved performance. The most obvious cost is the need for extra farrowing crates to cope with the longer lactation. The longer lactation also results in less pigs weaned per sow per year. Although fewer pigs are weaned per sow per year the total weight of pigs weaned per sow per year is more due to the heavier weaning weights.

With later weaning sow management during lactation is even more critical, as demand on the sow to produce sufficient milk increases significantly. If nutrition and/or feeding method is not optimum sow health and welfare can be negatively affected. Hungry pigs may damage sow teats and the udder when trying to get extra milk. Also, good mothers can ‘milk off their back’ resulting in poor body condition, which will affect the weaning to service interval and subsequent litter size. If your sows are already struggling to produce sufficient milk, later weaning may not be for you unless changes are made to management and/or nutrition.

CROPS

Prepared by: Leigh Mc Clean

CEREALS

Aphid monitoring and BYDV control

In some areas last autumn BYDV infection was more widespread. This was partially due to warm, dry, settled weather after sowing, which encouraged winged aphid migration. The biggest BYDV risk is from early sown cereals as they are exposed to virus transmitting aphids for longer. Best Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practice is to avoid September sowing where practical, particularly high risk warmer sheltered fields at lower altitudes or close to the coast.

Recent Teagasc research has shown where the risk of BYDV infection is high, a single pyrethroid application at the two to three leaf stage is effective in controlling aphids and reducing the level of BYDV infection for October sown cereals. A second spray gives no yield benefit. For high risk September sown cereals, a second spray may be justified to protect yield if mild settled conditions continue through the autumn. Multiple pyrethroid applications should be avoided as they accelerate resistance in the aphid population, making BYDV control more difficult in future seasons. Take some reassurance that if conditions are too wet, cold or windy to spray following sowing, they are also not good for aphid migration and the consequent risk of BYDV transmission is lower. 

Winged aphid migration is monitored locally by AFBI and populations are posted weekly along with a BYDV risk forecast.

Weed control

For good weed control, apply residual herbicides before the crop or weeds emerge.  Prioritise winter oats and barley as active ingredients, particularly those effective on grass weeds, are limited to a few products and spring herbicide options are fewer than in winter wheat. Check winter crops until plants are past the vulnerable seedling stage. Highest risk is following rape or vegetable crops where slug numbers are high, seedbeds are cloddy, damp and seedling emergence is slow.   

Slug monitoring

If slug numbers exceed four per trap in cereals or one per trap in oilseed rape, consider applying ferric phosphate slug pellets. To gauge efficacy, look for decreased feeding damage as slugs often die unseen underground with these pellets.

POTATOES

Minimising harvest damage

During potato harvest monitor tubers for damage which frequently occurs at drops from harvesters into boxes or trailers. Bruising is often the result of insufficient soil on the web or excess agitation. Exposed sharp edges or an incorrect share setup can cause slicing and bruising. Oversize tractor tyres running in the drill bottom or stacking overfilled boxes are two of the most common causes of crushing.   Excessive damage leads to increased problems in store and eventual down-grading of produce, so identify problems early to minimise losses. Take samples of the harvested crop, either daily or when entering a new field, wash and inspect for damage. Hot boxing gives a quicker indication if damage has occurred. Make everyone involved in harvesting aware of the importance of damage and bruise prevention as often they are in the best position to identify problems and do something about them.

Drying and curing

Drying potatoes quickly post harvesting prevents the development of skin blemish diseases and soft rots. Drying within 48 hours using positive ventilation systems significantly reduces the development of diseases such as silver scurf. The curing period immediately following harvest is one of the most important storage phases. Wound healing occurs most rapidly at high temperatures and high humidity. Maintaining the crop at 12 to 15 degrees centigrade and 85 percent relative humidity for a period of about two weeks, often referred to as ‘dry curing’, allows wound healing to take place, whilst minimising the risk of disease development. Ventilating the store on dry afternoons during the curing period will normally provide adequate curing conditions.

Pay particular attention to potatoes from fields where blight and soft rots are an issue at harvest. Drying and curing before grading or longer term storage is especially important in these circumstances to minimise the spread of rots through the stored crop. 

Notes to editors: 

1. Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook.
2. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office: pressoffice.group@daera-ni.gov.uk

Share this page