Wednesday, 25th September | 3pm

Richard & Joe Fortune, Knottown, Co. Wexford

FBD Eurostar €200 Replacement Index

Competition National Pedigree

Herd Winners

Contents

Introduction & Welcome

The Fortune Farm

Whole Herd Performance Recording

Gene Ireland Beef Programme

Young Stock Bull Management

Health at Housing

Autumn Grassland Management

2019 Eurostar Competition

Sponsors

Notes

Health & Safety

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On behalf of myself and my father Joe, mother Stasia, wife Katrin and son Joe I would like to welcome you all to our home in Knottown. I hope you find it an interesting and worthwhile visit.

“Forwards win matches and backs decide by how much” is a phrase often used by rugby pundits and I believe it can be applied to suckler farming. To me, your cows are your forwards and your bulls the backs. You can have the best bull in the country but if your cows don’t live up to the task you are going nowhere. For me a cow must calve unassisted every year, and nurture that calf to its full potential with only a grass/forage based diet. Using the Salers breed, our own data recording and the Eurostar indexes from ICBF we have managed to achieve this with our herd. We then mate our cows to the best bulls both stock and AI based on the target market for the calf be it for breeding or beef.

Over the last couple of years we have begun to focus more on the most important resource on any farm, the soil. We are trying to promote a healthy, biologically active soil through better use of organic manures, lime, planting multi species swards and by keeping the use of harmful chemicals to a minimum. A healthy soil produces healthy plants to feed healthy animals and humans.

We would like to thank Teagasc, ICBF, Irish Farmers Journal and FBD for choosing us for the ‘FBD Eurostar €200 Replacement Index Award’

Richard Fortune, Host Farmer

Teagasc, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, the Irish Farmers Journal and FBD would like to welcome you here to Richard and Joe Fortune’s farm, winners of the pedigree section of the inaugural ‘FBD €200 Replacement Index Competition’. We hope you find the day enjoyable and informative.

The competition aims to accelerate gains in the Replacement Index of the national suckler herd, both pedigree and commercial. In doing so, significant improvements can be made in key traits for suckler beef production. The Replacement Index is designed to breed a functional suckler cow with a balance between maternal traits (milk, fertility, calving ability) and terminal traits (carcass weight and conformation).

Today’s farm walk will be relevant to the pedigree breeder with a focus on Gene Ireland, Whole Herd Performance Recording (WHPR), and young bull management, but also for the commercial farmer as it will demonstrate the benefits of buying performance recorded breeding bulls and how to manage these bulls on-farm after purchase. There will also be a live demo of linear scoring as well as demonstrations on health and safety, data recording and analysing BEEP weights.

Performance recording has been central to the Knottown breeding strategy for many years with the Fortune’s routinely linear scoring, recording birth weights and insemination data. The herd has participated in the WHPR since its inception in 2016 and the benefits of this can be seen in the reliability figures of animals in the herd.

We would like to congratulate Richard, Joe and family on winning the competition and thank them for opening up their farm today.

Welcome Address:3

The Fortune FarmRichard and Joe Fortune operate a 125 cow pedigree Salers suckler herd on their farm in Knottown Co. Wexford. They farm a total of 110 adjusted hectares (ha) across three blocks, with the home farm located at the mouth of the river Slaney, as it enters the Irish Sea in Wexford town. Most of the farm is in permanent grassland but they also grow 20 ha of spring barley and oats which is fed to livestock on the farm. The soil type for the most part is heavy with some free draining soil at home, while the out-farm would be very sandy. In 2018 they had a farm stocking rate of 1.91 LU per ha.

While the Fortunes herd is made up of all pedigree registered Salers cows it operates very much like a commercial herd. A significant number of the stock on the farm brought through to slaughter, with the remainder being sold as breeding stock. For example, in the 2019 breeding season, 70 of the 140 Salers cows and maiden heifers were bred to Charolais sires, all of the progeny from these will be finished on the farm. The remaining 70 were mated to Salers Sires and the heifers bred from these cows will be either sold as breeding stock or retained as replacements for their own herd. Approximately 10 pedigree bulls will be registered with an estimated six eventually sold off the farm as breeding

bulls. The remainder of the purebred bulls will finished on the farm.

The calving season on the farm starts in the first week in June with a target calving spread of no more than 9 weeks. In 2019, 125 cows calved with 124 live calves now on the farm. Cows are fed grass silage only over the winter with only the first time calvers getting fed meal. Calves are weaned in March with all finishing stock remaining indoors until slaughter. All male stock for finishing are finished as bulls at 16 to 19 months of age while heifers are slaughtered from September onwards.

Both bulls and heifers are fed fresh grass indoors from March almost through to slaughter. Finishing bulls are supplemented with 1kg concentrates per day up until 12 months of age and are then built up to 6 kg per day until 1st October. After that they are fed 8 kg per head per day and move over to high quality grass silage. The finishing heifers are started on 2 kg meal per day in August rising to 4 kg per day in September and 6 kg in October for those that are not yet sold. The average carcass weight for bulls in 2018 was 415 kg whereas it was 305 kg for heifers.

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The Fortunes have participated in the Whole Herd Performance Recording since it was first introduced in 2016. This involves routinely linear scoring their stock and recording birth weights and insemination data. They regularly weigh their stock and enter this on the ICBF recording system. Because of this extra data on their herd the reliability figures for their stock are significantly ahead of what is seen in many herds.

The objective of the ICBF Beef Gene Ireland programme is to identify and subsequently progeny test high Replacement Index bulls. These bulls can then be used within the industry to produce high Replacement Index heifers. Since its inception the Fortunes have had three Salers bulls that they have bred, chosen to enter the programme.

Knottown Michael (KTM) entered the programme in 2013 and was then sold on to a suckler farmer. His July 2019 Replacement Index value was €177 with a reliability figure of 75%.

Knottown Roy (SA4604) entered the programme in 2015 and was then bought by the National Cattle Breeding Centre where he is now available. His July Replacement Index value was €267 with a reliability figure of 46%.

Knottown Randy (SA4684) entered the programme in 2016 and was then sold to a suckler farmer. His July 2019 Replacement Index value was €216 with a reliability figure of 51%.

Richard and Joe have a number of objectives over the coming years for both their farm and their suckler herd. On breeding, their focus with the Salerss is to improve a number of important traits that are critical to the breed. While they do aim to continue to improve carcass traits their primary focus is on producing heifers and bulls that are strong on easy calving, docility, fertility and milk. Through their work with the Salers Society they are looking to increase the awareness of the capabilities of the breed.

On the farm they intend to incorporate more multi-species swards and to improve their overall grassland management to increase further the amount of grass in the lifetime diet of their stock. They also aim to grow as much of their own supplementary feed as possible.

Both Richard and Joe believe that a biologically active soil is hugely important in order to reduce the amount of chemicals needed, while at the same time building diversity into their grassland and cropping systems.

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Whole Herd Performance Recording

The ICBF Whole Herd Performance Recording Program (WHPR) was set up to make sure that accurate data is recorded at the right time in pedigree beef herds. It was also setup to reward those pedigree

breeder’s, like Richard Fortune who have voluntarily signed up to the programme and get their whole herd weighed and scored annually.

Background

The ‘Stockbull Finder’ is the online Bull Sales section on the ICBF website. Only bulls from WHPR herds that have been weighed and scored will be included. So for a beef pedigree breeder – your young bulls will be constantly advertised for sale, while they are in your herd.

The ‘Stockbull Finder’ is absolutely unique, as it is the only search engine for beef bulls in Ireland where all of the bulls have been independently weighed and scored by ICBF before being displayed.

Stockbull Finder1

Pedigree Breeders taking part in the WHPR program are voluntarily getting their whole pedigree herd independently assessed by ICBF annually.

Measurements and weights are recorded on all pedigree animals. Participating herds also receive spot check visits from ICBF, to validate the herd’s data.

Farmers going to purchase bulls either privately or at a sale, naturally enough,

want to have the most up-to-date and accurate index information available to them.

A bull purchased with a ‘WHPR’ stamp will have been at least weighed by ICBF. This data will be publically displayed by ICBF so a purchaser is fully aware of all available data before making a purchasing decision.

Increased Buyer Confidence2

The more Pedigree Breeders that get their herd’s performance recorded, the more accurate the whole €uro-Star system becomes for everyone.

Scoring & Weighing will increase the reliability % of an animal’s €uro-Stars.

The €uro-Stars of low reliability animals are more likely to change.

€uro-Stars & Reliability %3

Pedigree BullsAverage Reliability %

Terminal Index

Replacement Index

Genotyped, Weighed & Scored 45% 42%

ADG since previous weight (kg) 21% 18%

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An ICBF Scorer will visit a participating pedigree herd at least once each year and record data on the Whole Pedigree Herd. Every Pedigree animal must be presented.

Participating Breeders must make their herd’s available for ‘Spot Check’ visits from ICBF, to validify birth dates & young stock performance in particular. These

visits are to maximise the integrity of all data recorded in the herd.

Breeders are also encouraged to record birthweights and DIY liveweights on their animals. This will add greatly to an animal’s €uro-Star figures. Breeders must also notify any very large calves to ICBF when they are born.

Animals in participating herds will have a ‘Stamp’ displayed beside their €uro-Stars so as they are clearly identified as having come from a ‘Performance Recorded’ herd.

WHPR Stamp4

What’s involved?

Young calves are weighed Young bulls & heifers are weighed

Cows that have a calf sucking them are weighed

Heavy in-calf cows or dry cows are just checked

All pedigree animals must be presented. Different information will be recorded, depending on the animal’s age.

Application forms are available on request (023-8820452 or whpr@icbf.com).

Animal Type Action

Under 150 days old Weighed

150 - 700 days old Scored & Weighed

Cow with calf sucking Scored & Weighed(Twice maximum)

Cow with no calfChecked (no cost)

1. Whether in milk or not2. Evidence of C-Section

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Beef Gene Ireland

Gene Ireland is the name of Irelands national Beef AI Sire progeny testing program. The aim of the program is the identification and subsequent progeny testing of high Replacement Index bulls that will produce top quality replacement heifers. ICBF co-ordinates the programme, holding regular meetings with the participating stakeholders; Breed Societies, Commercial Suckler farmers, Pedigree Breeders & AI Companies. Twice a year a panel of approximately 15 high Replacement Index beef bulls is

assembled and the straws are distributed to commercial suckler farmers. Since 2014 there have been 133 beef bulls from 12 breeds tested through Gene Ireland and these bulls currently have an average Replacement Index of €113. The Gene Ireland system draws on expertise from across the cattle breeding industry to ensure that the best possible group of young bulls are progeny tested every year. This approach also means that maintaining a pool of outcross genetics is possible.

Background

1,000 straws per bull are made available for progeny testing by the bull owners. The first 500 straws are distributed to commercial suckler farmers for on farm progeny testing which typically generates in the region of 200 calves.

There are currently approximately 700 herd owners using these straws per year. The traits initially recorded on farm are insemination data, calving records, docility and liveweights. A lot of these progeny will also be genotyped on farm via the Beef Data Genomics Programme.

As the primary focus of the programme is to drive genetic gain through increasing the Replacement Index, a number of the female calves are also retained for breeding and it is these females which then provide data for traits such as age at first calving, maternal calving difficulty, milk and cow liveweight. Approximately 15 progeny of each bull are also purchased by ICBF for the Tully Test Centre in Co Kildare. The traits recorded at the centre are growth rate, feed efficiency, carcass performance, meat eating quality and recently methane production. These

animals are also genotyped while at Tully.

The collection of all this phenotypic and genotype data via a structured and scientific approach ensures ICBF are then able to produce a high reliability genetic evaluation on the Gene Ireland sires in as short a time as possible.

Following the results of the progeny test, the second 500 straws from the top ‘Graduate’ bulls are then made available to pedigree breeders participating in the WHPR program for elite pedigree matings. The major benefit from a WHPR Breeder’s point of view is that so much is already known about these bulls before they use them. Their calving ease, calf quality and crucially how they rate for milk and fertility has already been discovered before they use them on their pedigree cow’s. One of the single biggest frustrations that pedigree breeders have is the stars on the bull’s they use changing over time. Given that these ‘Graduate’ bulls have already had progeny assessed, this element of the unknown has been largely removed.

Progeny Test

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First ‘Graduates’2019 was a major first for Gene Ireland as the progeny test results on the first batch of young bulls became known.

The 18 bulls listed in Table 1 below have now met the Replacement Index €uro-Star levels and reliabilities to be classed ‘Graduates’ and have their semen released back to the industry.

Table 1. Gene Ireland Graduate Bulls

Code Name Breed Replacement Index

Calving Difficulty (%)

Calving Diff Rel (%)

AU2155 Slaneymill Jack 687 AU (100%) €181 4.50% 87%

AA2064 Carrigroe Kian AA (100%) €178 2.80% 86%

KTM Knottown Michael SA (100%) €177 3.50% 87%

SI2158 Seepa Fionn SI (100%) €169 6.60% 88%

LM2151 Ballygarvan Stud Ike LM (100%) €166 3.50% 88%

AU2365 Calverstown Koala AU (100%) €153 4.50% 85%

AA2063 Mogeely Evitas N265

AA (100%) €142 1.90% 87%

ZBZ Breffni Muzz SA (100%) €136 4.60% 86%

LZZ Lisnacrann Demertios

SI (100%) €134 5.50% 93%

ETP Curaheen Evolution P

SI (100%) €133 4.80% 85%

KJG Knockane Dag SI (100%) €120 5.70% 90%

YBH Ballym Henri CH (100%) €118 7.20% 86%

GZJ Goulding Eamonn M251

AA (100%) €114 3.80% 83%

PPA Polar Edinson SI (100%) €110 4.20% 89%

CH2154 Polar Joe 2 CH (100%) €110 4.50% 85%

JJC Cairnmor John AA (100%) €107 2.60% 86%

LM2150 Castleview Immaginable

LM (100%) €104 5.50% 89%

SI2362 Dermotstown Gigantosaurus

SI (100%) €104 3.80% 87%

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The first 2 Salers bulls to come through the progeny test program are typical of the type of bulls that will be delivered back to the bull breeding industry i.e. High Replacement Index, easy calving with an excellent maternal back pedigree but also good on the Terminal traits. Further information on the first 2 Salers Graduates is displayed below.

KTM - Knottown Michael Replacement Index €177

• Bred by Richard Fortune, Co. Wexford. • Sired by Knottown Hermes with a

Replacement Index of €181.• Dam is Knottown Ira with a

Replacement Index of €251.• KTM has 186 calves with a calving

survey. His ‘Calving Difficulty %’ is 3.50%.

• Daughters receiving very good ratings by Irish Suckler farmers for Milk.

• 5 star bull for Milk and Carcass Weight

ZBZ - Breffni Muzz Replacement Index €136

• Bred by Fernand Crowe, Co Cavan.• Sired by the outcross French bull Ecrin

with a Replacement Index of €128• Dam is the ‘Ulysse’ sired cow Exotique

with a Replacement Index of €162.• ZBZ has 189 calves with a calving

survey. His ‘Calving Difficulty %’ is 4.60%.

• 5 star bull for Milk

Pedigree Breeders taking part in the WHPR program have been notified about these bulls and participating breeders wishing to use these bulls should contact ICBF at 023-8820452. Beef bulls from all of the beef breeds are on progeny test, so semen from the ‘Graduate’ bulls will be increasingly available to breeders from all the breeds.

First ‘Graduates’10

Young Stock Bull ManagementDr Doreen Corridan MVB MRCVS PhD

Bulls need to be purchased 2-6 months in advance of the breeding season. The reason is to allow time for them to be acclimatized to their new location, time for them to be vaccinated with whatever the new herd is being vaccinated for, get them nutritionally stable and most importantly allow time for them to learn how to serve cows.

Upon arrival to their new home they need to be penned with another animal of similar or smaller size, a female or a steer. Avoid housing them on their own. A radio in the yard is very useful in getting a bull used to different sounds.

The new owner needs to build a

relationship with the bull, allowing the bull time to familiarize himself with his new owner and develop a relationship of respect whereby the owner is the boss. This is best done by feeding the bull daily and a positive association is built.

When purchasing bulls ask the breeder to put a ring in his nose. A halter trained bull is much easier to handle and work with. Moving them throughout the farm and fitting them with a chin ball is much easier in halter trained bulls.

Avoid attaching long chains or ropes to the nose of a young bull, if you wish to attach a chain or a rope limit the length to 45cm and ensure it is light.

Acclimatization

Purchasing a bull 2-6 months in advance of the breeding season allows time for the bull to be transitioned from a high concentrate diet to a mainly forage diet gradually. Discuss the bull’s previous feeding regime with the breeder at the time of purchase.

Bulls presented for sale are usually on a high concentrate diet, this needs to be reduced gradually and consistently to a predominantly forage diet. Initially put the bull on 80% of previous concentrate diet (if he was on 10Kg reduce to 8 KG or if he was on 5Kg reduce to 4 Kg). Always reduce down the concentrated gradually and consistently preferably over a four-week period and provide excellent forage. Fresh clean water is paramount.

Young bulls are very similar to young females, they are still growing, they need to be kept on a rising plane of nutrition pre and during the breeding season. Reduction in weight prior to or during the breeding season will result in sub optimal fertility.

Create the conditions whereby the young bull can exercise prior to the breeding season - preseason training is important. Allow the bull access to a paddock with some cull cows or fattening animals to allow him exercise as opposed to keeping him housed prior to the breeding season. Young inexperienced bulls work harder and expend more energy than experienced bulls as they spend more time following and courting cows coming

Nutrition & Exercise

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into heat. Over fat bulls fatigue rapidly therefore nutrition and exercise need to be managed.

Rumen function is key to hoof health and sperm production. Care needs to be taken to prevent acidosis and laminitis developing. Ruminants always need 1% of their body weight as forage dry matter – 600Kg bull needs a min 6Kg DM forage- 7Kg hay or 22Kg of 30% DM silage.

Never exceed 2% of their body weight in concentrates- 600 Kg bull max 12 kg of concentrates. Gradually and consistently is the key both at increasing and reducing. Beef Health Check are seeing an increase in liver abscesses, they usually are as a result of inflammation of the rumen from poor transitioning from high concentrate diets.

On arrival to his new home isolate the bull with another animal of similar or smaller size, a female or a steer. Foot bathe the bull immediately to prevent the introduction of Mortellaro to the herd.

During this period carry out any health checks in consultation with your veterinary Practitioner depending on your herd health programme. Ideally these should be carried on the farm of origin prior to arrival.

Where possible purchase from a Johne’s monitored free herd and ensure they are tested free of BVD ideally from a herd with negative health status. Vaccinate the bull with whatever the cows and heifers are being vaccinated for e.g. Leptospirosis, Salmonella or IBR. In Ireland Leptospirosis, Salmonella and IBR are endemic in herds and all can cause a bull to become sub fertile when exposed for the first time. Have all vaccinations completed 3 weeks prior to the breeding season, ideally if the breeder

Animal Healthhad completed them prior to purchase it would ensure that they were completed prior to the season. Vaccinate the bull with the herd in routine programmes thereafter.

A vaccinated bull is the best mitigation strategy you can adopt to ensure the bull does not suffer any infections or raised temperatures during the breeding season that may render him sub fertile. A vaccinated bull is the safest animal you can introduce into your farm even though you may not be vaccinating in your own herd.

Parasites are becoming an increasing concern especially with the development of anthelmintic resistance. Speak to the breeder about the most recent treatments the bull received, take dung samples and discuss with your vet the most appropriate course of action. Treat the bull with the herd in routine programmes thereafter.

Training to Mate & Becoming ExperiencedWhen purchasing a bull ensure he has been veterinary certified as fit for breeding, this is issued following a veterinary examination for health, major physical defects and morphological examination of the semen. This certificate confirms that on the date of examination the bull was healthy, has

reached puberty and was producing semen capable of impregnating cows to achieve normal conception rates. It is now the responsibility of the purchaser to ensure the bull is observed mating a female prior to him being released with a group of females to get them in calf.

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Once the bull is acclimatized to his surroundings he needs to be trained to mate. Mating is not an innate trait it needs to be learned. Confine him in a small area a 1-2-acre paddock or heavy bedded pen or pad with his mate and put in a medium sized female in standing heat for a few hours and observe. Remove the female and repeat later until bull has demonstrated the ability to serve competently. Most bulls will mate after three or four presentations of a female in heat. However, some bulls while they have reached puberty may take longer up to 3-4 weeks.

When observing the bull, you are initially looking for the bull to exhibit libido – sexual desire. He will follow the cow in heat, nuzzle her vulva, exhibit the flehmen response and attempt to mount the cow in heat. Then observe the penis as it is protruded, ensure it is straight, normal length and is stiff. If it is a corkscrew or bending downwards

without any erectness there may be an issue. Then observe for the penis making seeking movements at the vulva, observe for the penis entering the vulva achieving intromission and finally for the ejaculatory thrust where the bull’s ejaculates into the vagina. After ejaculating the bull’s hind legs may leave the ground, he will dismount immediately, and the cow will hold her tail out from her body.

It is crucial to ensure your bull is capable and has been observed mating competently prior to being released with a group of females to get in calf. Otherwise he will be presented with a female coming on heat daily or every second day, will be following them continuously, resulting in him becoming fatigued and frustrated. You can easily lose a month of the breeding season and the bull will be observed mounting and resting on females without serving them.

Young Bull Management when WorkingOnce the bull is competent at mating, present him with females of similar size or smaller than himself.

Initially keep the ratio of 1 bull to 10-15 females, this will result in a mating every second day which is a lot for a young bull.

Feed the bull during the 1st breeding season. Limit weight loss to a maximum loss 50 -100Kgs, if he has lost more than 100Kg replace him immediately. Weight and BCS loss, depending on the severity and whether it is from fat or muscle will result in the bull going temporarily sub fertile. There is a balance to be achieved in the number of females presented to the bull, feed quality and the BCS and fitness of the bull.

In the bull’s first season limit the breeding season to 60 days and allow him to have a rest prior to subsequent use.

Monitor the bull during the breeding season continuously by fitting him with a chin ball or applying scratch cards or crayons to the females.

If at any time the bull becomes lame or runs a temperature or develops photosensitization, remove him from the herd and when he has recovered get him fertility tested to ensure the semen quality has not been affected.

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Health at HousingA housed animal is the most expensive animal on the farm, it is therefore vital that we do everything to ensure that there is nothing hampering their performance while housed.

There are several factors which will affect the performance of an animal during housing. Diet is obviously the main one, however after diet, the health status of an animal is most important. Parasites such as stomach worms, lungworm and fluke can have a serious effect on animal performance. As cattle only pick up parasites at grass, housing offers farmers the ideal opportunity to “clean out” stock.

Lungworm: Dosing should be considered at least four weeks before housing to allow any damage to the lungs to heal before animals come into sheds where they will face a dustier, more enclosed environment. There is no reported anthelmintic resistance in lungworm. If you use a product with persistency (e.g. avermectin) you can do your housing dose for lung and stomach worms at this stage, just check the product as to what the length of persistency is.

Stomach worms: Can be treated like lungworm or at housing. There is, however, anthelmintic resistance in stomach worms.

Anthelmintic Resistance is where the parasite we are looking to control has the ability to tolerate the normally effective dose of the anthelmintic being used. In work carried out by Orla Keane (Teagasc) they found resistance to Ivermectin on 100% of farms tested, 75% of farms tested had resistance to the white drenches and 25% had resistance to the yellow drenches. It is thought that levamisole is used less, thus reducing exposure of the stomach worm population to this product. This may account for the higher efficacy of this drug. You can check if a product works on your farm by carrying out a faecal egg count (FEC) before and after dosing. Then administer the product using best practice.

There are currently three classes of wormers licenced in Ireland to control worms, see table 1 below.

Class Common Name Chemical Sample products

Benzimidazole White (1-BZ)Albendazole

FenbendazoleOxfenbendazole

Albex, Endospec, TramazolePanacur, Zerofen, Fenben

Oxfencare, Parafend,Wormal

Levamisole Yellow (2–LV) Levamisole Levacide, Vermisole

Macrocyclic Lactone Clear (3-ML)

IvermectinDoramectin

EprinomectinMoxidectin

Animec, Bimectin, QualimecDectomax

EprinexCydectin

Do not use a levamisole at housing as they do not kill inhibited larvae which could re-emerge in January/February.

Table 1.

class will become useless on your farm. Incorporating a rotation regime of active ingredients into your health plan will help to minimise the risk of anthelmintic resistance and should be discussed with your vet.

Anthelmintics from different classes (e.g. 1-BZ, 2-LV or 3-ML) have different modes of action but within a class products have the same mode of action - when resistance develops to one product within a class, then all the products in the same

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Fluke is present on most farms and needs to be considered always at housing. If killing cattle check with the factory what the livers were like or use Farm Beef Health Check data available on ICBF.

Dosing for fluke is complicated by the fact that there are many products and they kill different stages of the parasite. It therefore depends on how long the cattle are housed as to what product you should use. See table 2 below.

Active ingredient Sample product Dose after

cattle housedAdmin route Withdrawal

TriclabendazoleEndofluke 10%

Fasinex 240Tribex 10%

2 weeks 2 weeks

Early immature, immature, adult

fluke

Oral drenchOral drenchOral drench

56 days56 days56 days

Closantel

Closamectin injClosamectin

Pour-onFlukiver bovis

7 weeks7 weeks8 weeks

Immature, adult fluke

InjectionPour-onInjection

49 days28 days77 days

Nitroxynil Trodax 8 weeks Immature, adult fluke Injection

Albendazole Albex10%Endospec 10%

10 -12 weeks10 -12 weeks Adult Fluke Oral drench

Oral drench14 days14 days

Clorsulon Bi mectin plusIvomec super

10 -12 weeks10 -12 weeks Adult Fluke Injection

Injection66 days66 days

OxyclozanideLevafas

DiamondZanil

10 -12 weeks10 -12 weeks Adult Fluke Oral drench

Oral drench28 days13 days

E.g. If you use Trodax at housing, this will only kill immature and adult fluke but not early immature and you will have to dose again in 8 weeks when the early immature fluke have developed.

Be careful with withdrawal dates if you are killing cattle.

Table 2.

Viruses can happen at any time but the stress of weaning, castration and especially housing can bring on the symptoms. These viruses can reduce the performance of your animal either slightly, so many farmers are unaware they are present and performance is affected or they can cause major outbreaks of pneumonia causing actual deaths and excessive vet bills. The most common viruses are IBR, RSV and Pi3. A proper vaccination programme can play an important role here in reducing their effect. Animals should be vaccinated at

least a month before housing to allow the immunity to build up before housing. There are many products on the market, talk to your vet.

Winter is also the most common time to see infestations of external parasites such as lice and mange and these should be considered when selecting treatments. Injectable and pour-on products can be used for mange and sucking lice but only pour-on products are effective against chewing lice.

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The 60:40 Autumn Grassland Management Plan

Area available for grazing: ____________ Hectares (Ha)

Date on which last round starts: ____________

60% 40%

DateDate 60% is grazed Date all cattle are housed

Number of daysFrom start to 60% date

a)

From 60% date to housing date

b)

Hectares to be grazedc)

(0.6 X total area)

d)

(0.4 X total area)

Hectares per week(c ÷ a) x 7 (d ÷ b) x 7

Week Ending

Grazing areaActual area grazed

week endper week Grazed (total)

Table 2. Autumn grazing planner showing weekly targets (from Table 1)

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• Keep grass in the diet for as long as possible this autumn.

• Allocate a portion of the farm for grazing each week.

• Start closing paddocks from the 10th October onwards (1-2 weeks earlier in wet areas).

• Aim to have 60% farm closed by the end of the first week of November (1-2 weeks earlier in wet areas).

• Leave the grazing block with an “adequate grass cover” when the cattle are housed. With grass covers ranging from 4cm to 8cm.

Grass10 Message: The key to providing grass for your cattle next spring is to graze 60% of your grazing area by end of the first week of November. The paddocks grazed by this date will have an opportunity to grow grass before growth rates decline in November.

Autumn grazing - objectives

• Graze paddocks to 3.5-4 cm to encourage winter tillering of the grass plant.

• Do not regraze fields that have been closed – it’s worth more in the spring!

• Start housing some groups of cattle if you are ahead of your weekly target.

• Skip heavier paddocks – and graze paddocks with ideal covers - to meet 60% target if necessary.

• Heavier cattle should be housed first if ground conditions deteriorate.

Grass10 Message: Graze out paddocks in rotation as you would like to graze them next spring. Choose some drier sheltered paddocks close to the yard to close up first. Then focus on grazing the wetter paddocks.

Autumn grazing - objectives

• Rotation length should increase from to 35 days by mid-September and 45 days by the start of the last rotation.

• Have temporary electric fencing such as reels and pigtails ready. These should be used on heavier covers especially in trickier ground conditions to allocate grass daily and ensure cattle have enough to eat but also graze out to 4cm

Preparing for autumn grazing

17

FBD €uro-Star €200 Competition

Herds will soon be invited to enter the next FBD €uro-Star €200 Competition. Shortlisting of herds who have entered the competition will be based on a number of KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators).

Some of the KPI’s which herds will be adjudicated on include: Calving Interval, Calves/Cow/Year, AI Usage and Data Recording, 22-26 month Calving, Weight Recording, Weaning Efficiency and Herd Improvement over the last 5 years.

Herds will be further assessed by a farm visit, with a judging panel including representatives from ICBF, Teagasc and

the Irish Farmers Journal. These herds will then be featured in Irish Farmer Journal publications in the weeks leading up to an awards ceremony which will take place at the ICBF Genetics Conference later this year. A large prize fund awaits the winners of both regional and national categories at the final. All shortlisted herds will receive prizes.

The competition is open to pedigree and commercial suckler farmers who meet the requirements as set out in the competition rules. These rules will be made available on the ICBF website www.icbf.com

Entry forms will be posted to shortlisted herds in the coming weeks. Updates will be available on both print and online farming media.

18

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Sheep Tags

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ICBF BEEF OPENDAY GALWAY JULY19_A5:Layout 1 08/07/2019 15:03 Page 1

Phone: 052 915 3900

FENCING

Mullinahone,Thurles, Co.Tipperary

BVD Cattle Tags

3 YearWarrantyon all AKOFencers

Marking Sprays

Long term Spray Marker 400mlavailable in 6 vibrant colours.

Sheep Tags

Bubblegum EID & Visual Sheep Tags

Quality Electronic Sheep Tags

Electronic Tag Readers

Online Ordering athttps://tags.mullinahonecoop.ie

L.P.R.Pocket Reader

AWL200Stick Reader

Est 1893

Serving Irish Farmers Since 1893

www.mullinahonecoop.ie

ICBF BEEF OPENDAY GALWAY JULY19_A5:Layout 1 08/07/2019 15:03 Page 1

NOTES

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22

23

A to Z of FARM SAFETY

KEEP CLEAR of machinery such as tractors, HiMacs,bulldozers when they are working. Stay in their line ofvision and wear a high visibility jacket or vest.

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Always consider SAFETY on the farm.

BULLS: Beware of aggressive animals on your farm.Be sure to cull cross bulls, cows, rams, stags fromyour farm.

CHILDREN: Always supervise children on the farm,especially during machinery operations.

DRAWBARS: Never let anyone ride on the drawbar ofyour tractor or any other machinery. Do not allowanyone ride in an open trailer.

ELECTRICITY can kill. Beware of overhead power linesand buried cables.

FORESTRY and tree felling: Take care not to be caughtunder falling trees and logs. Attend a chainsaw andtree felling course.

GAS: Slurry gases can kill. Remove all stock fromslatted sheds before agitating. Never enter a shedwhen slurry is being agitated. Close agitation pointafter each use.

HORSES: Some horses can be dangerous. Alwayswear safety equipment e.g. helmet when handling orriding horses. Be wary of being kicked by horses.

INSPECT: Check safety equipment on your farmregularly, e.g. machinery safety covers, PTO guards,fire extinguishers and First Aid kits.

JAWS: Keep away from blades of shear grabs,mowers, revolving knives and chainsaws.

LIVESTOCK: Be wary of being kicked or crushed whileworking in pens, yards or fields with livestock.

MACHINERY: Ensure safety covers and PTO guardsare in place and working on all farm machinery. Avoidwearing loose clothing near machinery.

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XTRA: Be extra careful when there are children orelderly people on the family farm. Restrict access todangerous ponds, tanks, unstable heights etc.

NEVER start a tractor when you are standing on theground alongside it.

OVERTURN: Remember tractors have a high centre ofgravity and can overturn easily. Drive slowly overuneven ground.

PESTICIDES and other toxic chemicals: Keep them outof the reach of children. Read the label and follow themanufacturer’s advice on proper use, storage and disposal.

QUAD bikes: Always wear a safety helmet when usinga quad bike. Avoid letting children on them. Drive slowly over rough ground.

ROOFS: Use a roofing ladder when working on farmsheds. Stay clear of skylights.

SAFETY: Complete and update your Risk AssessmentDocument. This can be completed online atwww.farmsafely.com. Take action on risks highlighted.

TRAINING: Attend a Farm Safety training course NOW at your local Teagasc centre.

UNTIDY: Poorly maintained farmyards/farm can leadto accidents. Keep your farmyard/farm neat, tidy and well maintained.

VISION:Your eyesight is vital – protect it. Wear safetygoggles where your eyes are in danger.

WARNING SIGNS should be erected to warn thepublic of dangers or hazards such as "TractorsCrossing", "Beware of Bull".

YOU and YOUR FAMILY: Take every precaution toremain safe and healthy. Assess every farm taskcarefully for potential dangers or risks. Organise andcomplete tasks with safety in mind.

ZOONOTIC DISEASES and infections which can betransmitted from animals to humans. E.g. TB,Toxoplasmosis, Weil's Disease, E.Coli ... Wear gloveswhen handling livestock. Always wash your handsafter being in contact with animals.

REMEMBER:

HEALTH IS

WEALTH.

THINK SAFETY.

BE SAFE!

10695 Teagasc Poster A to Z Farm Safety_Layout 1 13/07/2011 14:31 Page 1