Summer silaging and harvest payload count

Published date10 September 2021
The ease with which the winter months are navigated is dependent on the success of the summer silaging season and harvest.

This year saw a warm and dry spell in the middle of summer and many farms had to feed some of the provisions that, it was hoped, would sustain the herds through the winter.

It must be hoped that we get a late summer that allows for a prolonged grazing season and opportunities to cut more grass for silage to replenish that which has been fed.

It is likely that this late cut silage will be of lesser quality than that cut earlier in the season and this will need to be balanced with other, more expensive, products.

It seems that although prices are good for beef and sheep and no more than adequate for milk all sectors will see input costs rise over the next few months.

As farmers get ready for winter many will be vaccinating cattle in preparation for the housed period.

Most of these vaccines are to protect against viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia in calves.

These diseases are particularly prevalent in the winter because the animals are housed in sheds with many other animals, often of differing ages (older animals can be asymptomatic carriers of these viruses and bacteria).

Ventilation in these sheds is often variable and dependent to a greater or lesser extent on weather conditions and living on the warm, wet, west coast of Scotland humidity is usually high enabling pathogens (those viruses and bacteria that cause disease) to survive longer in the environment.

I would encourage farmers to think about it now - even as they hurry on with the field work - speak to their vet and ensure vaccines are given on time.

Vaccines used effectively and correctly will reduce the need to use antibiotics.

It may seem obvious to many that mixing, ventilation and vaccine are a common theme between animal diseases and flu and Covid-19 control...

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