Ground conditions are saturated around the country and there is little sign of settled weather ahead.

As such, the prospect of getting cows and calves out to grass does not look good for another couple of weeks until ground conditions improve.

This means freshly calved cows will have to remain indoors in the short term. As more cows calve, housing facilities will come under pressure, with space at a premium.

As housing space reaches capacity, there will be a build-up of disease, which poses a threat to newborn calves.

Bedding

Therefore, it is important to keep on top of hygiene in sheds. Calves should have access to straw-bedded creep areas, with fresh bedding applied daily or every few days.

As a rule of thumb, bedding in creep areas should be dry enough to kneel down on. If you can feel dampness in the knees, then more straw should be applied.

Straw

Do not skimp on straw. Round bales are much cheaper than antibiotics at present, and dry bedding will improve calf health.

Wet bedding will lower the calf’s core body temperature, meaning it is burning more energy just to stay warm.

This means the calf needs more milk to maintain body temperature, otherwise the animal’s immune system becomes suppressed, leaving calves more susceptible to disease.

As soon as conditions allow, start filtering cows outdoors. If there is a lull in calving, or the daily work load, take the opportunity to clean out sheds.

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