Farming Diary for July

The main danger in July in the northern parts of New Zealand is to start thinking it's spring because dairy calves are arriving at saleyards.  A lot of nasty weather is still to come, so be prepared.

Don't just expect things to come right if you hit problems; they may not.  Having a management plan with clear targets leading to good decisions is the way to get on top of things.  Animal welfare must be a top priority for any stock that have been struggling through winter and not put on enough condition.

Pasture management

• The main priority this month is to get enough feed built up for calving, kidding and lambing, and on suitable paddocks for the job. Building up a good bank of feed means lengthening the grazing round to give pasture time to grow.
• But to do this you can't just leave stock in the same paddock and not feed them.  This is where your supplementary feed such as silage and hay must be used - and it must be good quality to provide pregnant stock with the extra nutrients they need above maintenance.
• Building up the feed bank is where 'strategic use' of Nitrogen can be used, provided there is a good ryegrass content in the pasture, the 10cm soil temperature is above 6 C and the ground is not waterlogged.
• Be careful to keep the spreader well clear of creeks and wet parts of the paddock and it's also better to apply a number of small dressings rather than one large dollop.
• At all costs avoid pugging pastures.  There's no point in seeing the highly-nutritious spring feed grown at considerable expense, pushed down into the soil by cattle.
• If it's going to be a wet night, take cattle off pastures and put them on a pad, and use a back fence when grazing and a mobile water trough.
• The damage caused by pugging can last a long time, and ingesting large quantities of soil with their feed is not good for stock. Make sure the electric fence is working well as you don't want stock to break out on to saved pasture and cause more damage.
• If you are tempted to graze the road verge, check our website regarding the legal requirements and your responsibilities.

Cattle

• The main concern is pregnant cows that got thin when suckling last year's calves, and have not built up enough body condition for next calving. They should calve at Condition Score 5 (with rounded hips), so check our website for an easy way to learn condition scoring.
• In cold wet weather, cattle need roughage (fibre) as its digestion generates internal heat.  But if cows are skinny, you'll have to go to feed extra energy in meal which is expensive.
• Cows with dairy genes are the problem, as they are programmed to milk off their backs and will be late to start cycling again. They must be at CS 5 for calving, especially if you plan to use them for multiple suckling.
• Young cattle are a major concern, and they need priority feed if you have it or can afford to purchase it.  If they stop growing, it takes a lot of feed for them catch up, and this will have lasting effects on their mature weight and size.
• If stock, especially calves and yearlings have dull coats and start scouring, then check with your vet before buying drench. Worms are a likely cause, but it may be something else too.
• Get all the gear ready for calving which will be starting soon in the North Island - and be prepared for the unexpected early calf.
• Save some colostrum from the first cow to calve and put it in small self-seal plastic bags in the freezer.   This will be useful for any calf (or lamb) that may need a booster later in spring.  The thicker the colostrums, the better quality it is in terms of antibodies.  Don't dilute it.
• The most important medicines you'll need are for 'metabolic diseases' - milk fever (calcium deficiency), grass staggers (magnesium deficiency) and ketosis (glucose deficiency). Cows that have had subclinical Facial Eczema may be more prone to these problems.
• Check the udder development on all yearlings to make sure there are no unplanned pregnancies. Yearlings are too young to calve, and should be 'induced' as soon as discovered. Check the current law on inductions with your vet.
• If a live calf is produced, it should be euthanased as they are never worth keeping - especially as pets as they risk dying with great disappointment for the young carer.  Check our website on euthansia.
• If you are going to rear calves, make sure everything is ready for the new season. If you haven't reared any before, then talk to some experienced calf rearer and don't rear more than 10-12 calves to start with. Check our website for information for first-time rearers.

Sheep

• Ewes coming up to lambing may be thin and need extra feeding, especially if you have a modern fertile breed. (Check our website to see how to condition score ewes).
• Thin ewes mean low lambing percentages and lower birth weights, and more lamb deaths due to exposure and starvation.
• Check with your vet about the gear needed for lambing, and make sure you know how to use a stomach tube correctly to feed a starving lamb.
• Save and freeze some colostrum from early lambing ewes (or a cow) for emergencies. There are also some good proprietary products available.
• Have an old electric blanket handy to warm up starved lambs as it's more effective than dunking in warm water, which was the old trick.
• Erect some small lambing pens to hold ewes with multiples, to make sure they get properly bonded and fed in the first 12 hours.
• Use lamb covers for twins and triplets and check them regularly to see that their tummies are full. Feed any individuals that are not getting their share.
• As a ewe reaches peak lactation 2-3 weeks after lambing the best feed should be kept for then, and any late-lambing ewes should be put on short feed. It's a risky time, as a spell of cold winds can cut feed drastically at this time.
• Be alert for metabolic diseases in ewes that are thin, or you can judge from the size of them that they are carrying multiples.
• Close to lambing, a ewe's appetite always drops and she may be prone to sleepy sickness if the weather turns rough. Watch for caste ewes as they can die fast if left on their backs over night.
• Check with your vet about vaccinations needed before lambing and any worm drenching of young sheep that may be scouring on any new fresh feed.
• Be on the watch for abortions (which are often hard to find) and consult your vet if there is more than one. A ewe with a prolapses or "bearing" can really ruin your day, so consult your vet quickly on how to treat it.
• Dag and crutch all ewes before lambing.   If you pre-lamb shear then make sure you have extra feed and shelter available and use snow combs to leave more wool on the sheep.  Wool at last is worth money, so check with the shearer the correct way to prepare it for sale.

General

• Check your current financial budget and watch for unexpected expenses.
• Pay bills regularly and keep your farm records up to date - especially the farm diary.
• Check all machinery is serviced ready for spring.
• Check fences and water supply.
• Clean out all troughs and put mesh over them to prevent young lambs drowning in them, but making sure they can drink from them easily.
• Check you farm security system.