Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science

1. Leaving Certificate Agricultural Science Two & a Half Year Calf to Beef System

2. Learning Outcomes.... • In this unit you will learn about • A two and a half year calf to beef system • Which entails...Feed, Housing/grassland management, Disease control for a beef animal from birth to slaughter.

3. Two & Half Year Calf to Beef System • In a beef herd calves are allowed suckle the cow until about 8 months. • Calves are born without antibodies. NO Immunity- very subjected to disease • Colostrum must be consumed within 6 hours of birth as this is when the ability to absorb antibodies is at its highest. If weak hand feed. • Should be fed for 3-4 days as it is high in nutrients, very digestible and has a laxative effect. • Animals that do not get colostrum will have very little resistance to disease

5. Purchasing Calves • Points to look for when purchasing calves at the mart: • Conformation: • Shoulders wide • Wide Hind Quarters • Deep Barrel • Health: • Eyes Bright and Clear (no discharge) • Ears Pricked Up • Nose Clear (no discharge) • Naval clean, no swelling • Anus should show no sign of scour. • Generally lively and alert.

6. Care of Calves After Purchasing • Care should be taken not to stress the calve during transport. • Calves should only be fed water and glucose for the first 24 hours. • This is done to clear the contents of the stomach. • After 6 days the calve should be on full strength Milk Replacer. • The calf will subsequently weaned onto Hay and Concentrates and later grass when available!

7. Weaning onto hay/grass etc • A calves rumen is not fully developed, hay/silage/conc. Should be introduced gradually as soon as possible. • The silage/hay introduce micro-organisms into their rumen which digests the cellulose • His consumption of grass will increase as he gets older • 4 weeks old= 500g/day

9. Calf Housing & Bedding • Ventilation- good supply of fresh air- removes pathogens. • Dry bed- 80% of its time lying down – reduces heat loss- straw, shavings. Good floor drainage. • Draught free-prevents pneumonia • Floor space- adequate- according to their size • Lighting • Aspect- away from prevailing winds • Dung Removal

10. Dehorning/Disbudding • Disbudding must be completed within 3 weeks of birth unless buds have not developed

11. Disease & Pest Control • Newly purchased calves should be isolated from others to observe signs of ill health. • Buy from known source- insure they were fed with colostrum • Flush system out with glucose & water & gradually introduce on to milk replacer over a period of 2-3 days • Feed colostrum • Dose • Look for lice, etc • Isolate sick animals • Vaccinate- protect against

12. First Summer out on grass • Turnout date depends on • Weather. • Soil conditions. • Availability of Grazing.

13. Weaning on to Hay and Concentrates • By the time the calf is four weeks old, he / she should be eating 300-400 g of concentrates daily. • When the calf is weaned from milk replacer, he / she should be eating 500 g a day. • At this time the calf is allowed onto grass, but is still fed concentrates, hay and water.

14. The Calves first summer on Grass • Calves should be allowed onto grass until the weather is warm. • The change from warm housing to cold outdoor conditions can cause a shock and can disturb the calf’s growth. • Meals should be fed for 2 – 3 weeks after being put onto grass, to help the calf adjust to the new diet. • Calves are selective grazers, and should always be kept on fresh, palatable grass and certainly should not be left graze pastures bare.

15. The Calf on Grass Continued.. • They should graze under a leader – follower system. • They should always graze in advance of older cows. • This also inhibits the spread of stomach and lungworms. • When grass is scarce at the end of the summer, concentrates should be fed. • When calves are housed for the winter, they should weigh 200kg.

16. Stocking Rate • May/June 25 calves/ha • July/August 12 calves/ha • September 5 calves/ha • October 2.5 calves/ha

17. Feeding • Creep feeding- access to both cow & fresh grass & Conc. • When grass is scarce should be fed conc. again. • Small weak calves should be separated & fed better to achieve target weight

18. Parasite control Leader follower system • Calves first out onto grass followed by weanlings followed by yearlings, etc • Calves are more susceptible to picking up diseases than older cattle so calves are introduced first to avoid stomach worms etc • Rotational grazing- pastures are rested 3 weeks • Wormed & vaccinated before turnout

19. Rotational Grazing

20. 1st Winter – Weanlings 1st Nov When to house • Weather • Breed • Soil type • Stocking rate • Grass supply • Housing: mid November • 1.4m2 Floor space • 0.7 m3 Air space • Slatted unit, cubicle,etc • Adequate space • Good flooring, as before

21. Feeding • Weaned off milk/milk replacer • Silage 0.75 tons/month • Good quality silage is capable of giving 0.5g/day weight gain • Conc fed if poor quality silage • 0.5g conc. = good silage • 2kg conc. = bad silage • Should be grouped according to size for ease of feeding.

22. Parasite & Disease Control • While out on grass calves will pick up stomach worms, liverfluke, mange & Lice= cause setbacks • Dosing & parasite control • Lice infestation can cause 30% setback • Lameness can be a problem due to overcrowding, poor floor conditions, etc.

23. 2nd summer out in grass- Yearlings • As before • Grass growth has be fertilized, N is spread once animals are removed • Soil sampling

24. Veronica Walsh Disease & Parasite Control • Less susceptible to disease than younger animals • Rotational grazing • Liverfluke • Stomach worms • Dosed • Vaccinated • Tested for TB & Brucellosis

25. Feeding • LWG 0.8kg/day • As before

26. Housing & Feeding for 2nd Winter • 2.0 m2 floor space • 10m3 air space • Silage • Disease & pest control as before • Ready for slaughter

27. Selecting Cattle For Slaughter • Weight. • Fat Cover, Excess is wasteful and expensive. Condition Scoring is carried out..

28. Abbatoir Animals are fasted to: • Allow the rumen to be emptied prior to slaughter. • Decrease the chances of meat hygiene risk. • The glycogen in the muscle turns to lactic acid if the animal is stressed, this results in poor meat quality. Hanging the carcass: • Allows the blood to drain. • Also the enzymes breaks down tough fibres in meat. • Overall it results in better meat quality.

29. Killing Out % • Is the dead weight of an animal expressed as a percentage of its live weight.