CARE OF LIVESTOCK DURING NOVEMBER

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 81, Issue 4, 16 October 1950, Page 292

CARE OF LIVESTOCK DURING NOVEMBER

Contributed by the Animal Research Division. IF dry ewes have not already been removed from the flock, they should be separated immediately. It is a good plan to shear them and during nuv pwrc shearing they should be inspected carefully for udder abnormalities. All ewes whose udders were empty at lambing and ewes with diseased udders, damaged teats, very large teats, very small teats, or badly placed teats should be culled. Dry ewes with defective mouths and old ewes which did not have a lamb this year should also be culled. Dry ewes which are retained should not be allowed to get too fat during summer. If kept in hard store condition, they are more likely to hold when mated next autumn. * » * Vaccination has been cry successful in preventing contagious abortion. More than 200,000 heifers have been vaccinated in each of the last VACCINATION AGAINST J years There were. CONTAGIOUS ABORTION [qq F ’ s which were not vaccinated. Freedom from abortion in the past is no excuse for not vaccinating, as infection may be introduced into a herd at any time. Although vaccination does not commence until January or February, vaccine should be ordered now, as Veterinarians and Inspectors of Stock have to plan their vaccination itineraries. Late orders make the planning very difficult.

Pastures on which ewes and lambs are grazing should never be allowed to become rank. If pastures are getting too long; they can best be CONTROL OF controlled by cattle. FAT-LAMB PASTURE pearling beef cattle soon become quiet and they can then be run with ewes and lambs even in small paddocks. If no cattle are available, it is better to add dry sheep than to increase the number of ewes and lambs. * * ♦ Where bidi-bidi comes away early and is troublesome, ewes should be shorn toward the end of November. Cull run cows not required for breedHILL * ng ’ Brand calves and handle them as STATIONS opportunity permits. In warmer districts put bulls out with the breeding herd. Where water is not laid on, attention should be given to dams and springs, so that water supplies will be plentiful during the hotter weather. * * * Before each cow is mated two open heat periods or an interval of at least 30 days should be allowed after calving. Cows mated before this MATING OF P eriod are ,ess likely to get in nATDV row calf, and the chances of contaminating the bull are increased. Hand mating should be practised and accurate records kept showing the bull used and the dates of all services. Should breeding trouble occur, these records will be of considerable assistance in arriving at a correct diagnosis. . * * * An increasing number of farmers are using the electric fence for feeding off autumn-saved grass. This practice could well be extended to the grazing GRAZING MANAGEMENT management of OF DAIRY PASTURES spring pastures. It is a convenient and economical method of obtaining closer subdivision and makes possible more efficient utilisation of available feed. In addition the longer spell between grazings encourages grass growth and leaves more grass available for conserving as silage or hay. * * * Dry sows should have access to good pasture, and in addition should receive from 2 to 4 gallons of milk per day, depending on their condition. CARE OF They should be kept thriving, but PIGS should not be allowed to become too fat. Only as many of the spring litters should be kept for baconers as can be fed adequately and the remainder should be sold as porkers.