Animal Health

The Spring of 2024 has brought about unprecedented weather, with record breaking levels of rainfall throughout the whole of the UK, however we hope that as ground conditions and the weather begin to improve, many of us may be considering turning cattle out to pasture, whether grazing begins in on your farm in March, April or May, a clear plan should be put in place and followed to prevent poaching and maintain sufficient grazing throughout the whole grazing season.

With spring around the corner and rapid lush grass growth edging nearer, Nigel Hemphill – Commercial Director at ANIMAX – shares some vital insights for maximising performance off grass in both youngstock and lactating cows.

The strange weather patterns of 2023 have had a significant impact on the level and timing of the risk of liver fluke disease across the UK, says experts within the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS) and Control of Cattle Parasites Sustainable (COWS) groups.

Any animal that has had a grazing season is at risk of carrying worms, particularly first-season grazing animals whose immunity hasn't had time to build up. Heavy parasite burdens can lead to production losses, increased costs, and health and welfare implications.

2022 is no exception to the rule that with grass silage, comes a huge variation in quality. This year we’re seeing a split between farmers who cut earlier in the season by maintaining fertiliser inputs along with their optimal cutting date, and farmers who have chosen to reduce fertiliser input and aim for fewer and bulker cuts.

The feed and nutrition given to dry cows has a vital impact on their upcoming lactation and chance of taking during the next service.

Sheep seriously impacted by infectious conditions such as footrot or contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) are easy to spot because they hobble or ‘kneel’. However, even mild cases of the condition can impact production and spread quickly, so early and accurate detection and management is vital. Avoiding these conditions is especially important as we approach tupping time, as lame sheep at this time are less likely to produce lambs next spring.

Heat stress in dairy cattle and youngstock is a severe issue affecting productivity, health, fertility, and welfare.

Nematodirus is a disease caused by gastrointestinal worms which young lambs ingest through grazing, particularly on pasture grazed...

It’s essential that spring calving suckler cows are fed balanced diets to maintain tight calving patterns and improve the chances of calving success, which in turn impact herd profitability.