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GRAANGIDS
2016
GRAIN GUIDE
Voluntary daily dry material intakes (DMI)
Meissner et al (1983) work on an average DMI of 2,5% of body mass for growing animals. If
moisture content and hay wastage are included, the average roughage intake (hay) is approxi-
mately 3,0% of body mass.
For lactating animals the average DMI is 3,0% (2,7% - 3,3%) of body mass. If moisture content
and hay wastage are included, the average roughage intake (hay) is approximately 3,5% of
body mass.
Health management
An example of a basic vaccination programme for a spring calf system:
Cattle: Spring calf season
Vaccination
Animals being vaccinated Month of vaccination
Lumpy skin disease,
Rift Valley fever
Bulls, cows and
replacement heifers
Before calving (Jul/Aug)
Blackleg/botulism/anthrax or
multiclostridial vaccine + anthrax
Bulls, cows, replacement
heifers and suckling calves Autumn/before weaning (Apr)
Contagious abortion
Replacement heifers
S19 – before the age of
8 months (Feb/Mar)
RB51 – before weaning (Mar/
Apr), repeat twice before heif-
ers are mated for the first time
*BVD/respiratory diseases
Cows, replacement heifers
and suckling calves
6 to 8 weeks before mating
season/(Nov/Dec)
Before weaning (Mar/Apr)
NB. All animals that are vaccinated with an inactivated (dead) vaccine for the first time must
receive a booster three to six weeks later (as prescribed by the manufacturer) to be effective!
*NB: Make sure in what cases ‘live’ or ‘dead’ vaccines can/should be used and the correct
positioning of this to prevent possible losses/damage.
Check with your vet to make sure the programme is right for your operations and your area.
Take the necessary dung sample, have it analysed and ask the assistance of experts to optimise
your dosing programme.
Internal parasites that regularly occur in cattle:
Type of worm or
name of parasite
Month of
occurrence
Animals
affected by
the parasite
Active ingredients required to
treat animals (due to limited
space only the main active
ingredients are mentioned)
Roundworms
(cattle bankrupt-
worm, wireworm,
nodular worm)
Summer months
All, but
particularly
immature
animals
Macrocyclic lactone, white
substances (Albendazole, etc.),
Laevamisole
Liver fluke
Summer months
strategic treatment:
Apr/May and
Aug/Sep
Tactical treatment:
Dec/Jan
All
Immature and mature stages:
Triclabendazole
Early immature and mature stages:
Clorsulon, Nitroxynil, Closantel,
Albendazole, Rafoxanide,
Oxyclozanide
Conical fluke
Apr to Aug
All
Resorantel, Oxyclozanide
Tapeworm
Whole year
Suckling
calves
Praziquantel, Niclosamide
Coccidia
Whole year
Young calves
(3 weeks +)
Diclazuril, Toltrazuril
Pietman Botha, agricultural consultant