Grain Guide 2018

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 approximately 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 to be 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 heifers 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 bankruptworm, wire- worm, nodular worm) Summer months All, but particu­ larly immature animals Macrocyclic Lactone, White substances (Albendazole, etc.), Laevamisole Liver fluke Summer months Strategic treatment: Apr/May and Aug/Sept 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 Prasikwantel, Niklosamied Coccidia Whole year Young calves (3 weeks +) Diclazuril, Toltrazuril Pietman Botha, agricultural consultant 129 Animals