Question

Hi,

We haven’t had ORF for 2 years, thank god! But when is the best time to vacinate against it? Is it better to do the ewes or lambs?

Miceál.

Question

I have a maiden heifer with a white discharge from the womb and from time to time I also notice some cows with a similar discharge. It can be thick and slimy. The maiden heifer never had a calf and some cows could have it even three months after calving. Is it an infection that needs to be examined by a vet and treated with antibiotics or will it resolve itself of its own accord? Also could it be caused by a mineral deficiency?.

Question

Just inquiring what exactly to use to boost fertility in both the ram and ewes prior to mating so as to achieve a high percentage of lamb per ewe? Is there anything on the irish market to administer as a dose or feed to improve performance? I’m a fresh face to sheep breeding so your help would be appreciated

Question

Is Rotbunt cow more suitable as a dairy cow for a irish grass base system instead of the holstein cow?

This is a follow on from Advantages of Bull Over AI on Dairy Herd? Pt1.

Question

Thank you very much for answering Re Advantages of Bull over AI on Dairy herd. I do appreciate it very much, huge amount of detail in it. I will print it out so that I can refer to it at any time later on, I think I will need it. Diet and Nutrition during the breeding season would be something I will have to improve on post calving.

Coming from a grass base system, what ingredients should the cow meal include with this system?.

Thank you agan for your time

Question

Have cple of animals to redwater put the same cattle on this land every year. Are their any vaccines or treatments I can give to try and prevent this, because it’s a bit costly to lose cows.

Thanks

Question

Spring calving herd. Using DIY AI for many years Calving extending into May every year with some cows coming 3/4 times ,as a result ,too late to go in calf. Using tail paint + vec bull. Would I be better to use fr bulls to tighten up calving? Would bulls put more cows in calf at end of 12 week than AI?

This is a follow on from Lungworm Pt1.

Question

It seems to me that vaccination is far preferable to using wormers and I don’t think that using wormers is any more convenient than the method of vaccination that you described. Could there be some other reason that these vaccines are not available in Ireland? If I did obtain the vaccine through my vet for next year, at what age should I give the first dose to spring born calves? Cows and calves are turned out 2 days after birth.

Question

Hi Eoin

I was recently talking to a dairy farmer who does his own A.I and during the conversation he told me that ,generally speaking angus and belgian blue bulls are the only sires that will ensure that a cow calves on her due date and not carry over for days or in some cases, weeks. Charlaois on the other hand are notorius for the opposite, hence a cow going two weeks over and having a massive calf and a difficult calving. If all this is broadly true, and you want to have charlaois calves all the time but you are afraid of the difficulties involved with the breed,is it possible to induce calving if you know the exact date the cow went in calf, and therefore reduce the risk associated with the breed. Am I being ridiculous?

Question I recently heard about a vaccine that can be given to calves to build immunity to lungworm. The vaccine is called Huskvac and is sold under the Bovalis name. Is this product available in Ireland? If it is, would you recommend its use in suckler calves? Is a vaccine like this any good and [...]