Livestock Matters - Spring 2018

Farmer Jimmy Pritt WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE... 9 LIVESTOCK MATTERS Now, less than four years later, Jimmy successfully runs a healthy flying herd of 360 cows and heifers - mainly Irish Friesian with some Jersey crossbreds. The herd is grazed from February to December, and averages milk yields of 6,000 litres/cow, with 4,300 litres coming off forage. Production is an average of 492kg of milk solids per cow, and with liveweights around 550-575kg, Jimmy is not far from his target of a 1:1 ratio. Cows calve down from March to the end of May - which suits the requirements of the milk buyer. For 2018, Jimmy had bought in 50 in-calf heifers which calved in February. Jimmy explains: “All calves used to be sold at 3-4 weeks of age but now we are sending them off at 2-3 weeks - they don’t make as much but it’s a saving in labour. There’s just me and the herdsman full-time, with part-time help at peak times and weekends.” All cows/heifers are served to beef. “By buying in all our replacements, we know the costs. Besides, we’ve no spare ground for youngstock.” Vaccination strategy Mike explains: “When Jimmy arrived here, before any cows came, we discussed and agreed upon a robust vaccination and veterinary policy. Cows were being sourced from several farms in Ireland, and also Hampshire. While the herd was being formed, Jimmy would blanket-vaccinate all animals for BVD, IBR and lepto. “There was also a high risk that the cows coming in from Ireland were infected with liver fluke and Salmonella. So additionally, these cows received a flukicide on arrival, and were also vaccinated against Salmonella. This vaccine is expensive compared with other cattle vaccines, but when buying in livestock from Ireland, then it is prudent to do.” He explains: “The commonest type of Salmonella on dairy farms is Salmonella Dublin: it causes abortions and retained cleansings in cows, and scours and pneumonia in calves. As with any Salmonella bacteria, there are zoonotic implications too. “Now, the herd is up and running, Jimmy can afford to be more selective in his vaccination approach.” DA I RY START- UP Mike Thorne, Farm Vet Solutions Forward-thinking strategies have given flying herd a flying start! In October 2014, Jimmy Pritt took on a contract-farming position at Whetstone Pastures Farm near Leicester, and set about creating a spring block-calving dairy herd, from scratch. To assure the health and performance of his herd, he enlisted the advice and veterinary support of vet Mike Thorne of Farm Vet Solutions. Calves are now sold a week earlier to save on labour Veterinary surgeon Mike Thorne XLVets practice Farm Vet Solutions