Cattle farm husbandry – monthly management diary

Cattle, farming, husbandry, monthly management tasks, livestock, feeding/pasture management, animal health, fertiliser, general & business management tasks

By Dr Clive Dalton



All farms are different
Every NZ farm is different and there are enormous differences between regions and districts in the timing of farm operations. Generally farming activities in the NZ South Island are at least a month later than on North Island farms. So use this calendar as a memory jogger, and get advice from local farmers or consultants who have many years of experience in your area.

JUNE
Livestock

• All non-productive stock should be off the farm to reduce feed demand.
• Check cow weight and condition score targets.
• Make early plans for calving – check you have all the gear.
• Finalise the calf rearing programme and check you have all gear needed.
• Check that disposal methods for dead stock are in order.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Feed will be getting short so carry out a full feed budget, and check feeding levels for stock, especially those needing special care like pregnant cows and young stock.
• Avoid pugging pastures in wet weather.
• Check management of new grass paddocks sown in autumn.
  

Animal health

• Discuss a detailed animal health programme for next season with your vet.
• Ask your vet to arrange blood profiles for minerals and trace elements.
• Start supplementation with magnesium if needed.
• Palpate dry cows’ udders regularly (weekly) for possible mastitis.
• Watch out for early abortions – and get all cases checked by your vet.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Plan for some nitrogen fertiliser when soil temperatures are above 6-10°C, provided soils are not too wet.
• Check progress of new pastures sown in autumn – they may need nitrogen at 25-30 kg N/ha.
  

General & business

• Check the farm maintenance programme.
• Depending on balance date, book the date for your annual formal review of the business with accountant, banker and farm consultant.
• Contact banker/accountant to check GST payments and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

JULY
Livestock

• Cows should have reached condition score 5 and heifers condition score 5.5 for calving.
• Separate cows about to calve (springers) and watch for mastitis.
• Make sure early-calved cows get full attention – dairy cows to be milked out fully, and check all calvers are free from udder problems.
• Fully feed all calved cows.
• Get calf tags, rearing pens, bedding and feeding equipment ready.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Have regular farm walks to assess pastures and update feed budgets.
• Check on feed and mineral supplement use.
• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Lactating cows to be fed on rising plane of nutrition.
  

Animal health

• Continue magnesium supplementation.
• Watch for abortions.
• Watch for bloat.
• Note all cows that are likely to have delayed oestrus – e.g. difficult calvings, have twins, downer cows and cows with metabolic diseases. These may need treatment before mating.
• Vaccinate calves for blackleg when 6-8 weeks old.
• Check calves for lice.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen at 30 – 50 kg N/ha to provide feed post-calving.

General & business

• Do regular checks of electric fence, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

AUGUST
Livestock

• Give special attention to feeding newly-calved cows and especially heifers.
• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Milk out all cows as soon as possible after calving and check for mastitis.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Feed budgets to be updated.
• Have regular farm walks to assess pastures.
• Checks on supplement use.
• Grazing rotation should be around 20-30 days.
• Grazing residuals should be around 1600-2000kg DM/ha with no clumps left.
  

Animal health

• Continue magnesium supplementation.
• Treat clinical cases of mastitis and keep records.
• Check cows that have not calved by due dates and discuss with your vet what to do with them.
• Tail paint to record when cycling activity starts in dairy stock. This is not so important with beef cows mated later.
• Watch for bloat.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen at rates similar to July which will provide feed in the second and third grazing round after calving.
• Plan and carry out your soil and pasture testing programme
  

General and business

• Do regular checks of electric fence, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

SEPTEMBER
Livestock

• Cow live weight and condition score targets to be checked.
• Check planning and facilities for AI programme with dairy stock next month.
• Check you have beef bulls organised.
• Get the vet to check non-cycling cows.
• Tail paint and start recording pre-mating heats. Some farmers like to start this earlier (August).
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Fully feed all lactating cows.
• Feed budgets to be updated.
• Do regular farm walks to assess pastures.
• Check on supplement use.
  

Animal health

• Vet check non-cycling cows.
• Maintain tail paint and record pre-mating heats if going to use AI.
• Day 42 of calving – check all late calving cows.
• Check that all service bulls have been arranged.
• Watch for bloat.
• Ensure all calf dehorning is being done effectively (with anaesthetic).
• Castrate any calves not left as bulls before they are 6 weeks old.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen at rates as for July and August.
• Consider applying your maintenance fertiliser nutrients, including P, K, S and Mg if and as required, based on soil and pasture test results and farm production.
• Trace element additives, such as Se, Cu or Co can be applied with the maintenance fertiliser if required.
  

General and business

• Do regular checks of electric fence, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
• Finalise cash book.
  

OCTOBER
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Check calf growth progress.
• Start AI programme or turn the bulls out.
• Monitor heat detection progress.
• Organise bulls to follow up after AB programme. Have reserve bulls in case of accidents.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Fully feed all lactating cows.
• Have regular farm walks to assess feed.
  

Animal health

• Check on calf weaning strategy.
• Check need for clostridial vaccinations.
• Review drench programme.
• Get vet to check late cycling cows.
• Vet check all bulls that come on to the farm (especially for Tb, EBL and BVD). Watch for bloat.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen at 20 to 30 kg N/ha to increase silage production and make sure cows are fully fed.
• Apply any capital fertiliser recommended if the objective is to lift soil fertility levels.
• Apply maintenance fertiliser as for September if you haven’t already done so.
  

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

NOVEMBER
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Analyse and check progress of AI programme and how bulls have been working.
• Check bulls are actually serving the cows – and watch for injuries.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Fully feed all lactating cows.
• Do regular farm walks to assess feed.
• Start identifying true pasture surpluses for silage or hay.
• Make silage from surpluses.
  

Animal health

• Check calves for any weaning checks in growth.
• Watch for bloat.
• Update animal health records.
• Make plans for pregnancy testing.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen to build up a feed surplus for summer.
• Lime can be applied any time from now until late April if needed.
  

General and business

• Checks electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

DECEMBER
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Finish AI programme and analyse results. Take appropriate action if needed.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Fully feed lactating cows.
• Do regular farm walks to assess feed.
• Make silage or hay from surplus pasture.
  

Animal health

• Check growth and health of calves.
• Carry our early pregnancy testing of dairy stock.
• Examine and treat repeat breeders.
• Plan to start zinc drenching for Facial Eczema (FE) next month (in prone areas).
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen provided there is adequate soil moisture and the pasture is still growing.
• Apply lime if required from soil test results.
  

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

JANUARY
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Remove bulls and decide on their fate.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Fully feed lactating cows.
• Feed supplements when needed.
• Do regular farm walks to assess feed.
• Make hay and late silage (balage).
• Start increasing the grazing round if pastures get dry.
  

Animal health

• Start FE protection and check that dose rates are delivering the correct level of zinc.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Probably too dry and hot to apply nitrogen, unless irrigation is available.

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

FEBRUARY

Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Get rid of early culls (unproductive or barren stock) and fully feed productive stock.
• If pastures are drying up rapidly, feed out supplements.
  

Animal health

• Continue FE protection in prone areas.
• Start calf leptospirosis vaccinations for dairy stock.
• Watch for ryegrass staggers when pastures start to dry up.
• Update animal health records.
• Start pregnancy testing.
  

Fertiliser

• Probably too dry and hot to apply nitrogen, unless irrigation is available.
• Lime and maintenance fertiliser may be applied if required.
  

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

MARCH
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Fully feed all lactating cows.
• Dry off early any cows that are not producing or losing condition.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Update feed budgets.
• Make regular farm walks to assess pastures.
• Check on supplement use.
• Feed supplements if needed to maintain lactation and body condition.
• Identify pastures that may need to be renewed.
  

Animal health

• Continue FE protection in prone areas.
• Check on calf growth and health.
• Update animal health records.
• Use liver samples from culled cows to check for trace element status through your vet.
• Carry out pregnancy testing.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen at 20-30kg N/ha to start and build up autumn feed.
• Carry out soil tests and review fertiliser programme with consultant.
• Apply any autumn fertiliser needed.
  

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
• If 31 March is balance date – lodge books with accountant by 1 May.
  

APRIL
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Consider fate of non-productive cows – dry off or cull them.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Fully feed any lactating cows.
• Feed supplements to maintain productive stock.
• Do regular farm walks to assess pastures and update feed budgets.
• Check on supplement use.
• Start pasture renewal programme.
  

Animal health

• Finish FE zinc prevention if not required. Could continue into May.
  
• Do liver tests for trace elements through your vet.
• Check growth and health of any young stock on the farm.
• Update animal health records.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen at 20-30 kg N/ha to build up late autumn/early winter feed.

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
  

MAY
Livestock

• Check cow live weight and condition score targets.
• Dry off any cows still milking.
  

Feeding/Pasture management

• Do regular farm walks to assess pastures and update feed budgets.
• Check on feed supplement use.
• Make plans to avoid pugging during winter.
  

Animal health

• Use appropriate dry cow treatment in consultation with vet.
• Arrange liver tests for trace elements.
• Check new pastures and crop for high nitrate levels.
• Review animal health programme with your vet (for the past and future season).
• Update animal health records.
• Check growth and health of young stock on the farm.
  

Fertiliser

• Consider strategic use of nitrogen as for April.

General and business

• Check electric fences, farm vehicles and water supply.
• Check financial budget and cash flow and pay accounts monthly.
• Input data to PC to estimate cash position and bank requirements for payment of creditors and finalise cash book.
• If 31 May is balance date – lodge books with accountant by 1 July.
  

Disclaimer This material is provided in good faith for information purposes only, and the author does not accept any liability to any person for actions taken as a result of the information or advice (or the use of such information or advice) provided in these pages.