The transition from summer to winter has come very suddenly this year. The good weather extended the summer to late October -- but, with the change last week, the weather has now caught up with the calendar.

And with clocks back an hour, we have fully switched to winter mode.

As we change from summer to winter, there are a few tasks to be addressed.

Grassland

As fields or paddocks have been grazed out over the past two weeks they should be closed for the winter.

Aim to have 50-60pc of the grassland area of the farm closed by next weekend. It has been an ideal year for late grazing as it has been easy to clean off pastures fully. Get grass height down to 4cm (less than 2") at closing. This will ensure that there is less pasture decay and better tillering.

The new growth that comes through between now and the new year will form the basis of next season's early grass.

Large leaf material left at closing will form a base of dead herbage by early next year and will also reduce the emergence of new fresh leaves, so having the pasture well grazed at closing gives better quality spring grass.

Fields that are suitable for early grazing should be the first to be closed.

Weanlings

It is likely that the majority of weanlings that are being kept to a later stage have not yet been weaned.

Calves born up to the end of April should now be weaned as it is likely they are getting very little from the cow or, if the cow is a good milker, they could be causing a loss in cow condition unless the grass is very good.

Weaning also saves grass, as the weaned cows can be put on rough grazing or be used to clean off pastures.

Note that for those in the Suckler Welfare Scheme, the calves should be on meal for four weeks before weaning and get the pre-weaning form off to ICBF at the start of meal feeding.

If you are keeping the males as steers, it is better to castrate them before housing if you haven't done so already.

Again, for those in the Welfare Scheme, calves don't have to be castrated -- but if you do so they must be castrated at least four weeks prior to the weaning date, or at least two weeks after they have been weaned.

It is better to castrate while the calves are outdoors as there is less swelling when the animals are in the free range situation and less risk of respiratory diseases resulting from stress when indoors.

Heavier heifer weanlings can come in heat, so make sure they don't get in-calf by having them separated from strong bull weanlings and the stock bull.

Continue to feed 1-2kg meal after weaning depending on grass supply.

Grass tetany

With the change in the weather, the grass tetany risk increases for cows that are still suckling calves. This also applies to the autumn calving cows.

Some form of magnesium supplement should be given until cows are weaned. The weaning process also causes stress on the cows as well as the calves, so magnesium should be continued for 4-5 days after weaning until the cows have settled.

The most secure way of giving magnesium is in feed but giving ration to spring calving cows is uneconomic at this stage.

Licks or blocks may be the only option on some farms, although the intake by this method is variable -- some cows will take more than required and others below requirements. Site the licks near where cows congregate -- ie, near the water troughs.

Two magnesium bullets should also provide adequate cover for suckler cows but, since cows only need protection for a short period, perhaps giving magnesium in a small amount of feed may be the most convenient.

Putting out hay, straw or silage in a round feeder to supplement autumn grass also helps to reduce the risk of grass tetany as it slows down the rate of passage of feed in the gut and improves the adsorption of magnesium.

Housing

Inspect slats for signs of wear and cracking. Sagging, damaged and uneven slats should be replaced.

Repair leaking water pipes and water dispensers, as it is wasteful to have water leak into slurry tanks and cause problems with over-flowing tanks before the spring.

- Liam Fitzgerald

Irish Independent