Farmers advised to take steps to combat late spring

“Many farmers with suckler herds, block calving dairy herds and housed flocks time calving and lambing so stock can be immediately turned out on to clean, high-quality spring grass.

"Being forced to keep animals indoors could pose a major additional disease challenge for newborn animals this spring. With a real risk of a late spring, it is best to plan now and minimise problems later.”

Although he admits it might seem counter-intuitive, Dr Lowman suggests the option of delaying turnout for the earliest calvers.

These cows could then be synchronised and artificially inseminated. The remainder of the herd could be turned out to grass.

“This would reduce demand for silage and grazing. It would also allow the youngest calves, which are most susceptible to disease build-up, to be turned out with their mothers. These later calving cows will also benefit from a longer transition in diet before cycling and breeding commences,” says Dr Lowman.

“Overall, this could help avoid an extended calving period often associated with a late spring. The early calving group can then be turned out to grass once they are over seven days inseminated.”

Steps livestock farmers can take to combat the late spring include:

• Discussing with vets what preventative treatments, for example vaccinations, might be sensible and cost-effective
• Selling trading stock as quickly as possible. Even consider selling all or some cattle store rather than finishing them
• Prioritising bedding towards youngstock, especially newborns. For example, ensure a dry, well bedded creep area is made available for new calves
• Graze all grass and delay shutting fields up for silage. Consider grazing forward winter-sown cereal crops with ewes and lambs or graze cover crops