Today is the day we weaned the spring born calves from their mothers. This job has been slightly delayed this year on account of the run of treacherous ice that gripped the farm for the last 2 weeks.
The dozen oldest calves from the Offley Hoo based herd have been vaccinated against respiratory disease (IBR - a type of pneumonia) and will be housed until the spring. The herd based at Kings Walden will be weaned another day. The reason we vaccinate them is that in the first year the Longhorn herd became really quite ill on housing and lost condition. Once we started annual vaccination, after consultation with our vets, the health of the herd, especially the young stock, improved hugely. It is rather like us having an annual flu jab.
The youngest calves will remain on their mothers and be housed right through the winter.
The dozen oldest calves from the Offley Hoo based herd have been vaccinated against respiratory disease (IBR - a type of pneumonia) and will be housed until the spring. The herd based at Kings Walden will be weaned another day. The reason we vaccinate them is that in the first year the Longhorn herd became really quite ill on housing and lost condition. Once we started annual vaccination, after consultation with our vets, the health of the herd, especially the young stock, improved hugely. It is rather like us having an annual flu jab.
The youngest calves will remain on their mothers and be housed right through the winter.
