Cows slatted shed

L1985

Hey guys would just like some opinions on this. Put in a new slatted tank and this is the first year we have had all of the cows in and not out wintered. We also have weanings in for the second year. The weanings have cubicles (too small for the cows). The cows have no cubicles just a big open shed(we will be adding cubicles hopefully this year!!). We have found that the cows have gone back a shocking amount. No issue with the quality of silage. This would all be cows with calves at foot and back in calf again. To give them a bit of a break the calves are out in the field during the day and only left back in at night. Is it the lack of cubicles that might be affecting them so people think? Would love to hear some opinions! Thanks all

tanko

Are these continental cows and are you giving them any concentrates?

grassroot1

Quaility/quantity of feed and stocking rate in the shed may be issues

L1985

AA or Hereford cross. All 3years plus none older then7.
Not getting any concentrates but are getting mineral on a bucket which they go mad for
Usually they are in great condition at this time of year that's why we are surprised..

L1985

Not the quality of the silage as the weanings are on it and they are doing well. They might be slightly cramped but nothing too major I'd have thought. 18 of them buts it's a decent sized shed(can't remember the dimensions....) space for all of them to lie down I'd say.

White Clover

L1985 wrote: »

Not the quality of the silage as the weanings are on it and they are doing well. They might be slightly cramped but nothing too major I'd have thought. 18 of them buts it's a decent sized shed(can't remember the dimensions....) space for all of them to lie down I'd say.

Sounds like they don't have enough space. They need at least 4.5 square meters each. When they're all lying, they should only be covering about 60% of floor space. What about fluke? Fresh water?

L1985

All were dosed before going in. Plenty of fresh water. I'll come back re the sheds dimensions and see if that's the issue. Would that make such a difference?

White Clover

L1985 wrote: »

All were dosed before going in. Plenty of fresh water. I'll come back re the sheds dimensions and see if that's the issue. Would that make such a difference?

Without a doubt it would.

grassroot1

If you dosed for fluke before they went in any eggs/early immatures under a forthnight wont have been killed.
How much feed barrier space does each cow have?

Not relevant here but a number of years ago a guy around here rolled and rolled and rolled the silage pit for a day after cutting in a self feed situtation
Cows were dying on their feed at this time of the year they could not pull the silage out of the feed face!! Quare things happen

L1985

Ok so shed space is 25x60 18/19 cows and16calves.
They were dosed twice actually as took that on board from here (excuse the pun)
Trying to work out the maths now...
Emm feed space all but two cows have a spot at the barrier if that makes sense!

Lady Haywire

Sounds a bit cramped for them alright, our shed would be the same size but divided into three pens. We'd put six small cows or five big ones per pen, Calves would be allowed access to the lying area and one pen has to divider for the lying area so that's generally where the bigger cows go.
Have you mats on them? I remember our cows used to go backwards with sore legs for a while after putting them in. I'd definitely start them on a nut or ration and think about getting pens in! There's prob a few bossy cows too which are eating the lions share and not letting the others in and you're able to divvy them up into bossy/timid pens which works well for us.

Jb1989

Out wintered cattle usually look better, condition and hair wise, they were healthier and ate more feed outside and kept exercised. If conditions allow, then cattle are better looking order outside than inside.

TITANIUM.

I know you reckon that your silage is grand because your weanlings are doing grand on it but those weanlings are probably getting a bit of ration.did you get your silage tested? I'd always give some ration to cows with calves underneath them when housed.
If like me you don't have enough spaces at the feed barrier then make sure that you keep silage in front of them 24/7.
Dry cow's are grand on just silage but I wouldn't like leaving cows that are growing a calf and suckling a calf go without ration.

FeelTheBern

Sounds to me like you have plenty of space there both in terms of lying area and at feed barrier - it's like a four bay shed 25 foot deep. My guess would be that silage must be poorer quality this year for you.

L1985

No there isn't any mats we should have cubicles in by the autumn next year but didn't have time or funds this year. Good point about the weanings and nuts -didn't think of it!!yes they are.
Might be the silage we didn't test it but dad thought it was good...
I'll start feeding them nuts from tomorrow for a while! Never had this issue before we usually have trouble getting the cows to lose weight!!
Thanks for everyone commenting-I think myself lying in the shed doesn't suit them. There is some difference between the few that are out and the ones that are in thou!!

Sami23

TITANIUM. wrote: »

I'd always give some ration to cows with calves underneath them when housed.
Dry cow's are grand on just silage but I wouldn't like leaving cows that are growing a calf and suckling a calf go without ration.

Would you advise to give them dairy nuts or what ration do u give ?

TITANIUM.

Sami23 wrote: »

Would you advise to give them dairy nuts or what ration do u give ?

I feed a simple hi energy 16% protein ration.