Paraguayans Urged to Take Note of Separate Breeds This Autumn
PARAGUAY – Take note of your cattle breeds and treat accordingly in the run up to winter, farmers have been advised.
12 September 2013
2 minute read
Knowing the characteristics of each breeds and tolerance to cold, heat and drought is essential, the National Animal Quality and Health Association (SENASCA) has urged.
“Zebu breeds are more affected by the cold and heat even more if they are in low-lying areas,” announced SENASCA.
This should be remembered when carrying operations on stock such as vaccination, castration, livestock movement and even late weaning.
Castration, SENASCA say, opens the animal up to bacterial pathogens. For this reason farmers are reminded to give high nutrition feeds to improve body condition at this time.
The main goal of this is to beat immunosuppressive antiparasitic animals. This is a key autumn message as a castrated animal can still recover when conditions are favourable.
Long distance walking of animals is common at this time and is not advised if fodder is short. Beef cattle research shows that preferable distances are no greater than two miles.
Furthermore, if walking to housed areas, special note should be taken to avoid overcrowding as this causes stress and aggravates stock.
Weaning should also be considered, added SENASCA.
“Although weaning can be done before winter in a well-managed way, some producers erroneously wean at a critical time, not taking into account the scarcity of good quality food,” stated SENASCA.
“These above factors are important to consider to mitigate losses to the producer, is exaggerated weight loss, or death of their animals.”
TheCattleSite News Desk
