Time for the first condition score

Written by Administrator

Saturday, 14 January 2012 19:00

Autumn has been very mild so fare and in general our grazers are still in top condition. Winter could fall in any time now and it's a good idea to make your first condition check on the herds now! Condition scoring is a good instrument to follow the condition increase of your herds’ trough out winter and it helps you to pin point if and when additional feeding is needed. For small herds it is advisable to make a total condition control, and give every individual animal your score. For big herds where you can’t identify all animals anymore you give condition scores to groups of animals.

For instance if your herd consists of three harems and a stallion group, you give a score to each group and in case of a harem a separate score for the young animals till two years for each harem. Animals that jump out because of poor condition need an individual score; mostly there is an obvious reason for this, like injury or social stress. These animals are not reprehensive for the herd in general. A sign that your herd is weakening is when groups of animals are dropping in condition. Natural grazers can loos up to one third of their weight in winter without problems therefore, don’t get worried to quickly! Winter grazing is a very important process that maintains the pastoral structure off your meadows! And wait los is a normal healthy part of live in winter.

The condition scoring should be repeated every month at least until early spring. Animals should not get below score 3, scores 3 and an occasional 2 should only appear at the end of winter. If they reach this condition before the end of winter additional feeding is needed. If animals are dropping in condition to quick to early, additional feeding is needed. If winter conditions are severe and obviously animals cannot reach there food resources to a reasonable extend, additional feeding is needed. If you have to feed the animals make sure that all animals can reach the hay. Otherwise only the strongest will get the additional food. Dividing the hay into several heaps in the area mostly does the trick. It is better to change the feeding place regularly and so minimize parasite infection.

Last Updated on Sunday, 15 January 2012 16:22