Millington Limousins Herd Health Status

Herd Health Status

Members of Biobest Health Scheme

TB - Currently in a 4 yearly testing scheme- Last Test was February 2010 which was Clear

IBR - All animals are tested prior to sale, and all animals purchased are tested prior to entering the farm where they are isolated for 30 days and then retested prior to entering the main herd. We have never had a positive IBR on any of the home bred cattle. We don't vaccinate for IBR as the vaccine affects the test.

BVD - We tested the whole herd in 2001 and culled all persitantly infected animals and began our vaccination program. All purchased stock are requested to be tested before entering the farm and remain isolated fo 30 Days and then retested prior to entering the main herd. We now test under the Bio-best Health scheme and are accredited.

Johnes - We have been testing since 2001. Initially on veterinary advice 7 days post calving as this is a point of optimum stress to the cow and is likely to show up any positives. Since being members of the Biobest scheme our results have shown an extremely low previlance of Johnes disease. All cattle are Jhones tested prior to sale as well as annually in the herd test, sale cattle dams are tested too if still on farm.

Pneumonia - Vaccinated for Pasturella Pneumonia and Para Influenza.

Lepto-Spirosis - We vaccinate all cattle againt Lepto-spirosis.

Parasites

Calves wormed at 5 months.
Calves treated for Liver Fluke at weaning.
First grazed heifers wormed at 3,9, and 12 weeks following turn out.
All adult cattle treated for worms and external parasites at housing.

General Health - A mix of cattle are blood tested routinely to check Mineral and Vitamin levels. Housed cattle are extremely well bedded on straw and water troughs cleansed regularly.

Feeding

We aim to make high dry matter Grass Silage for all stock to maintain palatability and preserve good rumen function.

Our Supplementary Feed has been developed to attain high energy levels and medium protein levels; this allows us to assess weight gain of stock on a natural ability to convert feed.

We have also found in the past that high protein feed aggravates temperament problems especially in young heifers, since switching to higher energy feeds we noticed a considerable decrease in unpredictable behaviour.

DLWG are typically 1.5kg per day for young bulls and 0.75kg per day for heifers.

Grazing

Our grazing extends to some 350 acres much of which is Steep dale land. We currently make 60-70 acres of grass silage per year, aiming at high dry matter content.

Fertilizer use is kept to a minimum to encourage clover growth, soil and leaf sampling is used to assess grass needs and mineral supplements for cattle.

Herds are grazed in areas of the farm to suit category of stock i.e. Autumn calves will graze poorer areas to calving to keep them fit, heifers graze clover rich areas to encourage growth.

Sales:

We only sell our best bulls, and sell only bulls we would use ourselves. We select the Bulls and Heifers at an early age based on growth rate, confirmation, good legs, temperament, and milk and muscle. The rest are sold as Stores. For 2 years running now we have won the top awards for our young Store Limousin. Most recently in 2006 winning Supreme Champion at York Annual Autumn Store Sale, we also won the Interbreed and Reserve Champion with our Millington Limousin Steers at the Smithfield Show 2000.

Each Bull for sale has his own small paddock at the back of the Bull Pens. These paddocks allow the bull exercise to maintain good locomotion.

Because the Millington Land is well drained we can have our cattle grazing for longer than most, making them hardy at 750ft above sea level. This makes them ready for most lowland and hill farms.

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