shearing cattle backs at housing

[goodevans]

what advantage is there in clipping cattles backs.We have done it before but wouldn't know whether there was an advantage but somebody mentioned today that it may help in combatting pneumonia in weaned bulls

 

[Sharpy]

It helps cattle to loose heat, so they don't sweat then get a chill. I also think that it saves bedding as they drink less as they are cooler. We clip their heads as well.

 

[goodevans]

inter

It helps cattle to loose heat, so they don't sweat then get a chill. I also think that it saves bedding as they drink less as they are cooler. We clip their heads as well.

interesting ,would nether of thought about the bedding ,best post that in the many straw threads going at moment

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Clip all their backs here. As mentioned stops them sweating then getting a chill when it cools

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

Just been doing our weaned stores this morning for the reasons above. Very warm here today and they are sweating now the maize clamp is open and they're on rocket fuel.

 

[Wishful Thinker]

It helps cattle to loose heat, so they don't sweat then get a chill. I also think that it saves bedding as they drink less as they are cooler. We clip their heads as well.

What's the point of doing the heads? See it in a lot of suck calves. Did the heads on mine for the first this year, they look better but does it help?

 

[Adam@Rumen]

We do, and bellies too. Made a big difference in pneumonia cases in a shed that needs replacing

 

[DB67]

What's the point of doing the heads? See it in a lot of suck calves. Did the heads on mine for the first this year, they look better but does it help?

Makes them look sweeter at calf sales.

Like dressing anything, anything to tart it up a bit to make them stand out.

 

[Sharpy]

What's the point of doing the heads? See it in a lot of suck calves. Did the heads on mine for the first this year, they look better but does it help?

Big blood vessels run up the neck to the head, so the clipped head is very good at loosing heat. Like taking your hat off on a cold day!

 

[goodevans]

would there be an advantage in dlwg ,I wander whether any trials have been done anywhere

 

[Northeastfarmer]

would there be an advantage in dlwg ,I wander whether any trials have been done anywhere

Well here’s your time to do a TFF trial

 

[goodevans]

Well here’s your time to do a TFF trial

well I guess the ones which don't catch pneumonia would perform better and use less straw

 

[borderterribles]

Plenty of dairy showmen clip their best calves and heifers out in the Winter as it makes them eat more to keep warm, but this also makes them keep growing.

 

[Sharpy]

Did wonder if it was the same as clipping ewe lambs to boost intakes and hence growth.

 

[yellowbelly]

I'd have thought that with the way the weather is this year, frost one night, 8-10 degrees the next etc, clipping at least their backs should be a 'no brainer'.

 

[goodevans]

I'd have thought that with the way the weather is this year, frost one night, 8-10 degrees the next etc, clipping at least their backs should be a 'no brainer'.

do they not grow hair to keep warm,might be a silly question

 

[Sharpy]

do they not grow hair to keep warm,might be a silly question

They are inside???????

 

[yellowbelly]

do they not grow hair to keep warm,might be a silly question

They do, but if they're housed they don't need it. Indoors, laid on muck, eating high energy diets, sweating and getting cold in the current weather then pneumonia is too much of a risk not to clip their backs IMHO.

 

[beefandsleep]

Apart from the aforementioned reasons some of the cattle I’m bringing in now must have an inch or more of hair and crud on their backs, I can’t see a pour on wormer doing much good on that.

 

[Pebd99]

Always had problems with pneumonia in the weaned calves by this time of year. This is the first year we've clipped the backs and so far so good