condition score beef sucklers and heifers.2.7 Condition scoringĬondition scoring is a technique used for judging the body condition of livestock at regular intervals.
Include details of how you’ll move your animals off site in an emergency and make sure your staff have read the plan. You should make plans for disruption of supplies (for example, no electricity for milking machines) and dealing with emergencies like fire or flood for housed livestock. 2.5 ClippingĬlipping (trimming the hair of cattle) should only be carried out by someone experienced, competent and trained in clipping techniques. You must properly restrain the animals when fitting ear tags.įor temporary markings you should only use non-toxic aerosols or paints. This is so that the animal does not suffer any unnecessary pain or distress - either when the tags are fitted or later. Ear tags must be fitted by a properly trained and competent operator. 2.4 Marking cattleĪll cattle must be permanently identified by an official ear tag in each ear. Races should be gently curved rather than have right-angled bends wherever possible.
You should make sure that they’re free from any sharp edges or projections that can injure cattle. You should keep all pens, races (narrow passageways), crushes (restraining gates to aid handling) and floors in good condition. Handling pens should protect the animals from extreme weather and be the right size and scale for the type and number of animals in the herd. Make sure that any concrete floors and walkways have a non-slip surface which doesn’t cause too much abrasion or pressure on the animal’s feet. Your assessment should include the condition of:
You should judge the type and condition of any track you move cattle along.