Husbandry

Best practice in cattle husbandry is an important aspect of running a beef business to meet animal health and welfare standards, and for optimum animal performance.

Essential husbandry practices such as castration and dehorning allow stock to be safely reared and transported to market.

• Dehorning
• Castration
• Pain relief for husbandry practices

Calf and weaner management:

• Weaning
• Weaner supplements
• Yard weaning and education
• Early weaning
• Calf rearing

Cattle vaccination:

• Principles of using vaccines
• Vaccinations for beef cattle

The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is a trace back system for meat safety and disease control. In a beef business it can also be used as an important tool for monitoring animal performance and making management decisions.

• Using NLIS as a management tool

Resources

Publications

• Publications about husbandry
• Publications about weaning

Links

• Health and disease
• Tick Fever, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies