Why Autumn Care Matters

Autumn in Ireland brings cooler temperatures, shorter days, and increased rainfall. While this seasonal shift reduces the risk of heat stress, it introduces new challenges for farmers. Wet pastures increase the likelihood of poaching, which damages soil structure and affects future grass growth. As grass growth slows, its nutritional value also declines, making supplementary feeding more important to maintain energy and protein intake. 

Damp conditions create a favorable environment for parasites such as liver fluke and worms, while sudden temperature drops and poorly ventilated housing raise the risk of respiratory illnesses like pneumonia. To address these challenges, here are some practical steps you can take to keep your livestock healthy this autumn.

1. Manage Nutrition and Grazing

• Pasture quality declines in autumn as grass growth slows and nutritional value drops. Supplement with silage, hay, or concentrate feed to maintain energy and protein intake.
• Avoid poaching (damage to soil from overgrazing on wet land) by rotating grazing areas and moving livestock before fields become too muddy.
• Ensure balanced minerals and vitamins, as animals may not get enough from grass alone during this season and to avoid grass tetany.
  
  

2. Maintain Clean, Accessible Water

• Cooler weather may reduce thirst, but animals still need a consistent supply of fresh water.
• Check troughs frequently for blockages, algae buildup, or contamination from leaves and mud.
  
  

3. Protect from Wet and Windy Weather

• Provide adequate shelter, trees, hedgerows, or housing, to shield livestock from heavy rain and wind chill.
• Hopefully stock cant be kept outdoors for another few weeks weather depending, if not, keep housing dry and well-ventilated to prevent pneumonia and other respiratory conditions that thrive in damp environments.
  
  

4. Watch for Parasites and Disease

• Autumn often brings an increase in fluke, worms, and lice infestations due to wet conditions. Follow your vet’s deworming and parasite-control programme.
• Monitor cattle and sheep for coughing, nasal discharge, or lethargy, which can signal respiratory illness. Early treatment is key.
  
  

5. Plan for Breeding and Winter Preparation

• Autumn is a critical time to assess body condition scores, ensure animals enter winter in good health and with adequate weight.
• Review nutrition support for in-calf or in-lamb animals ensuring they get correct mineral supplementation to make life easier and provide a smooth calving or lambing.
  
  

Animal Farmacy Product Recommendations for Autumn

To support farmers in tackling the challenges of the season, Animal Farmacy offers trusted solutions designed for livestock health:

• High Mag Fertility Mineral Bucket – A high-spec mineral bucket formulated with 15% magnesium to help prevent grass tetany in beef cattle during high-risk grazing periods (lush spring or autumn pastures). Enriched with Bioplex minerals, seaweed, yeast, and rumen buffers, it supports digestion, immune function, fertility, and reproductive health while optimizing mineral absorption and retention.

• Easy Wean Nose Paddles – A reusable, farmer-friendly solution for smoother calf weaning. These paddles stop calves from sucking while still allowing them to stay with their mothers, reducing stress for both calves and farmers. Durable, comfortable, and cost-effective, they minimize bawling, fence walking, and stress during the weaning transition.

• Eucalyptus Easy Breathe Mineral Bucket – A mineral lick formulated with natural eucalyptus oil to support respiratory health in cattle, calves, and sheep. Combined with seaweed, yeast, rumen buffers, and essential trace minerals, it promotes clear airways, better immunity, improved digestion, and year-round vitality, especially in damp or dusty environments.

• Albex 10% Oral Solution – A broad-spectrum anthelmintic for cattle and sheep, used to treat and control gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, tapeworms, and adult liver fluke. It also acts as a potent ovicide against roundworm and fluke eggs, helping maintain herd and flock health.