Article: Aid for the demanding Calving Season

As we all prepare for a busy caving season FRS have positions available for experienced milkers and general farm workers to meet the seasonal demand. Go to www.frsfarmrelief.ie/careers to download an application form today and e-mail or post it to your nearest FRS office.
Farmers are advised to book their operators now as demand is high.
Taking the hassle out of registering your calves
Farmers will be all too familiar with the compliance requirements around calving, such as the necessity to tag and register calves within 27 days of their birth. This can now be done in seconds and on the go with the Herdwatch App on the go.
Before Herdwatch there was only 2 ways of registering calves compliantly: by post or by computer, and that usually meant working late at night. Now you can do away with paperwork or switching on your computer late at night. With Herdwatch, you can register your calves in 30 seconds from a smartphone or tablet App, anytime, anywhere.
Unlike with postal calf registration, you don’t have to pay for stamps & ink, and you get immediate feedback from the Department, which means most inconsistencies or data entry errors can be picked up and corrected immediately, rather than having to wait 3 or 4 days to find out in the post.
Visit www.herdwatch.ie today or text FRSTIPP to 51444 for a call back from the Herdwatch team.

Pre-Calving Preparations
Now is the time to do a pre-calving walk-through of your pens, chutes and calving pens. All equipment and calving areas should be clean and ready to use. It’s always better to prepare these items in the light of day rather than scrambling to make them right at night when the first calf in on its way.
Every farmer needs the following supplies on hand during calving: disposable obstetrical sleeves, calving Jack, injectable antibiotics, lubricant and disinfectant. Other helpful items to have around are flashlights, old towels and even a bucket of non-detergent soap and warm water. If possible, make up a portable kit so you can quickly move your supplies to wherever your cow is calving.

Help is on Hand
The spring is a very busy time on the farm and farmers work long hours with very little sleep. Rushing can cause unnecessary accidents so work at a steady pace and get labor in to help alleviate the pressure. Having supports in place to fall back on, if or when you need them, will bring you through this busy time more effectively and safely.

Even more Support

Join the FRS Membership Benefit Scheme and get reduced farm services rates, Sickness & Accident Support and Death & Capital Benefit for only €295 – That is Peace of Mind for Only 81c per day. Visit www.frsfarmrelief.ie/membership for more details.

Contact your local FARM RELIEF SERVICES @
Parkmore Carrigeen Ind Est.
Roscrea Cahir
0505-21166 052-7441598
www.frsfarmrelief.ie www.stippfrs.ie