Farmers in many parts of the country have already started to house cattle, but with dryer October weather conditions seen in most parts of the country than had been seen in previous years, there is not as much pressure on farmers to house stock this autumn.

Temperatures have hit 16°C in recent days and Met Éireann has forecast further rain and showers over the weekend but said that conditions may "possibly" turn drier during Monday "as high pressure to the south attempts to build".

Ideally, temperatures turn cooler when cattle are being housed and farmers always tend to be cautious of the higher risk of pneumonia outbreaks when housing cattle in mild weather conditions.

A pneumonia vaccination protocol is beneficial in reducing the risk of a pneumonia outbreak in the herd but this only forms part of the solution to reducing the risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in cattle at housing.

Ventilation is a key issue in cattle sheds and inadequate air circulation will greatly increase the risk of BRD issues in cattle.

Farmers should ensure that air vents in the cattle sheds are not obstructed and that air is freely circulating around the shed. However, the pens must not be too draughty.

Some farmers have cattle sheds with better ventilation than others, with well-positioned, open-fronted sheds providing great air movement for cattle.

High-risk groups such as bought-in weanlings should be housed in these sheds with better air circulation.

When cattle are being housed, all possible steps should be taken to avoid stress in livestock.

Overstocked pens, weaning, and internal parasite burdens such as lungworm are all factors that can cause stress in cattle and should therefore be addressed before cattle are housed.

Clipping the winter hair growth from cattle’s backs at housing can be beneficial in helpingcattle to regulate their body temperature. It can also be beneficial if using a pour-on lice treatment for improving skin contact of the product.

Many farmers also opt to clip the hair on cattle's tails at housing to help keep the animal clean while in the shed.

Farmers should contact their veterinary practitioner for best advice on avoiding disease outbreaks when housing cattle for the winter.