Farm First Newsletter December 2011
Conception Rates in the Dairy Herd
Conception rates (CR) in dairy cows have fallen from 50% to 25% over the past 25 years. Factors which affect CR include bull fertility, accuracy of heat detection (a cow served at the wrong time will not conceive), and semen handling. Research has shown that 90% of cows served correctly when on heat will be carrying a live embryo 7 days later, but approx. 55% of these will subsequently die. If this occurs at day 6-16 it is seen as a return to heat, after this it will be seen as an irregular heat or an abortion. So, as early embryonic death is a major cause of the low conception rates we currently see, what can we do about it? We know that low progesterone levels are associated with embryo loss by several mechanisms, so we need to manage cows in ways to keep their progesterone levels high. Liver blood flow in lactating cows is 40% higher than in dry cows, and it rises by a further 20-30% after feeding. As more blood filters through the liver, blood progesterone levels fall by 30%. If the feeding interval is extended or extra large meals are fed there will be an even greater rise in liver blood flow, and fall in blood progesterone, reducing the likelihood of producing and maintaining viable embryos.
To avoid a negative effect on progesterone concentration cows should eat a meal every 2 to 2½ hours or 10 meals a day, each comprising of 2 to 2.5kg of DM. This requires good levels of cow comfort to allow the cow to express normal patterns of behaviour. This means adequate nutrition, feed access, ventilation, light, water, feed push-ups, good mobility, correct stocking density and only short periods away for milking (1hour).Patterns of cow behaviour are established early in lactation, so good transition cow management is vital.
Mobility Scoring
Many of our dairy clients have contracts with their milk buyers which require them to have Locomotion Scoring done by an independent person. We can now offer you this service at a cost of £35 per hour (+visit), and it will be carried out by Simeon or Ferenc, our TB testing vets. A summary report will be provided following the visit. The scoring can be carried out at an afternoon milking, when the vet will want to see all the cows on their way into, or out of the collecting yard or milking parlour. If you are interested in this service please ring us to discuss a suitable time and date.
Agger’s Proliver – Treatment for Fatty Liver Disease
We have a new product on the shelf designed for the prevention and treatment of Fatty Liver Disease. This is commonly seen in dairy cows, usually within a week of calving, when too much fat has accumulated in the liver. This impairs liver function and these cows lose condition rapidly and may be unresponsive to treatment of other diseases. It is often seen in “runs”. Agger’s Pro-liver contains mono-propylene glycol as an energy source, vitamins, enzymes and minerals which support liver function, promote fluid intake and provide energy. The product comes as a drench and costs £7.14 +vat per bottle. The suggested protocol is 1 bottle every 12 hours for 4 days, for 2 days before calving, to 2 days after calving. If handling is an issue, 1 bottle administered every 12 hrs for 2 days will significantly benefit the cow. For cows with Fatty Liver disease one bottle should be given every 12 hours along with half a bottle of Agger’s Glycerol.
Kling on Blue – Long Acting Footbath for Sheep
This is now available in an easy-to-mix form which is ready in minutes. The product contains copper sulphate, zinc sulphate and organic acid in thick solution which sticks to the foot, and gives increased zinc penetration to the hoof. It is effective in the control of scald, footrot and CODD. As the solution sticks to the foot, sheep only need to be bathed once for scald, 1-3 times for footrot, and once weekly for CODD, for a minimum of 3 times. Good footbathing facilities are required for any treatment to work well. Ideally sheep should walk through a bath of clean water first. One 7kg bucket costs £60 + vat will mix into 120 litres of footbath, and is sufficient to treat 250 sheep once. The costs drops to £55+ vat if 2 or more buckets are purchased at once.
Closamectin Pour-On
Although we do not often promote the use of combination products (a targeted approach to parasite control is better), this is the time of year when there is a place for this combined flukicide and wormer. The closantel in it will kill adult fluke and immature fluke from 7 weeks of age, and the ivermectin is effective against most worms, lice and mange. Beef cattle can be treated at housing, but may need a second dose if housed early, or if pasture contamination is high. If outwintered, a treatment should be given in late autumn and possibly repeated in early January. The withdrawal time is 28 days for meat, and it can be used in dairy cattle which are more than 60 days away from calving.
Farming Connect Meetings
We have been approached by Farming Connect to give a series of talks at meetings in this area. The first of these is on the topical subject of “Pneumonia in Cattle –Causes, Control and Prevention”, and will be held at Alice Springs Golf Club on 8th December at 7.30 pm. The subject of the following one will be “Lameness in Sheep”, to be held on 18th January.
Merry Christmas
Finally, we would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The opening times over the holiday season are as follows:”
Friday 23rd December- office closes 1pm.
Monday 26th December – office closed.
Tuesday 27th December – office closed.
Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th - normal office hours
Friday 29th December – office closes 1 pm.
Monday 2nd January – office closed.
Tuesday 3rd January – normal opening hours resume.
During the holiday period we will of course provide our normal 24 hour emergency cover. If you require drugs urgently (that is veterinary drugs!) during the holiday period please ring the emergency number and the duty vet will arrange for them to be dispensed.
