FARM FIRST NEWSLETTER MARCH 2012
NSAIDS-Pain-Killing and Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
These drugs have many uses in farm animals and we have several products licensed the cattle in stock. Unfortunately none of these products are licensed sheep, but they are widely used and the prescribing cascade. At this time of year ewes will benefit from treatment with NSAIDs after difficult lambings, or after having prolapses replaced. The reduction in swelling and discomfort will improve feed intake and therefore milk production, and help mothering behaviour. There is also evidence that one of the drugs, Flunixin, helps in the treatment of Twin Lamb Disease, although the mechanism for this is not known. NSAIDs are also beneficial in the treatment of mastitis in both cattle and sheep, and in the treatment of pneumonia. Rapid administration of NSAIDs as soon as the first signs of pneumonia are seen will help to reduce lung damage. The other main area where these drugs are indicated is in cases of lameness, when the reduction in pain will help to maintain mobility and feed intakes, and therefore production.
DRUG Dose Rate Cost /dose (75kg) Milk Withold
CATTLE CATTLE
FLUNIXIN 2ml/45kg i/v daily for 3-5-d(or IM ) £0.57 36 hrs
METACAM 1ml/40kg s/c single dose £1.86 (7days IM)
RIMADYL 1ml/35kg s/c single dose £1.84 120 hrs
Please note that as none of the products is licensed for use in sheep a standard withdrawal of 28 days for meat withhold must be applied. We advise using the same dose for sheep as you would in cattle and we are assuming the length of action is similar
Casualty stock
With the main lambing season about to begin dealing, with casualty stock inevitably becomes more commonplace. Treating casualty stock humanely is a legal requirement and in addition dealing with cases sensitively and responsibly is an essential part of maintaining the image of our industry. It is worth bearing in mind that Spring is a time when the public start to get out into the countryside more and in many cases we have casual labour helping out with lambing duties that may be entirely new to farming activities. Please follow this link to a very useful document produced by the Sheep Veterinary Society http://www.sheepvetsoc.org.uk/docs/Casualtysheep.pdf and remember that if dispatch is necessary then this should be done as humanely and compassionately as possible, with carcasses being kept secure and out of contact until disposal.
Leptavoid –H Boosters
Just a reminder that in herds which vaccinate against leptospirosis, cattle should be given their annual boosters before turnout in the spring. Any youngstock which have not been previously vaccinated require two doses to be given four weeks apart, and all replacements that are likely to be served this year should receive these two doses prior to turnout
FOOT TRIMMING COURSE
We are planning to hold a three day herdsman's trimming course in the near future on one of our clients’ farms. If you are interested in attending this course (or in hosting the event), please contact Andrew at the surgery for further details. Farming Connect grants of 80% will be available to cover the cost of the course fees.
Ram and Bull Fertility Testing
I’m sure ram and bull care is not top of your list of priorities at the moment as calves and lambs are hitting the floor with a vengeance, but just a reminder that Farming Connect are subsidising the cost of these checks to the value of £70/test for bulls and £50/test for rams. Every famer is entitled to one subsidised test per ram and bull per year for each registered CPH number you have. All you have to do is have the test done and then send a copy of the invoice in to Farming Connect and the money will be refunded.
Various studies have shown that 20% plus of bulls are subfertile or infertile. If a bull is subfertile then this will obviously have a marked effect on your calving spread even if you rotate bulls. In rams and bulls we examine them to ensure that they are healthy and there are no abnormalities of the important bits. We then electroejaculate them to get a semen sample which is examined under the microscope. In bulls, the test is relatively easy to carry out, we only require a good crush (one where we can access the bulls sheath) and a nearby shed with electricity to set up the microscope to examine the sample. The whole process only takes about 45 mins to an hour and initial results are available straight away. The cost is £80(+ vat) for the first bull examined and £60 for any additional bull tested.
A similar situation occurs with rams, though it’s not so easy to identify the problem ram as rams often work in groups. Fertility testing in rams involves a trip to the surgery and is similar though obviously much more straight forward. The cost is £55 for 1 ram and then £40 for each additional ram.
Hopefully if ram and bull fertility is up to spec then this will help you to have even more lambs and calves to contend with next year! Please phone and speak to Robert at the surgery if you are interested.
MEETINGS
Rob will be giving a talk on BVD and Johnes Disease in the Beef Herd organised by Farming Connect.. The meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Wednesday 14th March at the Star Inn in Llansoy.
On 21 March the Dairy Development Centre has organised a specialist event for dairy farmers on Johnes disease, which will be held at Cardiff City Stadium from 11 am until 3 pm. For further information please telephone 01554 748592.
TB Tests
AHVLA have informed us that they will be carrying out field audits at TB tests in Wales in the near future, to ensure that tests are being carried out according to official instructions. It is likely that AHVLA vets will turn up unannounced at some of our tests in the next few weeks.
