FARM FIRST NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2012

Lungworm Risk

Remember that we are now in the lungworm risk period and that cattle of all ages can be at risk. The disease can be very severe, especially if mixed infections with BVD, IBR or pasteurella occur. Young cattle in their first grazing season are most at risk, as they have no immunity, and now they are likely to have no cover from wormers given earlier in the year. Older cattle will have immunity if they were exposed last year, but this cannot be guaranteed, so keep a close eye on them, especially bought-in cattle which may not have come across the parasite previously. Coughing is the most obvious early clinical sign, with cattle developing pneumonia and often dying if untreated. Blood and faeces samples can confirm the diagnosis, and all 3 classes of wormer can be used for treatment. Please contact us if you need advice on diagnosing or treating the condition, or for information on using vaccines to prevent it.

 Gypsum linked to Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S; slurry gas) poisoning in cattle

AHVLA have received reports of acute neurological disease, including blindness, and deaths in cattle that are very likely to be due to the inhalation of hydrogen sulphide gas from slurry. We would therefore like to raise your awareness of risk factors which result in enhanced hydrogen sulphide production and release.

Hydrogen sulphide is produced by the anaerobic decomposition of sulphur-containing organic matter, which occurs in slurry pits. The risk of hydrogen sulphide poisoning is significantly increased if the slurry is agitated, as this releases the gas and if gypsum (CaSO₄) has been used as a bedding material and added to the slurry.

Poisoning can affect both animals and people.  At low levels the gas is an irritant to eyes and the upper respiratory tract but at higher levels the gas will cause pulmonary oedema, asphyxia and death.  Reports of some cows that have been poisoned by hydrogen sulphide are of acute CCN-like nervous disease followed rapidly by death.  Some cows which survived acute nervous signs have become permanently blind. Although H2S is detectable at low levels from its odour of rotten eggs, this should not be relied upon as a means of detecting the gas because gaseous release can occur very rapidly.   It should also be remembered that the distribution of the gas within the air space will not be uniform.

Gypsum recovered from plasterboard, and waste plasterboard itself, has been used as a bedding material on some cattle farms. The Environment Agency advises that the use of waste gypsum as a bedding material is not allowed without a specific permit and that such permits are very unlikely to be granted.  http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/PS_039_Gypsum_in_animal_bedding_March_2012.pdf

Virgin gypsum has in the past been used as a desiccant on a small number of farms. This would have been purchased and used in small quantities as a light dusting not as bedding material.  These smaller quantities are less likely to enhance hydrogen sulphide generation in bedding systems or slurry systems. Backing paper from plasterboard from which the gypsum has been removed can be used as bedding in accordance with a waste exemption.

 We would advise you that the use of waste, recycled gypsum as a bedding material is not advisable and is not legal without a permit. 

New Fresh Cow Product Available

We now have in stock a new fresh cow supplement YMCP Fresh Cow ( £6.58/sachet + VAT) .Despite its name as well as being suitable for freshly calved cows, YMCP Fresh Cow will also benefit cows at all stages of lactation that are off feed, have subnormal rumen function or are recovering from surgery. A significant advantage of this product is palatability which has been put to the test by an XLVets practice. The manufacturers Nutribio claim that at least 8/10 cows will voluntarily drink YMCP Fresh Cow shortly after calving – essential if it is to work as a routine “preventative” product. The vets and their clients were particularly sceptical about this but they report “we were bowled over when more than nine out of ten drank voluntarily. Key to this was making sure that the fluid was presented to the cow as soon as possible after calving.” Voluntary intake from the bucket is best for fresh calved cows and pumping is probably best for sick cows so that a good volume of fluid is administered concurrently.

Data from studies done in the US suggest that dairy herds where all cows are routinely given a single dose of YMCP Fresh Cow at point of calving suffered:

·         Less retained foetal membranes

·         Less metritis

·         Less displaced abomasums

·         Lower culling rates.

·          

Routine Visits

For our clients who have regular routine visits please note that the visits are pre-booked in on a four- week rolling rota, so that you can have the same 1 or 2 vets each time. We are happy to be as flexible as we can to change days or weeks to fit in with seasonal work/holidays, etc, but remember that your following visit will be booked in according to the original rota as if no changes had been made. If your routines are monthly or less frequent Tracy will usually ring you a couple of days before to check.  I hope that this makes sense. If you have any queries about this please contact us at the office.

 Sheep Lameness Meeting

We are hoping to hold an on-farm practical meeting on Managing Lameness in Sheep with vet Kate Hovers. She ran an excellent meeting on one of our clients’ farms recently, and we thought that more of you should have the chance to learn from it, so we have asked her to repeat it. If you are interested, please ring the office and we will contact you when we have a date and venue organised.

Visits to A and E

Farm First Vets have been doing their utmost to keep staff at Nevill Hall A+E unit busy. Recently Jane decided one night that the foreign body she had lodged in her upper arm needed removing (apparently the penetration occurred after she fell over walking up Mount Vesuvius!). Rob was the duty vet that night and had a call to a bleeding calf. Whilst stitching the calf up, it decided to spoil Rob’s natural good looks and kicked him in the jaw resulting in a cut chin. Not being able to stop the bleeding also took himself off to Nevill Hall. He walks in with a big blood stained pad of cotton wool held to his chin only to be confronted by Jane with her swollen elbow. Anyway not one to waste time Rob hastily conducted a practice meeting to while away the hours. We even thought of ringing Natalie or Debbie to come and take some minutes, but didn’t think they would be too impressed!