Farm First Vets Newsletter September 2011Join us for Colostrum Awareness Month
We are participating in XL Vets Colostrum Awareness Month which is sponsored by Locatim®. Locatim® is the only licensed standardised immunoglobulin treatment proven to reduce mortality in the calf.
As you are already aware the acquisition of high quality colostrum is a very important factor influencing neonatal calf health. Studies have shown that as many as 38% of calves have insufficient levels of immunoglobulins to offer protection in the face of an infectious challenge. A wide range of maternal and neonatal factors may affect the passive transfer of immunity. Calves of high yielding, intensively managed dairy cows are likely to ingest an inadequate quantity or quality of colostrum if left to suckle from the cow. . In beef herds, large calves which have had a difficult calving may be slow to get up and suck, while heifers may be reluctant to stand still for a calf. Large teats and low udders on older cows can also prove awkward for calves, and therefore reduce their colostrum intake. Current advice is that a calf should take in 3 litres of colostrum within the first 6 hours, split into two feeds if necessary.
Managing colostral intake can be tricky for farmers. Most cows calve at night, and few herdsmen relish the thought of helping a batch of newborn calves suckle, or stripping cows out and bottle or tube feeding at four in the morning before milking. Even on farms where calves do drink enough colostrum, quality may be an issue. Solutions include keeping a store of frozen colostrum from healthy cows which have some to spare, and the use of artificial colostrum replacers.
It is useful to remember the four Qs of colostrum feeding – Quantity, Quickly, Quality and Quietly – it has been shown that stressed calves absorb the antibodies in the colostrums less efficiently.
The concentration of IgG in good quality colostrum from a fit, healthy cow at calving is about 60g/litre. However, if she had mastitis when dry, or suffered a peri-parturient metabolic disease, the concentration could be much less. First lactation heifers produce less colostrum while high yielding Holstein Friesian cows tend to produce more dilute colostrum.
What does colostrum awareness month involve? We are offering a colostrum management audit on your farm. One of our vets will do a visit and have an in-depth discussion on how colostrum is currently managed on-farm and discuss any improvements that could be made. The vet will complete a colostrum management audit and take a colostrum sample(s). The colostrum quality will then be tested using a refractometer. This will be followed up by a discussion on how the colostrum management could be improved. We will also be holding a farmer meeting on the 20th September at 7.30pm to be held in the King of Prussia for a session on ‘Colostrum Management in the Newborn Calf.’
How do I get involved? If you think colostrum management is an area that could be improved on your farm, please ring the surgery today to arrange an on-farm audit or to book your place at the farmer meeting.
Price Restructure
As a result of listening to feedback from some of our clients, we have restructured our fees in two areas.
1. There will now be a single rate for veterinary time of £77/hour + vat, regardless of which vet is carrying out the work.
2. The charges for emergency call-outs remain unchanged, but they will be categorized as follows:
Emergency call-out - any out-of-hours visit to farm before 11pm
Emergency call out after 11pm - out-of-hours visit to farm after 11pm
Emergency call back to surgery – again, will cost more if after 11 pm.
These changes will come into place from the September 1st 2011 and we hope that they will make our fees structure easier to understand. Please note Saturday mornings are not categorised as out-of- hours. If you require drugs to be left out on a Saturday morning, please ring the emergency number and the duty vet will arrange to call in and leave the drugs out (at no extra charge).
Booking TB tests
Debbie has asked that you book your TB tests as soon as you are aware that you require one. TB testing will get very busy now in the next few months so book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Usk Show 10th September
We will be at Usk Show once again this year and look forwards to welcoming to the stand. Please come and find us for a chat and a cup of tea.
Robert’s Festival Experience
Many of you may have noticed that Robert is going through a midlife crisis. He decided recently he should attend the Green Man festival in Crickhowell. Thursday afternoon he went down and pitched his tent and went off to enjoy the bands. Unfortunately, Tim who was on duty, got into trouble with a calving so rang Rob for assistance. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, Rob decided he would have to go and help. The problem was, Rob had parked his car some distance from the concert, as he had to work the next day. It was after 9pm but he decided he would leave the concert and run along the road to his car. He hadn’t got very far along the dark lane when an old transit van from the festival pulled up and the occupants asked Rob if he needed a lift anywhere. ‘Yes’ he replied and got into the back of the van, disappearing into a haze of marijuana fumes. The driver and his friends asked why he was jogging along the road after dark and he replied that one of his colleagues was having trouble with an emergency calving so he was on his way to collect his car to go and give him a hand. This obviously bemused them and after a few odd looks, one of them said ‘what do you mean, an emergency carving? Is he having problems with a sculpture?’ These boys were road crew for a London band and thought Rob was rushing to an ornament emergency!
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Tuesday, 2 August 2011
FARM FIIRST NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2011
Nil Milk-Withold Painkillers for cattle
Anti –inflammatory drugs, such as Metacam and Flunixin are now commonly used in cattle as the benefits of their effects are recognised more widely. They reduce pain, swelling and bring down temperatures, enabling livestock to return to normal feed intake more quickly after an illness or injury. We have recently heard of farmers who have had these drugs detected in their bulk milk tanks and had penalties applied. For this reason we have decided to stock Rimadyl LA, a similar drug to Metacam and Flunixin, but with nil milk withhold. A single dose is given under the skin or I/V and costs £16.75+vat for a 700kg cow. This compares with £16.59 for Metacam and £19.47 for 2 doses of flunixin(30 ml/day). It is most likely to be useful when treating animals which need pain relief, but no antibiotics, such as lame cows
Zolvix – a new class of wormer for sheep
This wormer is in a different group (orange) to the white (bz), yellow (lm) and clear (avermectin) drenches that we are familiar with. It has been shown that worm resistance to some, or all of these existing wormers is present on many sheep farms in Wales. The strategic use of this new product will help to prevent resistance becoming a problem on your farm, as currently it kills 99.9% of the roundworms in sheep. It should be used as a quarantine drench, in conjunction with Cydectin, for all purchased sheep. The other time to use it is in lambs at weaning, when it will remove their entire worm burden and help to maximise growth rates to finishing. The meat withhold is only 7 days, and the cost is 56p/dose for a 40 kg lamb. At the moment we have an offer running which means that if you purchase 2 litres or more of Zolvix, you get a free Zolvix Optilive Drenching Gun worth £53.30. Please contact the office if you want more information about the use of this drug or the special offer.
Caesarian Sections
We are finding that, as a practice, we are carrying out more and more caesarean sections in cattle. We are currently running a clinical audit to look at which techniques are most successful and which factors may lead to more post- operative problems such as wound infections, or failing to pass the cleansing. So if you have a caesarean section on one of your cows, please do not be surprised if you receive a series of phone calls from Tracy, asking a list of questions. We want to know about whether these cows breed again, as well as their short term recovery, so if you can make a mental note of any details that may be useful to us, please do so and pass the information on to Tracy when she contacts you.
Farming Connect
As many of you will know, we have been carrying out Whole Farm Plan visits for Farming Connect under the umbrella of Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers. We have carried out advisory work such as Health Plans, mastitis investigations and lameness investigations, and our clients have been able to claim back 80% of the cost from Farming Connect. We have heard that there may be a problem with us getting future funding through these channels, so if you want to register for us to carry out any of this type of work for you, and to take advantage of the 80% grant, you need to return the registration form to Farming Connect before the 31st August 2011. Please contact Jane or Rob if you want more information about this scheme.
Staff news
We are pleased to announce that a new permanent member of the veterinary team Victoria Fisher will be joining us in the middle of August. Victoria comes from a dairy and sheep farm in the south-west of Scotland and has just graduated from the University of Glasgow with honours. She has a particular interest in calf rearing and has carried out a study in this area. She lists her hobbies as horse riding, football and Young Farmers (in that order), so sorry Rob – yet more horse talk in the office.
Congratulations
We would like to congratulate one of our dairy clients, Alun Thomas from Upper Pendre Farm in Llangorse on winning the Welsh section of the National Grassland Management Competition. We wish him luck as he now goes forward to represent Wales against the other regions of the UK.
Congratulations are also due to two of our office staff, Natalie and Tracy who both won gold medals with their horses at the Royal Welsh Show, and to our clients (too numerous to mention) who also had a successful time at the show.
And Finally...
At a recent practice meeting some of our female veterinary staff were complaining about the position of the Farm First logo on practice clothes. It was felt that the present position of the logo meant that clients (especially short sighted or new ones) spent a great deal of time staring at ladies' chests trying to read what it said. For future reference the logo says ' Farm First Vets' and has a picture of a cow's head. I hope this clears up any confusion. A discussion then followed as to where on the uniform the logo should be placed or moved to. One suggestion (from a male member of staff - mentioning no names Jon) was that the logo should be placed on the rear trouser pocket. Discussions are ongoing!
Nil Milk-Withold Painkillers for cattle
Anti –inflammatory drugs, such as Metacam and Flunixin are now commonly used in cattle as the benefits of their effects are recognised more widely. They reduce pain, swelling and bring down temperatures, enabling livestock to return to normal feed intake more quickly after an illness or injury. We have recently heard of farmers who have had these drugs detected in their bulk milk tanks and had penalties applied. For this reason we have decided to stock Rimadyl LA, a similar drug to Metacam and Flunixin, but with nil milk withhold. A single dose is given under the skin or I/V and costs £16.75+vat for a 700kg cow. This compares with £16.59 for Metacam and £19.47 for 2 doses of flunixin(30 ml/day). It is most likely to be useful when treating animals which need pain relief, but no antibiotics, such as lame cows
Zolvix – a new class of wormer for sheep
This wormer is in a different group (orange) to the white (bz), yellow (lm) and clear (avermectin) drenches that we are familiar with. It has been shown that worm resistance to some, or all of these existing wormers is present on many sheep farms in Wales. The strategic use of this new product will help to prevent resistance becoming a problem on your farm, as currently it kills 99.9% of the roundworms in sheep. It should be used as a quarantine drench, in conjunction with Cydectin, for all purchased sheep. The other time to use it is in lambs at weaning, when it will remove their entire worm burden and help to maximise growth rates to finishing. The meat withhold is only 7 days, and the cost is 56p/dose for a 40 kg lamb. At the moment we have an offer running which means that if you purchase 2 litres or more of Zolvix, you get a free Zolvix Optilive Drenching Gun worth £53.30. Please contact the office if you want more information about the use of this drug or the special offer.
Caesarian Sections
We are finding that, as a practice, we are carrying out more and more caesarean sections in cattle. We are currently running a clinical audit to look at which techniques are most successful and which factors may lead to more post- operative problems such as wound infections, or failing to pass the cleansing. So if you have a caesarean section on one of your cows, please do not be surprised if you receive a series of phone calls from Tracy, asking a list of questions. We want to know about whether these cows breed again, as well as their short term recovery, so if you can make a mental note of any details that may be useful to us, please do so and pass the information on to Tracy when she contacts you.
Farming Connect
As many of you will know, we have been carrying out Whole Farm Plan visits for Farming Connect under the umbrella of Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers. We have carried out advisory work such as Health Plans, mastitis investigations and lameness investigations, and our clients have been able to claim back 80% of the cost from Farming Connect. We have heard that there may be a problem with us getting future funding through these channels, so if you want to register for us to carry out any of this type of work for you, and to take advantage of the 80% grant, you need to return the registration form to Farming Connect before the 31st August 2011. Please contact Jane or Rob if you want more information about this scheme.
Staff news
We are pleased to announce that a new permanent member of the veterinary team Victoria Fisher will be joining us in the middle of August. Victoria comes from a dairy and sheep farm in the south-west of Scotland and has just graduated from the University of Glasgow with honours. She has a particular interest in calf rearing and has carried out a study in this area. She lists her hobbies as horse riding, football and Young Farmers (in that order), so sorry Rob – yet more horse talk in the office.
Congratulations
We would like to congratulate one of our dairy clients, Alun Thomas from Upper Pendre Farm in Llangorse on winning the Welsh section of the National Grassland Management Competition. We wish him luck as he now goes forward to represent Wales against the other regions of the UK.
Congratulations are also due to two of our office staff, Natalie and Tracy who both won gold medals with their horses at the Royal Welsh Show, and to our clients (too numerous to mention) who also had a successful time at the show.
And Finally...
At a recent practice meeting some of our female veterinary staff were complaining about the position of the Farm First logo on practice clothes. It was felt that the present position of the logo meant that clients (especially short sighted or new ones) spent a great deal of time staring at ladies' chests trying to read what it said. For future reference the logo says ' Farm First Vets' and has a picture of a cow's head. I hope this clears up any confusion. A discussion then followed as to where on the uniform the logo should be placed or moved to. One suggestion (from a male member of staff - mentioning no names Jon) was that the logo should be placed on the rear trouser pocket. Discussions are ongoing!
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Farm First July 2011 Newsletter
Botulism
Botulism in ruminants was an extremely rare disease in the British Isles until the beginning of the current millennium, since then many outbreaks have been reported in the UK and Ireland with 168 cattle and 19 sheep incidents detected in England and Wales from 2003 to 2009. Their investigations have revealed that a key factor in all sheep incidents, and in 95 per cent of cattle incidents, was proximity to broiler chicken litter. Botulism is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These organisms are commonly found in the environment and will grow to high levels in decaying organic matter, including animal carcases. It is believed that contamination of broiler litter with the carcases of chickens that have died during production can render the litter dangerous for ruminants. However, the reasons for the recent increase in the incidence of botulism in cattle and sheep associated with broiler litter are unknown. One theory is the reduction in the use of antibiotics in rearing poultry in recent years.
Clinical signs of botulism may initially appear similar to milk fever, and include, muscle tremor, weakness, recumbency and ultimately death. Fortunately the risk for human health from botulism in cattle, sheep or goats is very low. While meat and milk from clinically affected cattle, sheep or goats should not enter the human food chain, there is no need for restrictions on clinically normal animals in affected herds.
To prevent incidents of botulism in ruminants, poultry farmers should observe strict biosecurity .The carcases of any chickens that die during production should be promptly disposed of by incineration or rendering. No vaccine is available under general licence in the UK for the protection of ruminants against botulism. However, veterinary surgeons may apply for a ‘special treatment certificate’ to import vaccine to protect animals at risk. Although botulism vaccines are highly effective, vaccination should not be used as a substitute for effective biosecurity measures. Poultry manure should only be spread on land that is going to be ploughed up and used for arable crops and livestock should never have access to ensiled poultry manure.
Jejunal Haemorrhagic Syndrome (JHS) in Dairy Cattle
Jejunal Haemorrhagic Syndrome (JHS ) is a recently recognised disease of dairy cattle which had been seen for several years in high yielding herds in North America but has now been confirmed in the UK and elsewhere in Western Europe. JHS typically presents in high yielding mid lactation dairy cows as a sudden onset disaster.Clinically JHS causes severe shock with no increase in temperature, dark blood-stained faeces and distension of the right flank, the cow will often be recumbent and if untreated will die within a few hours. The cause is currently unknown, although some suspect clostridium bacteria may be involved, while others suggest the mould Aspergillus could be involved.
Unfortunately many affected cases die within 24 hours, but giving large volumes of intravenous fluid and painkillers (metacam/flunixin) will increase survival chances. In valuable animals’ surgery can be attempted in the early stages of disease, but recovery rates are likely to be less than 50% disease.
As the cause of JHS is unknown it is difficult to advise on preventative measures. It is likely that the steps taken to prevent abomasal displacement (DA) will help to prevent JHS. Removing any mouldy feed would also be advisable. Vaccination against clostridial disease may also be useful.
Dairy Co Healthy Feet Programme
Andrew recently attended a course to become a Dairy Co Healthy foot mentor. The programme is similar to the Mastitis Control Plan which Jane is involved with. The programme has just recently been unveiled and it is likely that in the future the supermarkets will insist their farmers are enrolled. The programme will initially involve three individual visits to identify the main causes of lameness in the herd and produce an action plan to reduce the problem. As part of the programme the herd needs to be mobility scored. If you have never mobility scored your herd before and would like to start please speak to Andrew. He will be happy to score the herd for the first time free of charge and give you further details of the programme.This is a limited offer and ends on the 31st August 2011.
Naxcel – antibiotic with nil milk withold
Naxcel contains the same antibiotic as Excenel and Readycef. It is only licensed for the treatment of foul in the foot in cattle, but we have used it to treat metritis and it is likely that it would be effective in other situations where Excenel/Readycef would be the drug of choice. There are two advantages in using this drug, the first being that one single injection in the back of the ear gives 7 days of antibiotic treatment. This prolonged period of antibiotic cover improves the chances of a treatment success. It also removes the need to handle/inject the cow daily, saving time and labour costs. The other main benefit is the cost of the drug itself, as a single shot of Naxcel for a 700kg cow costs £26.05 + VAT, which compares to £32.60 +VAT for a 5d course of Readycef. It is important the Naxcel is administered correctly in the back of the ear, and for this the cow needs to be restrained in a crush or in stanchions with a halter. For more information on this useful drug, and how to perform the injections, please speak to Rob, Andrew or Jane.
Email Addresses/ Mobile Telephone Numbers
The newsletters will now be added to the website each month, and in the future we would like to E-mail them to those clients who would prefer to receive them electronically. This would mean that you would receive one every month, even if you did not have a bill to pay that month. To enable us to do this, and so that we can keep you up to date with any special offers or free sampling schemes we are currently trying to collect as many E-mail addresses and mobile telephone numbers as possible. If you would like us to contact you by these methods, please can you return the slip enclosed with your bill, or give the details to the office staff.
Farm First Vets Monthly Accident Report!
You may have noticed Jane driving the little white van in the past few weeks. That’s because she reversed into a gate and smashed her boot door at Dave and Mandy Jones farm. Jane swears the gate wasn’t there when she got into the car! Bev and Lewis Baker got a shock when Andrew managed to drive his van into some freshly laid concrete on their farm. No damage this time but permanent tyre marks in the concrete! Rob is warning all clients that if they call a FF vet onto the farm, they should ensure that all children are safely inside, all livestock is cleared from roadways and any hazards are well marked with flashing orange lights.
Botulism
Botulism in ruminants was an extremely rare disease in the British Isles until the beginning of the current millennium, since then many outbreaks have been reported in the UK and Ireland with 168 cattle and 19 sheep incidents detected in England and Wales from 2003 to 2009. Their investigations have revealed that a key factor in all sheep incidents, and in 95 per cent of cattle incidents, was proximity to broiler chicken litter. Botulism is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These organisms are commonly found in the environment and will grow to high levels in decaying organic matter, including animal carcases. It is believed that contamination of broiler litter with the carcases of chickens that have died during production can render the litter dangerous for ruminants. However, the reasons for the recent increase in the incidence of botulism in cattle and sheep associated with broiler litter are unknown. One theory is the reduction in the use of antibiotics in rearing poultry in recent years.
Clinical signs of botulism may initially appear similar to milk fever, and include, muscle tremor, weakness, recumbency and ultimately death. Fortunately the risk for human health from botulism in cattle, sheep or goats is very low. While meat and milk from clinically affected cattle, sheep or goats should not enter the human food chain, there is no need for restrictions on clinically normal animals in affected herds.
To prevent incidents of botulism in ruminants, poultry farmers should observe strict biosecurity .The carcases of any chickens that die during production should be promptly disposed of by incineration or rendering. No vaccine is available under general licence in the UK for the protection of ruminants against botulism. However, veterinary surgeons may apply for a ‘special treatment certificate’ to import vaccine to protect animals at risk. Although botulism vaccines are highly effective, vaccination should not be used as a substitute for effective biosecurity measures. Poultry manure should only be spread on land that is going to be ploughed up and used for arable crops and livestock should never have access to ensiled poultry manure.
Jejunal Haemorrhagic Syndrome (JHS) in Dairy Cattle
Jejunal Haemorrhagic Syndrome (JHS ) is a recently recognised disease of dairy cattle which had been seen for several years in high yielding herds in North America but has now been confirmed in the UK and elsewhere in Western Europe. JHS typically presents in high yielding mid lactation dairy cows as a sudden onset disaster.Clinically JHS causes severe shock with no increase in temperature, dark blood-stained faeces and distension of the right flank, the cow will often be recumbent and if untreated will die within a few hours. The cause is currently unknown, although some suspect clostridium bacteria may be involved, while others suggest the mould Aspergillus could be involved.
Unfortunately many affected cases die within 24 hours, but giving large volumes of intravenous fluid and painkillers (metacam/flunixin) will increase survival chances. In valuable animals’ surgery can be attempted in the early stages of disease, but recovery rates are likely to be less than 50% disease.
As the cause of JHS is unknown it is difficult to advise on preventative measures. It is likely that the steps taken to prevent abomasal displacement (DA) will help to prevent JHS. Removing any mouldy feed would also be advisable. Vaccination against clostridial disease may also be useful.
Dairy Co Healthy Feet Programme
Andrew recently attended a course to become a Dairy Co Healthy foot mentor. The programme is similar to the Mastitis Control Plan which Jane is involved with. The programme has just recently been unveiled and it is likely that in the future the supermarkets will insist their farmers are enrolled. The programme will initially involve three individual visits to identify the main causes of lameness in the herd and produce an action plan to reduce the problem. As part of the programme the herd needs to be mobility scored. If you have never mobility scored your herd before and would like to start please speak to Andrew. He will be happy to score the herd for the first time free of charge and give you further details of the programme.This is a limited offer and ends on the 31st August 2011.
Naxcel – antibiotic with nil milk withold
Naxcel contains the same antibiotic as Excenel and Readycef. It is only licensed for the treatment of foul in the foot in cattle, but we have used it to treat metritis and it is likely that it would be effective in other situations where Excenel/Readycef would be the drug of choice. There are two advantages in using this drug, the first being that one single injection in the back of the ear gives 7 days of antibiotic treatment. This prolonged period of antibiotic cover improves the chances of a treatment success. It also removes the need to handle/inject the cow daily, saving time and labour costs. The other main benefit is the cost of the drug itself, as a single shot of Naxcel for a 700kg cow costs £26.05 + VAT, which compares to £32.60 +VAT for a 5d course of Readycef. It is important the Naxcel is administered correctly in the back of the ear, and for this the cow needs to be restrained in a crush or in stanchions with a halter. For more information on this useful drug, and how to perform the injections, please speak to Rob, Andrew or Jane.
Email Addresses/ Mobile Telephone Numbers
The newsletters will now be added to the website each month, and in the future we would like to E-mail them to those clients who would prefer to receive them electronically. This would mean that you would receive one every month, even if you did not have a bill to pay that month. To enable us to do this, and so that we can keep you up to date with any special offers or free sampling schemes we are currently trying to collect as many E-mail addresses and mobile telephone numbers as possible. If you would like us to contact you by these methods, please can you return the slip enclosed with your bill, or give the details to the office staff.
Farm First Vets Monthly Accident Report!
You may have noticed Jane driving the little white van in the past few weeks. That’s because she reversed into a gate and smashed her boot door at Dave and Mandy Jones farm. Jane swears the gate wasn’t there when she got into the car! Bev and Lewis Baker got a shock when Andrew managed to drive his van into some freshly laid concrete on their farm. No damage this time but permanent tyre marks in the concrete! Rob is warning all clients that if they call a FF vet onto the farm, they should ensure that all children are safely inside, all livestock is cleared from roadways and any hazards are well marked with flashing orange lights.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
MAY 2011 NEWSLETTER
Farm First Newsletter May 2011Pro-Rumen and the importance of probiotics
We are constantly being reminded about the benefits of probiotic supplements in our diet and how they can improve digestive disorders, but the same is also true for your herd. Cases of ketosis, digestive upsets, mastitis, bloat, scour, ruminal stasis, twin lamb disease and cereal or protein poisoning in cattle, sheep and goats can all benefit from the use of Pro-Rumen. It can be used as an aid to recovery and to assist the re-establishment of ruminal flora, e.g. following antibiotic therapy. Pro-Rumen also provides additional microflora directly into the rumen, which get to work immediately in-aiding the digestion of herbage. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (live yeast), works by stimulating the activity of beneficial rumen bacteria and stabilising the rumen environment. This produces improvement in dry matter intake and fibre digestion, resulting in production benefits in terms of milk yield and growth rates. Pro-Rumen also contains milk powder and fat soluble vitamins which are of nutritional value to the young ruminant. The cost of Pro-rumen is £5.22 per sachet and the recommended dose is 1 sachet daily.
Insurance ClaimsIf you lose any stock which may be covered by your insurance please contact your insurer immediately to find out exactly what they need in order to process the claim. Often they will ask for a veterinary certificate to say that the animals are dead, and we can only give this if we have seen the animals. It is too late once they have been disposed of. Always ask your insurer if they require a post mortem, and make a note of who you spoke to, as they will sometimes ask for post mortem findings when originally they said it was not necessary.
If possible, leave the animals where they were found, as often we will be asked the say how they died, even though no PM is required. It is then easier for us to confirm the actual circumstances in which they died, which will strengthen your claim.
New Treatment for Milk Fever – Aggers Pro-Calcium DrenchWe have recently seen an upsurge in the cases of milk fever, and a new product has just been launched which will assist in the treatment of affected cows. Aggers Pro-Calcium Drench is a liquid which comes in an especially designed bottle, which makes it easier to drench into the cow. It is intended to be used in the same way as the Botonic Calcium pastes, which some of you may have used, and contains fast release and slow release calcium, some magnesium, potassium and energy, all of which aid in the recovery from milk fever. It has a high DCAB value, which helps the cow to mobilise the calcium in her system.
To treat a cow which is down with milk fever, she should be given oral calcium as well as intravenous calcium. Ideally an Aggers Fresh Cow drench should be given, followed by 2 Pro-calcium drenches at 8-12 hours intervals. For cows thought to be at risk of milk fever, prevention can best be achieved by giving 1 bottle 8-12 hours before calving, a second one at calving followed by 2 at 8-12 hour intervals. In practice, giving one at calving and one 8 hours later is often successful. The cost of this new product is £6.83/tube
Uterine Prolapse Uterine prolapse is a fairly uncommon complication of the calving cow, but during this busy spring calving period we are being called to attend a number of cases. When prolapse does occur rapid and effective treatment is required to increase the chances of a successful outcome. Prolapse typically occurs within 24 hours of calving. Various factors increase the likelihood of prolapse, these include: milk fever, prolonged calvings, large calves, applying traction (using a jack) and retained placenta (cleansing). Uterine prolapse should be regarded as an emergency, and veterinary attention should be sought immediately. Before the vet arrives there are a number of steps which can be taken to aid the cow’s chances of survival:
• The cow should be kept on clean dry bedding, with the uterus kept clean and moist.
• To aid the vet in prompt replacement having an extra pair (or two) of hands will greatly help, as the uterus is a heavy organ and can be very difficult to replace.
• A clean piece of clean sheeting/towel can be very useful to rest the uterus on when cleaning to prevent contamination with dirt and straw, and to support the organ when attempting to replace.
• Clean warm water should be made available to wash the uterus before replacement.
• If milk fever is suspected a bottle of calcium should be given under the skin.
If the uterus is replaced promptly and without serious damage then survival is likely to be around 70-80%.
Staff newsSome of you may know that Lia Ris left the practice at the end of April after being with us for over 2 years. We wish her well for the future. We are at present advertising for a permanent replacement, but will probably take on an experienced locum to fill the gap whilst we look. In the meantime Jonathen will continue to help us out on the TB and clinical front. You will probably have met him, he’s the tall guy who wears the stupid hat.
MeetingsWe held a meeting on lameness in sheep at the King of Prussia recently, and some very useful discussions took place among the vets and farmers present. We appreciate that the timing of this meeting was not ideal for many of you sheep farmers, so please let us know if you would like us to put it on again at a more convenient time.
We are constantly being reminded about the benefits of probiotic supplements in our diet and how they can improve digestive disorders, but the same is also true for your herd. Cases of ketosis, digestive upsets, mastitis, bloat, scour, ruminal stasis, twin lamb disease and cereal or protein poisoning in cattle, sheep and goats can all benefit from the use of Pro-Rumen. It can be used as an aid to recovery and to assist the re-establishment of ruminal flora, e.g. following antibiotic therapy. Pro-Rumen also provides additional microflora directly into the rumen, which get to work immediately in-aiding the digestion of herbage. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (live yeast), works by stimulating the activity of beneficial rumen bacteria and stabilising the rumen environment. This produces improvement in dry matter intake and fibre digestion, resulting in production benefits in terms of milk yield and growth rates. Pro-Rumen also contains milk powder and fat soluble vitamins which are of nutritional value to the young ruminant. The cost of Pro-rumen is £5.22 per sachet and the recommended dose is 1 sachet daily.
Insurance ClaimsIf you lose any stock which may be covered by your insurance please contact your insurer immediately to find out exactly what they need in order to process the claim. Often they will ask for a veterinary certificate to say that the animals are dead, and we can only give this if we have seen the animals. It is too late once they have been disposed of. Always ask your insurer if they require a post mortem, and make a note of who you spoke to, as they will sometimes ask for post mortem findings when originally they said it was not necessary.
If possible, leave the animals where they were found, as often we will be asked the say how they died, even though no PM is required. It is then easier for us to confirm the actual circumstances in which they died, which will strengthen your claim.
New Treatment for Milk Fever – Aggers Pro-Calcium DrenchWe have recently seen an upsurge in the cases of milk fever, and a new product has just been launched which will assist in the treatment of affected cows. Aggers Pro-Calcium Drench is a liquid which comes in an especially designed bottle, which makes it easier to drench into the cow. It is intended to be used in the same way as the Botonic Calcium pastes, which some of you may have used, and contains fast release and slow release calcium, some magnesium, potassium and energy, all of which aid in the recovery from milk fever. It has a high DCAB value, which helps the cow to mobilise the calcium in her system.
To treat a cow which is down with milk fever, she should be given oral calcium as well as intravenous calcium. Ideally an Aggers Fresh Cow drench should be given, followed by 2 Pro-calcium drenches at 8-12 hours intervals. For cows thought to be at risk of milk fever, prevention can best be achieved by giving 1 bottle 8-12 hours before calving, a second one at calving followed by 2 at 8-12 hour intervals. In practice, giving one at calving and one 8 hours later is often successful. The cost of this new product is £6.83/tube
Uterine Prolapse Uterine prolapse is a fairly uncommon complication of the calving cow, but during this busy spring calving period we are being called to attend a number of cases. When prolapse does occur rapid and effective treatment is required to increase the chances of a successful outcome. Prolapse typically occurs within 24 hours of calving. Various factors increase the likelihood of prolapse, these include: milk fever, prolonged calvings, large calves, applying traction (using a jack) and retained placenta (cleansing). Uterine prolapse should be regarded as an emergency, and veterinary attention should be sought immediately. Before the vet arrives there are a number of steps which can be taken to aid the cow’s chances of survival:
• The cow should be kept on clean dry bedding, with the uterus kept clean and moist.
• To aid the vet in prompt replacement having an extra pair (or two) of hands will greatly help, as the uterus is a heavy organ and can be very difficult to replace.
• A clean piece of clean sheeting/towel can be very useful to rest the uterus on when cleaning to prevent contamination with dirt and straw, and to support the organ when attempting to replace.
• Clean warm water should be made available to wash the uterus before replacement.
• If milk fever is suspected a bottle of calcium should be given under the skin.
If the uterus is replaced promptly and without serious damage then survival is likely to be around 70-80%.
Staff newsSome of you may know that Lia Ris left the practice at the end of April after being with us for over 2 years. We wish her well for the future. We are at present advertising for a permanent replacement, but will probably take on an experienced locum to fill the gap whilst we look. In the meantime Jonathen will continue to help us out on the TB and clinical front. You will probably have met him, he’s the tall guy who wears the stupid hat.
MeetingsWe held a meeting on lameness in sheep at the King of Prussia recently, and some very useful discussions took place among the vets and farmers present. We appreciate that the timing of this meeting was not ideal for many of you sheep farmers, so please let us know if you would like us to put it on again at a more convenient time.
APRIL 2011 NEWSLETTER
Farm First Newsletter
April 2011Heifer RearingSome of you attended the dairy heifer rearing talk by Sam Leadley an American heifer rearing expert, at the end of February. For those who were unable to attend, here’s a summary of the main points:
• Aim to give at least 6 pints(3.4litres) of colostrum in the first 6 hours of life, this may mean milking the cow and stomach tubing the calf to ensure adequate intake. Disease in baby calves is almost always associated with inadequate colostrum intake.
• To ensure adequate colostrum intake in a suckling calf ‘educate your fingers’. Palpate the abdomen of a newborn calf before it has had a chance to suckle. Stomach tube with a known quantity of milk e.g. 3 litres, then re-palpate. Now you know what a calf feels like with 3 litres of milk inside. Repeat with a few calves until you have achieved confidence in what you’re feeling.
• Ideally 2nd >4th milkings should also be fed to calf as this provides continued protection through the provision of antibodies(and its higher in solids)
• If freezing colostrum, it should be frozen in 1 litre amounts in 4 litre freezer bags laid flat(sheets of colostrum form), and defrosted in hot(not boiling) water. Microwaves should not be used as they will destroy the antibodies.
• Keep things clean, especially buckets. You should be willing to drink from the same bucket as the calf
• Feed milk when still warm, ideally within 30 minutes of milking. Leave longer and the bacteria in the milk will start to multiply as the milk cools.
• It’s important to monitor growth in baby calves, a newborn 45kg calf should double its weight by 2 months of age. A cheap way to monitor this is using a weigh band.
• Takes 3 weeks from the start of feeding solid food for the rumen to adapt sufficiently to allow the calf to survive. Grain (concentrate) and water are essential to promote this adjustment.
• Calves which have grown well during the first 2 years of life and have hit target weight at calving , will produce more milk in the first and second lactation; poorly grown animals will not reach full potential in terms of yield until third lactation and will also be more difficult .
• With youngstock, don’t change feeds abruptly, especially forages. Giving each animal a big handful of the new forage daily for 5-7 days prior to the change, will allow the rumen time to adjust.
• Bull heifers at 55% of the weight of the average 3rd/4th lactation cows in the herd. Heifers should to calve down at 85% of the weight.
Please contact us if you’d like a copy of Rob’s more in depth notes.
Hoof Disorders
A recent article in the “Veterinary Record” has shown a link between the infectious agents (treponemes) which lead to digital dermatitis and non-healing hoof disorders, namely: toe necrosis, white line disease, and sole ulcers. Both vets and foot trimmers have reported a significant rise in the number of these non-healing lesions in the past 10 years. Given the likelihood that it is the same organisms causing non-healing lesions as those that cause digital dermatitis, it means that an even greater effort emphasis is needed to reduce the incidence of digital dermatitis on farm, i.e. regular footbathing, regular scraping of passages and prompt treatment of clinical cases etc.
Some of our clients have switched to footbathing with Kling-On Blue for digital dermatitis, and so far the results have been encouraging. One of the major advantages of this product is that the cows only need to be put through the bath once a week for 8 weeks, and then once a fortnight. A pressure washer is required to mix up the solution in a 200 litre drum. A 20kg bag costs £88.35 + VAT makes enough solution for a 200 litre footbath, which will treat 100 cows. There are discounts on purchases of larger amounts. For more information, please contact us at the office.
Sheep Abortion
Intervet Schering Plough will again be funding blood checks for aborting ewes. Ewes can be blood sampled up to 3 months post lambing to test for the two most common causes of sheep abortion: toxoplasma and chlamydophila (enzootic). Ideally 6-8 aborting ewes should be identified, which can then be sampled at the end of the lambing period. The cost for this without Intervet’s subsidy would be about £70
Scabivax(Orf)Vaccine
It looks like there will be no further supplies of Scabivax available for the foreseeable future. This could be a big issue for those of you that have orf problems on your farms. There is no alternative vaccine. In the face of an outbreak management of the infected animals plays an important role. Stocking density should be reduced as much as possible(especially in housed situations) and separation of affected and non-affected sheep should be considered(whether ewes at lambing time or older lambs) This will help reduce the spread of the disease. Affected lambs or lambs from badly affected ewes may have to be fed artificially(paying particular attention to hygiene of teats/bottles etc). Ewes with severely affected teats can be dried of early and the appropriate intramammary antibiotic therapy instituted to prevent secondary mastitis.
Orf is a virus, so is not killed by antibiotics. Antibiotics can be used to control secondary infection. Repeated high doses of an antibiotic like Betamox LA is probably best(and is thought to work slightly better than Alamycin LA). Painkillers such as Flunixin or Metacam could also be used in severe cases. Antibiotic or antiseptic sprays can be sprayed onto the lesions.
Remember the orf infection usually runs its course in about a month.
E mail Addresses
If any of you would like to receive these newsletters by email, if you could let the office know your email address we can send them out to you electronically.
Farm First Beef and Sheep Farmer Talks
Please add these dates to your diary.
Jane will be doing a talk on ‘Tackling lameness in the Sheep Flock’ on at 7.30pm Wednesday April 20th at the King of Prussia.
Rob is going to give a talk on ‘Improving the Fertility of Your Beef Suckler Herd’ at 7.30pm on Wednesday May 4th at the King of Prussia.
Ring and speak to Tracy in the office to book your places
April 2011Heifer RearingSome of you attended the dairy heifer rearing talk by Sam Leadley an American heifer rearing expert, at the end of February. For those who were unable to attend, here’s a summary of the main points:
• Aim to give at least 6 pints(3.4litres) of colostrum in the first 6 hours of life, this may mean milking the cow and stomach tubing the calf to ensure adequate intake. Disease in baby calves is almost always associated with inadequate colostrum intake.
• To ensure adequate colostrum intake in a suckling calf ‘educate your fingers’. Palpate the abdomen of a newborn calf before it has had a chance to suckle. Stomach tube with a known quantity of milk e.g. 3 litres, then re-palpate. Now you know what a calf feels like with 3 litres of milk inside. Repeat with a few calves until you have achieved confidence in what you’re feeling.
• Ideally 2nd >4th milkings should also be fed to calf as this provides continued protection through the provision of antibodies(and its higher in solids)
• If freezing colostrum, it should be frozen in 1 litre amounts in 4 litre freezer bags laid flat(sheets of colostrum form), and defrosted in hot(not boiling) water. Microwaves should not be used as they will destroy the antibodies.
• Keep things clean, especially buckets. You should be willing to drink from the same bucket as the calf
• Feed milk when still warm, ideally within 30 minutes of milking. Leave longer and the bacteria in the milk will start to multiply as the milk cools.
• It’s important to monitor growth in baby calves, a newborn 45kg calf should double its weight by 2 months of age. A cheap way to monitor this is using a weigh band.
• Takes 3 weeks from the start of feeding solid food for the rumen to adapt sufficiently to allow the calf to survive. Grain (concentrate) and water are essential to promote this adjustment.
• Calves which have grown well during the first 2 years of life and have hit target weight at calving , will produce more milk in the first and second lactation; poorly grown animals will not reach full potential in terms of yield until third lactation and will also be more difficult .
• With youngstock, don’t change feeds abruptly, especially forages. Giving each animal a big handful of the new forage daily for 5-7 days prior to the change, will allow the rumen time to adjust.
• Bull heifers at 55% of the weight of the average 3rd/4th lactation cows in the herd. Heifers should to calve down at 85% of the weight.
Please contact us if you’d like a copy of Rob’s more in depth notes.
Hoof Disorders
A recent article in the “Veterinary Record” has shown a link between the infectious agents (treponemes) which lead to digital dermatitis and non-healing hoof disorders, namely: toe necrosis, white line disease, and sole ulcers. Both vets and foot trimmers have reported a significant rise in the number of these non-healing lesions in the past 10 years. Given the likelihood that it is the same organisms causing non-healing lesions as those that cause digital dermatitis, it means that an even greater effort emphasis is needed to reduce the incidence of digital dermatitis on farm, i.e. regular footbathing, regular scraping of passages and prompt treatment of clinical cases etc.
Some of our clients have switched to footbathing with Kling-On Blue for digital dermatitis, and so far the results have been encouraging. One of the major advantages of this product is that the cows only need to be put through the bath once a week for 8 weeks, and then once a fortnight. A pressure washer is required to mix up the solution in a 200 litre drum. A 20kg bag costs £88.35 + VAT makes enough solution for a 200 litre footbath, which will treat 100 cows. There are discounts on purchases of larger amounts. For more information, please contact us at the office.
Sheep Abortion
Intervet Schering Plough will again be funding blood checks for aborting ewes. Ewes can be blood sampled up to 3 months post lambing to test for the two most common causes of sheep abortion: toxoplasma and chlamydophila (enzootic). Ideally 6-8 aborting ewes should be identified, which can then be sampled at the end of the lambing period. The cost for this without Intervet’s subsidy would be about £70
Scabivax(Orf)Vaccine
It looks like there will be no further supplies of Scabivax available for the foreseeable future. This could be a big issue for those of you that have orf problems on your farms. There is no alternative vaccine. In the face of an outbreak management of the infected animals plays an important role. Stocking density should be reduced as much as possible(especially in housed situations) and separation of affected and non-affected sheep should be considered(whether ewes at lambing time or older lambs) This will help reduce the spread of the disease. Affected lambs or lambs from badly affected ewes may have to be fed artificially(paying particular attention to hygiene of teats/bottles etc). Ewes with severely affected teats can be dried of early and the appropriate intramammary antibiotic therapy instituted to prevent secondary mastitis.
Orf is a virus, so is not killed by antibiotics. Antibiotics can be used to control secondary infection. Repeated high doses of an antibiotic like Betamox LA is probably best(and is thought to work slightly better than Alamycin LA). Painkillers such as Flunixin or Metacam could also be used in severe cases. Antibiotic or antiseptic sprays can be sprayed onto the lesions.
Remember the orf infection usually runs its course in about a month.
E mail Addresses
If any of you would like to receive these newsletters by email, if you could let the office know your email address we can send them out to you electronically.
Farm First Beef and Sheep Farmer Talks
Please add these dates to your diary.
Jane will be doing a talk on ‘Tackling lameness in the Sheep Flock’ on at 7.30pm Wednesday April 20th at the King of Prussia.
Rob is going to give a talk on ‘Improving the Fertility of Your Beef Suckler Herd’ at 7.30pm on Wednesday May 4th at the King of Prussia.
Ring and speak to Tracy in the office to book your places
MARCH 2011 NEWSLETTER
NEWSLETTER MARCH 2011
Giving fluids to ewes
Many of you will have seen us use the ‘Aggers Pump’ to give fluid to sick cows. Well now there is a similar product for sheep, its called the Progress Ewe Drencher. Ewes will easily get dehydrated when they have mastitis, twin lamb disease or hypocalcaemia. The Progress Ewe Drencher works in a similar way to the cattle pump. It has a flexible hose, with a bulbous end to encourage ewes to swallow it. The tube passes through a hard tubular gag which protects it from being bitten. With the hose in the rumen it can be attached to a jerry can fitted with a tap and air inlet and ewes can be given up to 5 litres of fluid with or without powders for rehydration or rumen stimulation or liquid to provide energy. The cost of the pump is £49.79 + vat.
Please contact the practice if you are interested or would like more information.
Anti-inflammatory/ painkiller use in ewes
Anti-inflammatories/ painkillers are not used widely in sheep. However there are certain indications where sheep seem to benefit from the use of them. One of the indications is vaginal prolapse where the use of Flunixin reduces the swelling. This in turn reduces straining in the ewe. Another indication of using Flunixin at lambing is when treating a ewe for twin lamb disease. Recent research has indicated that ewes that received Flunixin for three days when treated for twin lamb disease had a higher survival rate. Lambs born to these ewes also had a higher survival rate. It is also beneficial to use it when a ewe has a bad lambing as it will reduce the associated swelling and also make the ewe feel better. Similarly when a ewe has mastitis, Flunixin given for 1 to 3 days, will help reduce the pain and swelling and help to keep her feeling well.
Is a cost effective drug to use; the dose rate is 2 ml/ 45 kg once daily for 1 to 3 days. A 50ml bottle works out at £16.15 + vat.
Funding for BVD and Johne’s disease testing for beef herds
There is funding available from HCC (Hybu Cig Cymru) for beef herds for BVD and Johne’s disease testing.
BVD: BVD has a major impact on the health and profitability of herds. To raise awareness and to control the spread of BVD HCC are running a £40,000 project. Funding is available for Farms to take part in a testing and control project with the ultimate goal to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) from the herd. One hundred farms can take part in this project and it will be on a first come first served basis. (The latest information is that 60 places have already been filled) If you are interested or need more information contact the WRVC at Gelli Aur on 01554 748597.
.
Johne’s: There is still funding available from HCC for help with controlling Johne’s disease in beef herds. You need to be a member of a cattle health scheme that is licensed by the Cattle Health Certification Standards (UK), abbreviated CHeCS. (At the moment there are 10 approved schemes; check www.checs.co.uk). HCC offers funding to Welsh pedigree and commercial beef breeders to test their cattle for Johne's disease. Funding of £4 per animal tested for up to 100 animals is available to cover lab fees. This can easily be fitted in with your annual TB test. If you are interested in obtaining the support please contact HCC on 01970 625050 or give us a ring at the practice to discuss.
Lungworm vaccination reminder
As spring is approaching rapidly we would like to remind farmers about the Huskvac® vaccination against lungworm. Calves need to be ideally 8 weeks old and require need to have two doses, 4 weeks apart (with the second dose 2 weeks before turnout). If you want to vaccinate your calves this year and need to place an order or require more information about the vaccine please contact the surgery.
Dopram-V drops
Many of you will be used to using Dopram-V drops under/on the tongue of newborn calves or lambs to initiate or stimulate the breathing after birth. When you do this it is important to make sure that the airway is clear (no mucus) before you use the drops. Unfortunately this year Dopram-V drops (5ml/bottle) is unavailable. As an alternative you can use Dopram-V injection (20ml/bottle). Cost £37.66 + vat for 20mls. The dose for calves is 2 to 5 ml either by subcutaneous/intramuscular or sublingual (into the underside of the tongue) injection. The dose for lambs is 0.25 to 0.5ml again into the muscle/under the skin or into the tongue.
Abortions in sheep
As lambing time has started again, unfortunately, so have the sheep abortions. There are a number of causes of abortion in sheep and it is usually very difficult to diagnose which pathogen is causing the problem by just looking at a dead foetus. If you want to investigate a problem we need a freshly aborted lamb or lambs, plus placenta which can be sampled and the samples sent away. This will determine the cause of abortion in the majority of cases and will enable us to advise you about what to do. The cost for an investigation using the fetus(es) from 1 dam will be £80 + vat. For the fetus (es) from 2 dams the price is £100 + vat. These are set fees and include the taking of samples, packing and postage and interpretation. The charges do not include the disposal of the lambs
Alternatively at the end of the lambing season we can blood sample barren ewes and ewes that aborted to see if we can establish the cause of the infertility. Obviously these ewes have to be identified.
Generally speaking when a ewe aborts, keep her in isolation and away from ewes that are due to lamb.Also clean and disinfect the pen that the ewe was in(or if possible do not use it again as a lambing pen this season).
Bull Fertility.
It won’t be many months now until many of you will turning the bull in with your spring calving cows. Various studies have found that around 20 to 25% of breeding bulls are found to be infertile or subfertile at a routine Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation(BBSE). Obviously a subfertile bull will contribute to reproductive inefficiencies in your suckler herd by considerably extending your mating period. This is especially important in single sire mating groups when only 1 bull runs with 30 or 40 cows. A BBSE can be carried out on farm relatively simply, costs £80 + vat for 1 bull and is a a reasonable way of detecting bulls with potentially high fertility and those which are clearly unsatisfactory. The ideal time to carry these out is about 2 mths prior to the breeding period so if you are interested please give Rob a ring at the surgery.
Farm First
Giving fluids to ewes
Many of you will have seen us use the ‘Aggers Pump’ to give fluid to sick cows. Well now there is a similar product for sheep, its called the Progress Ewe Drencher. Ewes will easily get dehydrated when they have mastitis, twin lamb disease or hypocalcaemia. The Progress Ewe Drencher works in a similar way to the cattle pump. It has a flexible hose, with a bulbous end to encourage ewes to swallow it. The tube passes through a hard tubular gag which protects it from being bitten. With the hose in the rumen it can be attached to a jerry can fitted with a tap and air inlet and ewes can be given up to 5 litres of fluid with or without powders for rehydration or rumen stimulation or liquid to provide energy. The cost of the pump is £49.79 + vat.
Please contact the practice if you are interested or would like more information.
Anti-inflammatory/ painkiller use in ewes
Anti-inflammatories/ painkillers are not used widely in sheep. However there are certain indications where sheep seem to benefit from the use of them. One of the indications is vaginal prolapse where the use of Flunixin reduces the swelling. This in turn reduces straining in the ewe. Another indication of using Flunixin at lambing is when treating a ewe for twin lamb disease. Recent research has indicated that ewes that received Flunixin for three days when treated for twin lamb disease had a higher survival rate. Lambs born to these ewes also had a higher survival rate. It is also beneficial to use it when a ewe has a bad lambing as it will reduce the associated swelling and also make the ewe feel better. Similarly when a ewe has mastitis, Flunixin given for 1 to 3 days, will help reduce the pain and swelling and help to keep her feeling well.
Is a cost effective drug to use; the dose rate is 2 ml/ 45 kg once daily for 1 to 3 days. A 50ml bottle works out at £16.15 + vat.
Funding for BVD and Johne’s disease testing for beef herds
There is funding available from HCC (Hybu Cig Cymru) for beef herds for BVD and Johne’s disease testing.
BVD: BVD has a major impact on the health and profitability of herds. To raise awareness and to control the spread of BVD HCC are running a £40,000 project. Funding is available for Farms to take part in a testing and control project with the ultimate goal to eradicate Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) from the herd. One hundred farms can take part in this project and it will be on a first come first served basis. (The latest information is that 60 places have already been filled) If you are interested or need more information contact the WRVC at Gelli Aur on 01554 748597.
.
Johne’s: There is still funding available from HCC for help with controlling Johne’s disease in beef herds. You need to be a member of a cattle health scheme that is licensed by the Cattle Health Certification Standards (UK), abbreviated CHeCS. (At the moment there are 10 approved schemes; check www.checs.co.uk). HCC offers funding to Welsh pedigree and commercial beef breeders to test their cattle for Johne's disease. Funding of £4 per animal tested for up to 100 animals is available to cover lab fees. This can easily be fitted in with your annual TB test. If you are interested in obtaining the support please contact HCC on 01970 625050 or give us a ring at the practice to discuss.
Lungworm vaccination reminder
As spring is approaching rapidly we would like to remind farmers about the Huskvac® vaccination against lungworm. Calves need to be ideally 8 weeks old and require need to have two doses, 4 weeks apart (with the second dose 2 weeks before turnout). If you want to vaccinate your calves this year and need to place an order or require more information about the vaccine please contact the surgery.
Dopram-V drops
Many of you will be used to using Dopram-V drops under/on the tongue of newborn calves or lambs to initiate or stimulate the breathing after birth. When you do this it is important to make sure that the airway is clear (no mucus) before you use the drops. Unfortunately this year Dopram-V drops (5ml/bottle) is unavailable. As an alternative you can use Dopram-V injection (20ml/bottle). Cost £37.66 + vat for 20mls. The dose for calves is 2 to 5 ml either by subcutaneous/intramuscular or sublingual (into the underside of the tongue) injection. The dose for lambs is 0.25 to 0.5ml again into the muscle/under the skin or into the tongue.
Abortions in sheep
As lambing time has started again, unfortunately, so have the sheep abortions. There are a number of causes of abortion in sheep and it is usually very difficult to diagnose which pathogen is causing the problem by just looking at a dead foetus. If you want to investigate a problem we need a freshly aborted lamb or lambs, plus placenta which can be sampled and the samples sent away. This will determine the cause of abortion in the majority of cases and will enable us to advise you about what to do. The cost for an investigation using the fetus(es) from 1 dam will be £80 + vat. For the fetus (es) from 2 dams the price is £100 + vat. These are set fees and include the taking of samples, packing and postage and interpretation. The charges do not include the disposal of the lambs
Alternatively at the end of the lambing season we can blood sample barren ewes and ewes that aborted to see if we can establish the cause of the infertility. Obviously these ewes have to be identified.
Generally speaking when a ewe aborts, keep her in isolation and away from ewes that are due to lamb.Also clean and disinfect the pen that the ewe was in(or if possible do not use it again as a lambing pen this season).
Bull Fertility.
It won’t be many months now until many of you will turning the bull in with your spring calving cows. Various studies have found that around 20 to 25% of breeding bulls are found to be infertile or subfertile at a routine Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation(BBSE). Obviously a subfertile bull will contribute to reproductive inefficiencies in your suckler herd by considerably extending your mating period. This is especially important in single sire mating groups when only 1 bull runs with 30 or 40 cows. A BBSE can be carried out on farm relatively simply, costs £80 + vat for 1 bull and is a a reasonable way of detecting bulls with potentially high fertility and those which are clearly unsatisfactory. The ideal time to carry these out is about 2 mths prior to the breeding period so if you are interested please give Rob a ring at the surgery.
Farm First
JANUARY NEWSLETTER 2011
FARM FIRST
January Newsletter
January 2011
A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL
We certainly learn from experiences! The cold weather of the past month does not seem to have adversely affected livestock, so I suppose that we learn from this that its best not to keep them too enclosed. Cows especially are amazingly ‘wet’ animals. They produce around 50 litres of water per cow per day in the urine, faeces breath and sweat (ie in addition to the water in milk), and this moisture needs to be taken out of the building. Failure to do so results in increased lameness and mastitis. At a recent meeting the speaker stated that the ideal temperature for a cow is 4C – so unless you are cold she is probably too hot! Increased air flow (and hence decreased humidity) is achieved by giving the cows ample space and by providing vents at the sides and at the apex of buildings.
RESPIRATORY DISEASE MEETING
Thanks to all of you who supported our meeting in December. What were some of the essential elements of being able to rear calves with less than 1.0% mortality and calving at two years of age? There will of course be variations in the feeding regimes depending on availability of waste milk, size of calf etc, but the following is a summary of the major points we learned for the average calf
Once a day feeding.
The calves are given colostrum for the first 3 days of life then fed whole milk twice daily for the first week. They are then changed abruptly onto ‘Once a Day’ powder, simply be feeding them in the mornings only. This is fed this until weaning at 8 weeks, making sure that there is ample water and hard food available. The advantages of the once a day system were felt to be that calves started eating solid food sooner, that pens stayed drier and of course there is less labour. It’s important to check the calves in the afternoons though, and because they are not being fed you have a bit more time to spend with them.
Calf pens
The calf pens comprised 8’ x 4’ sheets of marine ply (some of them 40+ years old, ie the original sheets used by Jim when he set up the system!) attached to gates at the rear and wooden feeding rails at the front. Thick wads of big bale straw are laid in the base, then loose straw on top. Fresh clean palatable straw is added 3 times per week as a forage source and as bedding. Calves are kept in these pens for 1 – 2 weeks after weaning to ensure that they are eating ample concentrates and then the pen sides are removed leaving the calves on the same straw and in the same area. This produces and almost ‘all in all out’ system that minimises infection transfer from group to group. Only under exceptional circumstances do calves change groups.
Pneumonia control
The calves are certainly not free from pneumonia and some treatments are given every year. Post treatment blood samples taken from affected calves this year showed exposure to IBR and RSV viruses. Calves are vaccinated against IBR and the current strategy is to hope that any RSV infection can be overcome naturally, although this position is always under review, and intranasal vaccination at around 4 weeks of age is an option. If an increase in coughing is seen the calves are monitored for feed intake and general respiratory signs. When more than 10% of calves are affected the whole group is injected. Last year the Draxxin was ordered and collected, but by the time it arrived on farm calves were improving and it was not used!
This balance between whether to treat and whether to let disease run its course is never easy. Vaccination is likely to be the safer option, but as with all such options, cost effectiveness is the difficult decision. The Pfizer subsidised blood sampling (£10 per calf for 5 calves) is well worthwhile to determine disease risk, especially in closed herds.
Vaccination
Vaccination is an important aspect in the control and prevention of BRD. Preventing pneumonia will reduce the costs associated with a clinical case of the disease, for example the cost of treatment, risk of spread to other animals and failure to grow/reach targets compared to unaffected calves.
We can vaccinate for the major causes of pneumonia starting with an intranasal vaccine from 9 days of age which will cover for RSV and Parainfluenza 3 viral causes and injectable vaccines administered from 2 weeks of age which cover RSV, PI3 and Pasteurella. We have a range of vaccines which we can use depending on your farming business and depending on the causes of pneumonia. Please discuss with us at the practice to determine the best protocol. Bovipast RSP vaccine can also be administered to dry cows 6-4 weeks before calving to protect the calves via colostral immunity.
It must be remembered that vaccination is part of a control plan and is not a ‘cure all’ for pneumonia. Housing, colostral status and management all require looking at too. Also an underlying BVD problem will affect the chances of pneumonia developing in a herd due to immunosuppressive effects.
JEJUNAL HAEMORRHAGE SYNDROME, JHS
Also known as haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS), haemorrhagic gut syndrome (HGS), or simply haemorrhagic enteritis “hemorrhagic enteritis”, this condition, first reported in North America, now seems to have reached Gloucestershire! Affected cows are extremely ill, often totally collapsed with shock, severe abdominal pain and blood loss into the small intestine. Those that survive this first acute phase will then start passing a mixture of thick stinking dark bloody faeces and mucous. For those cows that do make it, recovery is slow. The cause is unknown, but affected animals are usually higher yielding early lactation animals on higher levels of feed. Clostridia can often be isolated from the gut and some US farms apparently use clostridial vaccination as a means of control. Vaccination is cheap enough, but most herds only have sporadic cases.
January Newsletter
January 2011
A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL
We certainly learn from experiences! The cold weather of the past month does not seem to have adversely affected livestock, so I suppose that we learn from this that its best not to keep them too enclosed. Cows especially are amazingly ‘wet’ animals. They produce around 50 litres of water per cow per day in the urine, faeces breath and sweat (ie in addition to the water in milk), and this moisture needs to be taken out of the building. Failure to do so results in increased lameness and mastitis. At a recent meeting the speaker stated that the ideal temperature for a cow is 4C – so unless you are cold she is probably too hot! Increased air flow (and hence decreased humidity) is achieved by giving the cows ample space and by providing vents at the sides and at the apex of buildings.
RESPIRATORY DISEASE MEETING
Thanks to all of you who supported our meeting in December. What were some of the essential elements of being able to rear calves with less than 1.0% mortality and calving at two years of age? There will of course be variations in the feeding regimes depending on availability of waste milk, size of calf etc, but the following is a summary of the major points we learned for the average calf
Once a day feeding.
The calves are given colostrum for the first 3 days of life then fed whole milk twice daily for the first week. They are then changed abruptly onto ‘Once a Day’ powder, simply be feeding them in the mornings only. This is fed this until weaning at 8 weeks, making sure that there is ample water and hard food available. The advantages of the once a day system were felt to be that calves started eating solid food sooner, that pens stayed drier and of course there is less labour. It’s important to check the calves in the afternoons though, and because they are not being fed you have a bit more time to spend with them.
Calf pens
The calf pens comprised 8’ x 4’ sheets of marine ply (some of them 40+ years old, ie the original sheets used by Jim when he set up the system!) attached to gates at the rear and wooden feeding rails at the front. Thick wads of big bale straw are laid in the base, then loose straw on top. Fresh clean palatable straw is added 3 times per week as a forage source and as bedding. Calves are kept in these pens for 1 – 2 weeks after weaning to ensure that they are eating ample concentrates and then the pen sides are removed leaving the calves on the same straw and in the same area. This produces and almost ‘all in all out’ system that minimises infection transfer from group to group. Only under exceptional circumstances do calves change groups.
Pneumonia control
The calves are certainly not free from pneumonia and some treatments are given every year. Post treatment blood samples taken from affected calves this year showed exposure to IBR and RSV viruses. Calves are vaccinated against IBR and the current strategy is to hope that any RSV infection can be overcome naturally, although this position is always under review, and intranasal vaccination at around 4 weeks of age is an option. If an increase in coughing is seen the calves are monitored for feed intake and general respiratory signs. When more than 10% of calves are affected the whole group is injected. Last year the Draxxin was ordered and collected, but by the time it arrived on farm calves were improving and it was not used!
This balance between whether to treat and whether to let disease run its course is never easy. Vaccination is likely to be the safer option, but as with all such options, cost effectiveness is the difficult decision. The Pfizer subsidised blood sampling (£10 per calf for 5 calves) is well worthwhile to determine disease risk, especially in closed herds.
Vaccination
Vaccination is an important aspect in the control and prevention of BRD. Preventing pneumonia will reduce the costs associated with a clinical case of the disease, for example the cost of treatment, risk of spread to other animals and failure to grow/reach targets compared to unaffected calves.
We can vaccinate for the major causes of pneumonia starting with an intranasal vaccine from 9 days of age which will cover for RSV and Parainfluenza 3 viral causes and injectable vaccines administered from 2 weeks of age which cover RSV, PI3 and Pasteurella. We have a range of vaccines which we can use depending on your farming business and depending on the causes of pneumonia. Please discuss with us at the practice to determine the best protocol. Bovipast RSP vaccine can also be administered to dry cows 6-4 weeks before calving to protect the calves via colostral immunity.
It must be remembered that vaccination is part of a control plan and is not a ‘cure all’ for pneumonia. Housing, colostral status and management all require looking at too. Also an underlying BVD problem will affect the chances of pneumonia developing in a herd due to immunosuppressive effects.
JEJUNAL HAEMORRHAGE SYNDROME, JHS
Also known as haemorrhagic bowel syndrome (HBS), haemorrhagic gut syndrome (HGS), or simply haemorrhagic enteritis “hemorrhagic enteritis”, this condition, first reported in North America, now seems to have reached Gloucestershire! Affected cows are extremely ill, often totally collapsed with shock, severe abdominal pain and blood loss into the small intestine. Those that survive this first acute phase will then start passing a mixture of thick stinking dark bloody faeces and mucous. For those cows that do make it, recovery is slow. The cause is unknown, but affected animals are usually higher yielding early lactation animals on higher levels of feed. Clostridia can often be isolated from the gut and some US farms apparently use clostridial vaccination as a means of control. Vaccination is cheap enough, but most herds only have sporadic cases.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)