Category: FARM

Wet and muddy conditions provide the perfect environment for Treponemes and other anaerobic bacteria to invade the soft tissues of the feet and cause lameness. Digital dermatitis is also infectious and can spread rapidly through housed herds.

THE COST OF LAMENESS

• Animal health and welfare: Digi is a painful condition which ultimately causes discomfort to your cows. This often means a reduced expression of normal behaviour. Poor oestrus expression has a knock-on effect on submission and conception rates which increase calving to conception intervals, numbers of barren cows, and calving index.
• Reduced production: Lameness can lead to a reduced milk yield, a shorter productive lifespan, and a reduced reproductive performance.
• Conservative estimates of costs range from £50-£100 per case of digi .

• Early detection and treatment are key to preventing digi from spreading rapidly, especially at housing. Many animals do not appear lame so taking a few extra seconds at milking to look for the classic digi lesion above and between the heel bulbs of the hind feet is well worthwhile.
• Strict biosecurity is vital for prevention, as digi is spread between farms from cattle movements and from shared holding or handling facilities.
• Good hygiene and slurry management is also important – whilst infected animals are the main reservoir of infection, the bacteria that cause digi survive in slurry, wet bedding, muddy gateways and water-only foot baths.

The Animal Health & Welfare Pathway is a government initiative aimed at supporting the continual improvement of farm animal health and welfare. You can book a 2-3 hour vet visit to discuss any key herd or flock health issues on your farm – fully funded by Defra. This scheme is an opportunity to boost your profitability through reducing the impact of endemic diseases and improving animal welfare and production.

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE REVIEW?

This veterinary review is tailored to your farm and will concentrate on identifying your farm’s specific health and welfare priorities, including screening tests for endemic diseases.

The structure is completely open, allowing the time to be used to focus on the area that would benefit you most. For example, for cattle it may focus on lameness, mastitis, housing or cow tracks, and in flocks it may focus on parasites, ‘iceberg diseases’, lameness and abortion agents At no cost to you the visit involves testing cattle for BVD, and pre and post worming egg counts for sheep.

DURING THE VISIT WE COULD:

• Create a bespoke worm/parasite control plan to help improve performance and reduce wormer usage.
• Investigate calf scour and pneumonia.
• Help with lameness control, incl. footbathing regimes.
• Develop a mastitis control plan.
• Review lamb health and mortality.
• Discuss antimicrobial use.

GRANTS AVAILABLE

The review can also be used to support the application for small and large capital grants, aimed at improving farm animal welfare and production. Grants will be available towards the cost of equipment and technology items and also for new housing, building upgrades and pasture improvements.

All cattle and sheep farmers are eligible, as long as you are enrolled in the Basic Payment Scheme and have more than 11 cattle or 21 sheep. Funding has been calculated to cover around two hours of vet time and testing for priority diseases.

Stormy weather and lush pastures increase the risk of grass staggers, particularly in older lactating beef cows. Magnesium cannot be stored so a constant dietary supply is essential.

Magnesium levels vary considerably in soil and grass. High levels of potassium and ammonia from the application of fertilisers disrupt the ability of cattle to absorb magnesium from their diet. Lush pastures are low in fibre and increase the rate of passage of food through the rumen, reducing the time for absorption. Reduced intakes during periods of bad weather also reduce the overall intake of magnesium.

Affected cattle may show excitability, muscle twitching and aggression, progressing to recumbency, seizures and death. Due to the rapid progression of clinical signs most often cattle are found dead.

If found in the early stages, treatment consists of intravenous calcium spiked with 50ml magnesium. The remainder of the bottle of magnesium is given subcutaneously. Sedation may be required to control seizure activity. Treatment will maintain blood magnesium levels for 6-12 hours. Concentrates and palatable forage should be offered following treatment to avoid relapse.

Prevention options include supplementing all water supplies with magnesium chloride (250g/100 litres of water), feeding high mag rolls or magnesium boluses.

Last year we found multiple farms having poor growth rates in their lambs over the late summer months. Through investigation with forage analysis and blood sampling, we found many were deficient in cobalt; an essential trace element required for the formation of vitamin B12 by ruminal microorganisms. Vitamin B12 is important for the formation of energy from ruminal fermentation.

Cobalt deficiency (“pine”) may be seen in growing lambs put onto cobalt-deficient pastures after weaning.

Clinical signs include:

• Lethargy
• Pica
• Weakness
• Poor appetite and body condition, despite adequate diet
• Poor feed conversion efficiency and growth rate
• Pale mucous membranes
• Reduced wool quality

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs supported by low blood or liver B12 concentrations. Cobalt deficiency should be considered alongside parasitic gastroenteritis and coccidiosis in groups of lambs which are not thriving as expected as heavy parasite burdens interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12.

Cobalt can be supplemented via an oral drench, injection or slow-release bolus. Oral drenches are the cheapest and easiest way to supplement, however as cobalt is not stored in the liver, the benefits of oral drenches are questioned. The supplementation will last for 2-3 days which may not be sufficient enough, therefore will require many repeats throughout the season. SMARTSHOT®B12 is a long-acting injection which maintains adequate levels for 6 months, so avoids the need for repeated handling and drenching. 0.5ml for fattening lambs and 1ml for replacements may be given by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection in the neck from 3 weeks of age. Although slightly more expensive, boluses provide a much longer period of cover. They provide the nutrients on a slow-release basis at a consistent rate. One bolus could provide cover for the whole season!

Be aware though as many drenches & boluses come as a mixed mineral formulation, there is a risk for over-supplementation of some trace elements. With most, this won’t cause an issue as the excess minerals will pass through the gut and out the back end, however, be cautious with copper as too much can be toxic!!

Whilst the risk of environmental mastitis is present year-round, some farms see an increased incidence during periods of hot, humid weather. Warm, humid environments promote the survival and replication of mastitis-causing pathogens, particularly in bedding. Grazing herds may also experience an increase in environmental mastitis cases if grazing areas become poached or fly control is inadequate.

Environmental mastitis pathogens may be splashed onto udders in slurry or water, or transferred from contaminated bedding, hands, shared udder cloths and other equipment. Bedding, particularly if it is allowed to become damp whilst in storage or contaminated with slurry whilst in use, is a significant source of environmental pathogens.

Some pathogens have a particular affinity for certain bedding products, for example, Klebsiella lives happily in damp wood-based products, whilst Strep. uberis thrives in straw. Pseudomonas likes to live in water tanks, which is why only water direct from the mains should be used for parlour cleaning.

Rough or damaged teats can increase the likelihood of mastitis, as damaged skin is more likely to harbour bacteria and is difficult to clean and disinfect.

The severity of environmental mastitis varies from a mild elevation in SCC to full blown toxic “E. coli” mastitis with a down cow in toxic shock, and everything in between. Summer mastitis is caused by a group of bacteria found in the environment and transferred by flies. Therefore fly control is an important prevention strategy.

The incidence and cause of clinical and subclinical mastitis cases should be regularly monitored. We use the industry initiative QuarterPRO to promote and improve udder health on an individual farm basis. This includes data analysis, an on-farm assessment of potential risk factors and implementing a control plan tailored to your farm.

Speak to one of our vets on 01772 861300 for more info.

Vaccinating ewes with Heptavac P Plus 4-6 weeks pre-lambing is the best way to protect them and their lambs against the 7 most common clostridial diseases: lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, struck, tetanus, braxy, blackleg, black disease, and clostridial metritis.

Up to 12 weeks passive immunity against clostridial disease is expected in lambs who have received sufficient colostrum from fully vaccinated ewes. The vaccine also provides 4 weeks passive immunity against pasturellosis in lambs.

It is important to ensure that the nutritional status of ewes is optimal at the time of vaccination and that they are vaccinated at the correct time with respect to lambing. They should be gathered carefully to negate the chances of metabolic disease and abortion which may be brough on by stressful handling. Care should be taken when injecting to ensure that the vaccine is delivered into clean skin using clean needles. All breeding ewes not previously vaccinated with Heptavac P should receive 2 doses of 2ml, 4-6 weeks apart, with annual boosters thereafter. Boosters are ideally given 4-6 weeks pre-lambing to boost colostral levels of immunoglobulin.

Lambs can be vaccinated from 3 weeks of age with either Heptavac P Plus or Ovivac to provide ongoing protection against clostridial disease and pasturellosis. Lambs must receive a primary course of 2 doses, 4-6 weeks apart.

White line disease is a non-infectious claw horn disease of cattle. The white line is the area of the sole of the hoof where the wall horn meets the sole horn. The horn along this junction is prone to damage, particularly from shearing (sideways) forces. Sole thinning as a result of increased wear can also cause the sole to flex more with resultant damage to the white line structure.

The feet may be subjected to shearing forces if cows have to turn tight corners, or change direction suddenly, for example if being herded forcefully or if trying to escape a bully cow.

If the white line becomes damaged it can become impacted with stones and debris. The resulting infection leads to the formation of an abscess and a sudden onset of lameness. Any cow exhibiting a sudden onset of lameness should have the affected foot lifted and examined at the earliest opportunity. The foot should be trimmed using the five-step Dutch method and the area where the white line has been damaged should be carefully explored until the abscess can drain. Anti-inflamatories should be administered and a block should be fitted to the healthy claw. Early treatment promotes faster resolution and minimises the impact the lameness will have on milk production and fertility.

Key areas to focus on to prevent white line disease include:

• Optimising cow flow and ensuring cows are handled quietly. Improving cow flow will reduce pushing, twisting and turning forces on feet. Ensure backing gates are used appropriately.
• Improving cow comfort to improve lying times – this includes cubicle design, lying surface, bedding provision and stocking density. Over stocking results in a greater likelihood of bullying interactions and greater competition for lying space. Cubicle buildings should provide at least 5% more cubicles than cows. Straw yards should provide 1m2 per 1,000 litres of milk, e.g. a 10,000l cow should have 10m2 lying space. The target is for cows to be lying for at least 12 hours per day.
• Reduce standing times. The longer cows stand on concrete the greater the risk of white line damage, sole ulcers, and other claw horn problems. Ideally cows should not stand for more than 1 hour at milking times.
• Improve flooring – repair areas of uneven concrete and use rubber matting in areas of high traffic and at tight turns such as exits from the parlour. Walking surfaces should be non-slip and as clean as possible.
• Manage cow tracks and gateways – avoid stones and manage muddy areas. Consider upgrading tracks with AstroTurf and sweep regularly. Tracks should never be used by machinery.
• Nutrition. Inclusion of biotin in the diet at 20mg/cow/day has been shown to reduce the incidence of WLD by as much as 50%. However, this is a long-term strategy and due to the time taken for new horn growth, improvements may take at least six months to be seen.

For more details on the five-step Dutch foot trimming method:
https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/trimming-cows-feet-the-five-step-dutch-method

Bovine iritis, also known as ‘silage eye’, appears as a bluish-white cloudiness in the eye, with a red angry rim at the junction of the sclera and cornea (where the white and black parts of the eye meet). Silage eye is extremely painful as demonstrated by excessive tearing and closing of the eyelids.

Treatment includes subconjunctival injection of antibiotic and steroid. Topical cloxacillin (Orbenin Ophthalmic ointment) can also be used in early cases.

The causal agent is the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which is widespread in the environment. Silage eye is most commonly associated with feeding big bale silage. Listeria are more likely to grow in big bales compared to clamp silage due to their lower density and higher DM content, which results in a slower rate of fermentation. Bales also have a high surface area to volume ratio, so more of the silage will be exposed to air if the wrap becomes damaged. Listeria thrive in the presence of air, even if the pH is low.

Affected silage may not always be visibly mouldy. The risk of Listeria surviving in big bale silage can be reduced by ensuring that air is excluded for the duration of storage and feeding big bales immediately upon opening.

Early diagnosis is key

The single most important factor affecting the success of calf pneumonia treatment is how early treatment is started. Treatment must be given as early as possible to minimise the degree of lung damage and reduce the risk of chronic pneumonia.

Detecting respiratory disease in the early stages requires careful observation. Calves may have a high temperature for up to 72hrs before they exhibit obvious clinical signs, such as an increased respiratory rate. Subtle signs to look out for include a slight delay in getting up to feed, a reduction in milk/feed intake, separation from the rest of the group, a clear nasal discharge, or a slightly depressed state.

Time to get the thermometer out

Any suspicion of a calf not being 100% should prompt a temperature check. Allocate some time daily to observe calf behaviour so that these subtle changes can be recognised.

If there has been a couple of cases of pneumonia in a group of calves, it is very wise to temperature check the whole group. It is impossible to tell which calf has a high temperature and who hasn’t without getting your thermometer out! Could you pick out someone who had a temperature increase of 0.1°C in a line of people without a thermometer?

Identifying the pathogen

Calf pneumonia can be caused by a range of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. With regards to diagnostics there are two main options:

• Isolate the pathogen – nasopharyngeal swabs, transtracheal washes, post-mortem sampling, faecal sample (lungworm)
• Check if the animal has had an immune response against the pathogen – blood samples to check for exposure to pathogens

It is important to know what pathogens are causing pneumonia on your farm so that specific vaccinations can be selected, effective treatments can be utilised, and targeted management protocols can be put in place to prevent disease.

Dealing with an outbreak

Ideally sick calves should be isolated either on their own or as a group in a separate airspace away from healthy calves. Having a designated hospital pen will help to reduce the spread of disease to healthy calves. This allows for close monitoring of feed and water intake and assessment of response to treatment.

Although many causes of pneumonia are viral, secondary bacterial infection is almost inevitable and therefore all cases of pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics in combination with anti-inflammatories.

Anti-inflammatory will bring down high temperatures, reduce the degree of lung damage and inflammation and help feed intakes. The antibiotic that you choose may depend on which pathogens have been diagnosed on your farm, administration requirements and the duration of action.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your current pneumonia treatment protocols with us.

Early diagnosis is key

The single most important factor affecting the success of calf pneumonia treatment is how early treatment is started. Treatment must be given as early as possible to minimise the degree of lung damage and reduce the risk of chronic pneumonia.

Detecting respiratory disease in the early stages requires careful observation. Calves may have a high temperature for up to 72hrs before they exhibit obvious clinical signs, such as an increased respiratory rate. Subtle signs to look out for include a slight delay in getting up to feed, a reduction in milk/feed intake, separation from the rest of the group, a clear nasal discharge, or a slightly depressed state.

Time to get the thermometer out

Any suspicion of a calf not being 100% should prompt a temperature check. Allocate some time daily to observe calf behaviour so that these subtle changes can be recognised.

If there has been a couple of cases of pneumonia in a group of calves, it is very wise to temperature check the whole group. It is impossible to tell which calf has a high temperature and who hasn’t without getting your thermometer out! Could you pick out someone who had a temperature increase of 0.1°C in a line of people without a thermometer?

Identifying the pathogen

Calf pneumonia can be caused by a range of pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. With regards to diagnostics there are two main options:

• Isolate the pathogen – nasopharyngeal swabs, transtracheal washes, post-mortem sampling, faecal sample (lungworm)
• Check if the animal has had an immune response against the pathogen – blood samples to check for exposure to pathogens

It is important to know what pathogens are causing pneumonia on your farm so that specific vaccinations can be selected, effective treatments can be utilised, and targeted management protocols can be put in place to prevent disease.

Dealing with an outbreak

Ideally sick calves should be isolated either on their own or as a group in a separate airspace away from healthy calves. Having a designated hospital pen will help to reduce the spread of disease to healthy calves. This allows for close monitoring of feed and water intake and assessment of response to treatment.

Although many causes of pneumonia are viral, secondary bacterial infection is almost inevitable and therefore all cases of pneumonia should be treated with antibiotics in combination with anti-inflammatories.

Anti-inflammatory will bring down high temperatures, reduce the degree of lung damage and inflammation and help feed intakes. The antibiotic that you choose may depend on which pathogens have been diagnosed on your farm, administration requirements and the duration of action.

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your current pneumonia treatment protocols with us.