Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma – OPA

Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma is caused by a virus leading to a progressive and fatal infectious lung cancer of sheep.

The virus is spread from infected sheep by aerosol and nasal discharge. It is often seen in older thin sheep. There is no treatment.

The signs are very similar to chronic pneumonia:

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Difficulty breathing
Weight loss
Excessive watery fluid from the nose
Sudden death
Secondary infections such as Pasteurella are common.

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Once signs are evident the disease is fatal.

The definitive diagnosis is made by post mortem examination of the lungs.

If there is suspected OPA ultrasound examination of the lungs can be considered.

If you wish to discuss further, please call our Farm Team on 01772 861300

Coughing cattle

Lungworm larvae may survive drier periods of weather within faecal pats to be dispersed onto pasture en masse following periods of rainfall, such as those recently experienced.

Cases across the UK have been recently detected. In naïve animals such as unvaccinated calves in their first grazing season or bought-in dairy cattle on farms with a known history of disease could still be at risk.

Even vaccinated heifers may be at risk if they have not had adequate exposure during this dry summer. Lungworm can cause increased respiratory rates, loss of body condition and reduced milk yield.

Advised actions include:

Monitoring for signs of disease:

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Widespread coughing in the group, initially after exercise then at rest
Increased respiratory rate and difficulty breathing.
Rapid loss of weight and body condition.
Milk drop in lactating cattle
Death in heavy infections

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Where infection is suspected, treat animals with an anthelmintic and remove affected cattle to ‘safe’ pasture (e.g. aftermath) or house in a well ventilated building.

We recommend worming grazed heifers at this time of year to remove residual worm burdens. Eprizero has a 0 day milk withdrawal and is suitable for in calf heifers or heifers that are already in the milking herd.

WE HAVE A LIMITED STOCK OF 6L packs of EPRIZERO AVAILABLE AT A DISCOUNTED PRICE – please call the office on 01772 861300 for details.

If you would like any further information please ask one of the vets for advice.

Johne’s Deadline

The deadline for completion of phase 2 of the National Johne’s Management Plan will soon be here – 31st October 2018.

Any clients that have been asked by their dairy to comply will need to confirm that:

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both their herd status and risks have been assessed
necessary management information, equipment, husbandry and resources to implement the agreed control strategy have been put in place.

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Please let us know as soon as possible if this applies to you, so that we can carry out a Specific Johne’s risk assessment for your herd and formulate an up to date Johne’s Action Plan. On completion the NJMP declaration will need to be signed by the farmer and vet.

BVD -STAMP IT OUT

A new initiative has been launched to help farmers in England tackle BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea).

It is currently estimated that BVD costs British farmers up to £60million/year, reducing productivity and profitability as a result of poor growth rates, poor health with increased pneumonia and diarrhoea, reduced fertility with higher rates of foetal death. Rigorous testing of the herd is vital to help eradicate the disease from the unit.

BVD FACT
The estimated cost of BVD is between £13 and £31 per cow in Great Britain.

The £5.7 million funding package from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is managed by SAC consulting and is the largest BVD project launched in England. Farmers will be able to apply for free on farm health planning for BVD control. Keepers of breeding cattle will be eligible for the scheme, which will help to assess the BVD status of the herd and develop a control plan.

After attending the first meeting a one to one on farm visit will be undertaken to carry out a check test on the herd. If the results indicate active infection then a follow up visit will be arranged to develop a customised action plan which may include further testing (PI hunt). The overall aim will be to reduce, eliminate or prevent BVD within the herd.

Brexit – a ‘no deal’ scenario?

A scenario in which the UK leaves the EU without agreement (a ‘no deal’ scenario) remains unlikely, however, it’s important to prepare for all eventualities, including ‘no deal’, until we can be certain of the outcome of negotiations.

Below is some information about what is needed in a ‘no deal’ scenario, so informed plans and preparations can be made.

Before 29 March 2019 – ‘no deal’ in place….

To export animal products and live animals to countries outside the EU, exporters must apply for, and be issued with, an Export Health Certificate (EHC).
Different rules apply to trade between countries within the EU. Exporting live animals and some very specific animal products (such as germplasm) requires exporters to provide either an EHC or, more generally, an EU-specific version of an EHC known as an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (ITAHC). For all other animal products, no certification is required and no specific processes must be followed.
To obtain EHCs and ITAHCs, exporters contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), in Northern Ireland they contact the Department of Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs (DAERA), providing details of the consignment, its destination and travel arrangements, as well as their preferred Official Veterinarian or authorised signatory to certify their products. APHA or DAERA issues a paper EHC for the exporter to provide to the country of import.
There are additional requirement when transporting live vertebrate animals for commercial or economic activity. For all journeys, the transporter must hold a valid Transporter Authorisation and drivers and attendants must hold a Certificate of Competence. For journeys over eight hours within the EU, vehicles must also have a valid vehicle approval certificate. Transporter Authorisations, Certificates of Competence and Vehicle Approval Certificates must be issued by an EU country. For journeys over eight hours where farm livestock and unregistered horses will be transported, the transporter must also hold a Journey Log.

After March 2019 if there’s ‘no deal’….

EHCs would be required for exports of all animal products and live animals from the UK to the EU. Consignments would need to travel through a Border Inspection Post (BIP) within the EU. EHCs would need to be signed by an Official Veterinarian or authorised signatory following inspection of the consignment.
Requirements for trade to third countries outside the EU should not change. However changes would be required to the wording of the documentation, which would need to be agreed with the destination country, to reflect the fact the UK would no longer be a member of the EU.
The EU would require the UK to be a listed third country. In the unlikely event of a ‘no deal’ scenario, the UK would apply for this status but cannot be certain of the EU response or its timing.

Transporter Authorisation, Certificates of Competence, vehicle approval and Journey Logs

The EU would also no longer recognise transport authorisations, certificates of competence, or vehicle approval certificates issued by the UK.
UK transporters wishing to transport live animals in the EU would need to appoint a representative within an EU country and apply to their relevant government department to obtain a valid Transporter Authorisation, Certificate of Competence, Vehicle Approval Certificate and, where necessary, a Journey Log. Journey logs would need to be obtained from the EU country that is the initial point of entry into the EU for export. Exporters would need to present their transport documentation at a Border Inspection Post in the EU.
UK-issued transport documentation would remain valid for transport within the UK only.

For further information, please see the following useful links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/exporting-animals-and-animal-products-if-theres-no-brexit-deal

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-governments-preparations-for-a-no-deal-scenario

Beef & Youngstock – Housing Considerations

We have experienced a drier summer than we are used to and this has posed different challenges. Worm burdens have been greatly reduced on pasture over the summer however if we get a heavy rainfall following this dry period there is likely to be mass emergence of worms onto pasture which may have severe consequences for our livestock if left untreated.

Exposure to lungworm may also have been reduced over the summer and so we would advise watching out for or listening to cattle to see if they are coughing over the next few months and treating if necessary. Lungworm can cause significant respiratory disease and death in cattle and should not be overlooked in any grazed stock. Where cattle have been grazed for extended periods the use of long acting anthelmintic bolus activity may have worn off and further treatment may be necessary.

Testing for Lungworm larvae can be done on a faecal sample however is slightly different to a normal worm egg count. If you would like to check grazed stock for Lungworm please submit a faecal sample stating that you require Lungworm testing.

Bringing in cattle from markets, other farms or common grazing can introduce new diseases to your own farm, including parasites such as liver fluke. Liver fluke is a common parasite that infects cattle, sheep and other domestic animals as well as wildlife such as deer and rabbits. Following several wet years monitoring, testing and treating for liver fluke early is also recommended during this year.

Resistance of liver fluke to treatments, in particular products containing triclabendazole (TCBZ), appears to be an increasing problem and one that needs managing on all livestock farms. It is important that care is taken to reduce selection pressure for resistance whenever possible by only using triclabendazole-containing products when no other options are suitable. Other medicines which contain the active ingredients, closantel, clorsulon, nitroxynil, oxyclozanide and albendazole are effective against adult flukes and some (nitroxynil and closantel) are effective against late immature stages between seven and eight weeks old.

If treating now or immediately on housing we would recommend using a Triclabendazole product but if cattle are housed for 7 weeks or more, one of the other products is often more suitable. Please speak to us about testing or when to treat.

Oakhill Farm Vets at Hodder Valley Show

Our Farm Team will be at this years Hodder Valley Show.
Why not come to our marquee and learn more about our farm services.

DUCKMIRE FARM, CHAPEL STREET, SLAIDBURN BB7 3ES
by Kind Permission of The Slaidburn Estate and Mr & Mrs T Robinson.

Now in its 74th year, the Hodder Valley Show prides itself on being a traditional agricultural and horticultural show, with something for everyone to enjoy. The Show is visited by upwards of 3,000 people experiencing a slice of rural life in our community.

Find out more about the show: http://www.hoddervalleyshow.co.uk

For ticket information: http://www.hoddervalleyshow.co.uk/index.php/buy-tickets

Heat detection – is she or isn’t she?

It is well documented that modern day high yielding cows express heat with a lower intensity and duration. The reduced intensity of heat expression and subtle expression of secondary signs of heat may lead to uncertainty over an animal’s heat status, particularly if the cow has returned at an irregular interval.

Studies have shown that around 10% of cows are served when they have high progesterone (not truly in heat). Interservice interval data may give a clue as to whether heat detection is accurate on farm; high percentages at 25-35 days and particularly at 1-17 day intervals generally warrants further investigation to rule out heat detection inaccuracy on farm.

Insemination of cows that are not in heat will inevitably reduce the apparent conception rate on farm. Inaccurate heat detection is not only associated with a waste of semen but can lead to pregnancy loss in around 17% of inseminated pregnant animals. Approximately 6% of cows show overt signs of heat despite being pregnant. A quick way to confirm that a cow is not in heat is to use a milk progesterone test, cow side progesterone tests are available that can be used on farm for around £3/cow. High progesterone indicates that the cow is not in heat.

For further advice, please contact the Oakhill Farm Vet Team on 01772 861300

Red Tractor Farms: Responsible use of antibiotics.

If you are farm assured with Red Tractor, certain antibiotic products such as kelacyl, cobactan, naxcel, baytril, cevaxcel, marbocyl, are now restricted. If you use these products you could receive a non-conformance at your next Red Tractor inspection. Therefore we now recommend only using this product if there is culture and sensitivity to prove that it’s the only product that works for the health condition.

As of the 1st June 2018 the use of Highest Priority Critically Important antibiotics must be a last resort and their use must be under the direction of a vet, backed up by sensitivity or diagnostic testing.

Please find below further information regarding recent Red Tractor changes…..

DAIRY FARMS

As a Red Tractor dairy farm, you are now required to undertake an annual review of antibiotics with your vet, but what does this involve?….

Medicine records must provide an annual collation of total antibiotic used for the unit

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Antibiotics collated by product name;
Collation either by your vet from prescription data or completed by farmer from medicine records;

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An annual review of antibiotics used must be undertaken by your vet

Your vet review will…

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Include review of medicines and antibiotic purchase and use, including antibiotic collation;
Includes discussion on the use of Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HP-CIAs)
Include review of any antibiotic failures;
Include recommendation for responsible reduction of antibiotic use where possible, in particular, in relation to HP-CIAs
Review overall use of dry cow therapy and protocols and where appropriate make recommendations for selective antibiotic use

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Review can form part of the Vet Health and Performance Review.

Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics must only be used as a last resort under veterinary direction

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HP-CIAs are defined by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and colistin
Use is supported by a vet report outlining one or more of the following:
– Sensitivity testing
– Diagnostic testing

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BEEF & LAMB FARMS

As a beef or lamb Red Tractor farm, it is now compulsory to have a written annual livestock health and performance review undertaken by your vet.

What does this involve? …

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Your vet attends your farm at least annually and sees livestock
Annual review to:
– Identify key issues and make recommendations to improve identified issues
– Review records and data, including medicine records and prescription data outlining total antibiotic used by product name, making recommendations to responsibly reduce antibiotic usage where appropriate without negatively impacting welfare
– Review use of Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics (HP-CIAs) and make recommendations for responsible reduction
– Review prophylactic treatment and make recommendations for alternative disease prevention strategies
– Consider industry initiatives e.g. BVD Free England

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Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics must only be used as a last resort under veterinary direction

How you will be measured:

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HP-CIAs are defined by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) as 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and colistin
Use is supported by a vet report outlining one or more of the following:
– Sensitivity testing
– Diagnostic testing

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As always, if you have any questions our Oakhill Farm Team are happy to discuss: 01772 861300

Fertility in sheep

For those early lambers!

Whether it’s to get the premium Easter prices, utilise the spring grass or produce good lambs for show time and sales, it can be advantageous to lamb early and here are a few options to advance your lambing:

Method	Advanced	Synchronisation
Ram (vasectomised or not)	No	Can do depending on stage of cycle
Melatonin (manipulating light hours or implant Regulin)	Yes	No
Prostaglandin	No	Can do depending on stage of cycle
Progesterone (chronogest sponge or new for this year CIDR- ovis)	Yes if used with PMSG (ECG)	Yes