Respiratory Disease- Cattle

Respiratory disease is estimated to cost the UK cattle industry £80 million annually through increased mortality, veterinary drug costs and most importantly weight

loss/reduced performance. Whilst the effects on clinically affected animals are obvious often the rest of the group will be affected sub-clinically resulting in reduced growth rates.

For respiratory disease, prevention is vital as many animals never fully recover from severe cases and is through a combination of good management, good ventilation, and effective vaccination protocols prior to the risk period (housing/weaning).

respiratory symptoms cattle

Respiratory disease occurs when environmental factors, infectious agents and inadequate immunity come together and tip the balance in favour of disease. In beef systems, stressful events such as dehorning and castration are best undertaken before housing or delayed until calves have been housed for at least 6 weeks.

Ventilation is key!

The minimum recommended air changes within a building of 10 times each hour, increasing in summer up to around 60 air changes per hour. High ammonia levels from manure irritate the respiratory tract and will make the animal more vulnerable to respiratory disease. Studies have shown that the ammonia levels a calf is exposed to in the first four months of life severely impact on the age at first calving, and lifetime productivity.

respiratory disease in cattle

We are offering Subsidised Ventilation Assessments in the month of September, please contact us at the clinic to arrange yours today!

September 2017 Farm Newsletter

Farm Newsletter Preston Oakhill vets

Calf Plans

CALF PACKAGE VETS PRESTON

Cattle Lungworm Warning

Lungworm can appear from early June and is commonly seen in unvaccinated calves and naïve adult cattle.

lungworm preston vets

Infection with lungworm (Dictyocaulus viviparus) results in an immune-mediated pneumonia, of which the earliest sign is a cough after exercise. Later signs include a persistent cough, milk drop and death in severe cases.

Once infective larvae are ingested from pasture they migrate to and mature in the lungs. Adult worms begin producing eggs between 3-4 weeks later and can shed millions of larvae onto pasture, to continue the lifecycle. Climatic conditions play an important role in the development of the infective larvae on pasture. Warm, wet weather favours larvae development.

Detection is currently based on clinical signs, detection of larvae in faeces and antibodies in either blood or milk. Lungworm should be considered in grazed animals with a persistent cough or signs of pneumonia.

Please contact the practice if you suspect lungworm may be a problem in your herd.

FARM VET SAM DELIVERS CALF TRIPLETS

Calf Triplets: What are the odds of that!

Oakhill Farm Vet Sam Millward had a bit of a surprise in his first month at Oakhill when he went to what he thought would be a ‘text book’ calving at a farm in Chipping.

Sam delivered twin calves at Coltercoates Farm in Chipping but on examination of the mother, felt another calf, which he subsequently safely delivered.

The chance of triplet calves is said to be around 700,000-1 – not something that Sam is likely to see again in his veterinary career.

All 3 calves and mother are doing well.

ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL CLIENT EVENT

The evening of the 10^th May, saw Oakhill Farm Vets deliver another successful client event evening, this time based around the topic of ‘Reducing Sheep Lameness’.

Oakhill Farm Vet, Holly Critchley, along with MSD’s Linda Dawson, explored the key lameness contributors with Lancashire’s sheep farmers and demonstrated a 5 point plan for reducing these issues on farm.

The 40 farmers in attendance were able to evaluate their own farm using a questionnaire to see where they could make improvements on their farm.

Watch out for announcements about further sheep farming events.

Schmallenberg Virus in Lancashire

The last few months have seen both bulk milk and individual animal blood samples test positive for Schmallenberg virus in the North West.

First recognised in 2011, Schmallenberg was originally associated with birth defects in lambs and calves.

It is important to be aware that the virus has been in the area and thus remain vigilant for signs of birth deformities when lambing or calving difficulties arise this Spring.

National Johne’s Management Plan

The National Johne’s Management Plan is a dairy industry initiative to reduce the incidence of Johne’s disease.

Johne’s disease is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) and is a costly, chronic, debilitating disease. Animals with Johne’s disease are likely to be culled earlier, and more likely to be affected by other conditions, including chronic mastitis and lameness. Johne’s positive cows have been shown to be twice as likely to have a

SCC >200,000 and yield 25% lower than the herd average. In herds with a high level of the disease the cost is estimated to be 1-2 ppl.

80% of infections occur in the first month of life, from infected faeces, colostrum or milk being ingested and it can take several years before signs of the disease appear. During this period, it is difficult to identify these animals. Animals often begin to shed MAP and spread the disease before showing signs of Johne’s. Around the time shedding begins, antibodies are produced and we can then identify these cows.

Testing can be performed on both blood and milk with similar results. In order to control Johne’s on a farm, cow’s likely to be a risk to calves must be identified through regular testing (ideally quarterly) so they can be managed separately at calving.

Tracey, Mike and Andy are trained advisors as part of the initiative, if you don’t already have a Johne’s control plan in place please contact the practice to discuss how Johne’s may be affecting your farm.

2017 Annual Coach Trip: Red Rose Dairy

The 7th Red Rose Dairy Discussion Group Coach Trip took place on 28th February 2017.

48 dairy farmers met at Oakhill Veterinary Centre in Goosnargh for breakfast before boarding a coach to visit 2 outstanding dairy farms in Carlise.

The morning saw a visit to Wormanby Holsteins, run by the Hodgson family, and after lunch at the local golf club, the group visited Justicetown Farm, owned by David Coulthard.

Keep up to date with Red Rose Diary via our Facebook page.