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Articles

Stay informed with our topical articles, all written by our farm vets.

Grass staggers

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.

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Cobalt deficiency in growing lambs

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.

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Environmental mastitis

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.

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Clostridial disease protection

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.

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Cattle lameness: White Line Disease

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.

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Bovine Iritis – ‘Silage eye’

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.

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