Cattle health management: Prevention is better than cure

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and diseases IRRIGATION TURN KEY Cattle health management: Prevention is better than cure

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T We Design & Build For Youhe cold weather has arrived in most parts of the country and in the next ognisable by its blue-grey colour, is a one-host tick, and newly hatched IRRIGATION NETS LAND PREPARATIONfew months we shall notice further effects of the dry winter weather which larvae feed and moult on the cattle for about 3 weeks until the fully engorged should be followed by warm, wet adult female blue tick drops off to lay conditions. Managing the health of your her eggs on the ground. They often herd is a critical step towards profitable appear in June/July and may infest catcattle production. Waiting until you tle into the spring. The tick is easy to experience a loss on your farm may recognise on the back, sides, neck, and cost you dearly. It is therefore im- upper legs of the cattle. portant to invest in the prevention of All farmers know this tick species, diseases in your herd. which transmits redwater and gallsickness mostly during wet summer Why vaccinate? months. Larvae are very small, and The three main reasons to vaccinate farmers must look carefully for these are to increase immunity, reduce the parasites when deciding when to dip. spread of disease and eliminate dis- The enzootic areas of the disease eases. Vaccination programmes should correspond to the distribution of the always be customised according to vector species in southern, eastern, your farming operation. Items to con- and western African countries. sider while establishing a vaccination Avoid dipping calves to control blue programme include geographic region, and the type of cattle on your farm. A vaccination programme is an important element in a comprehensive, wellplanned herd health control strategy.

External parasites

External parasites include horn flies, face flies, stable flies, ticks, and lice. The largest health problem comes from the additional stress caused to animals by these insects. When infested, cattle spend more time in the shade and do not graze, which leads to poor performance. Eliminating the areas where pests reproduce also helps to reduce the severity of external parasites. Pour-on and dips are effective in treating animals infested by ticks. It is important to understand the life cycle of ticks and recognise the stage and species of ticks infesting cattle when treating for tick infestation. The blue tick, which is easy rec-

Preventing diseases by using a herd health management plan saves time and money. (Photo: pixabay.com)

tick for up to 4 to 6 months of age during cooler months as 4 to 5 month old calves are resistant to redwater and gallsickness. Allowing them to be exposed during this period will induce a resistance to these two tick transmitted diseases. Brown ear ticks are well known to farmers. The life cycle is yearlong with larvae and nymphs active in winter, and adults active in summer around January, February, and March. The adults can cause severe damage to the ears, head, neck, and areas under the tail, leading to skin damage and screw worm infestation. The adult tick also transmits theileriosis causing high mortality in cattle.

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Tactical dipping during the winter months reduces larval and nymphal numbers, thereby reducing the challenge posed by adult brown ear ticks and the risk of theileriosis. Be aware that calves are very susceptible to theileriosis and cattle of all ages must be free of adult brown ear ticks during the critical hot, wet months.

Internal parasites

Internal parasites such as roundworms, lungworms, and liver flukes commonly occur in cattle. These hidden parasites cause poor performance and occasionally kill young animals. Invasion of the stomach or intestinal wall by a parasite leads to poor digestion of nutrients and damage to organs. Signs of parasite infestation include scouring, rough hair coat, poor weight gain, and a potbelly appearance. Deworming at strategic times during the year reduces the numbers of internal parasites. Use faecal sampling to determine the severity of the infestation and the type of dewormer that will be effective. Treat animals with a long acting flukicide such as Fluconix which also controls wireworm, and an anthelmintic such as Intermectin as we enter the cooler autumn months. Thereafter it is not necessary to deworm stock until warmer temperatures are experienced from September onwards.

Calves

Dose at 6 weeks against tapeworm with Niclosamide or a Benzimidasole. Thereafter, a Benzimidasole may be used to dose calves up to 7 months of age every 4 to 8 weeks (depending on the type of pasture and the rainfall). Dose again at 12 months and thereafter at 18 months. An Ivermectin such as Dectomax can be used as a substitute for Benzimidasole.

Cattle

Healthy cattle over the age of 20 months build up immunity against internal parasites. Dosing of mature cattle is thus usually unnecessary unless they have been under stress because of disease, drought, or a difficult calving.

Disease control

Vaccinations and parasite controls are available for many of the diseases affecting cattle. Vaccinate all animals against botulism before the winter months, even if additional feed and lick is not fed to animals, as a lack of phosphorus causes pica in animals (appetite for strange objects such as plastics, decaying carcasses, faeces, et cetera). Eating decaying carcasses and contaminated vegetation causes botulism in cattle.

Cattle are likely to pick up internal parasites when they graze established pastures. (Photo: pixabay. com)

A lack of green fibre in winter leads to a vitamin ADE deficiency which affects the immune system, leading to other diseases such as keratitis and bone deficiencies. Supplementing all stock with injectable Vit ADE improves response of animals to vaccines.

Safety

Do not vaccinate shortly before or after transporting, dipping, castration, and dehorning. Stress neutralises vaccination. Some vaccines must be administered in winter, well before the onset of wet weather that heralds the arrival of flies, mosquitoes, and midges. In cattle, these diseases include lumpy skin disease (LSD), rift valley fever (RVF) and three-day stiff sickness (ephemeral fever). Do not wait for the rains to begin before you vaccinate. Be aware that LSD and RVF can cause abortions if not treated correctly. Bulls can be rendered unable to service cows for weeks and sometimes months after contracting three-day stiff sickness. It is notable that although anthrax can infect livestock any time of the year, most outbreaks of disease occur in the early winter as water levels in dams drop. Vaccinate against anthrax well before the winter months, especially in the lowveld of Zimbabwe. Do not be afraid of vaccinating in winter three months before breeding as the vaccine can last for up to two years.

Summary of vaccinations required by cattle:

• Breeding cows and heifers QE (quarter evil), anthrax, RVF, LSD, vibrio, and BVD/IBR. • Bulls require all the above as boosters, and young breeding bulls require two vibrio vaccinations six weeks apart before the breeding season starts. • Do not omit three day stiff sickness vaccination in bulls before the wet weather. Cows optional. • Weaners QE, LSD, RVF, anthrax, botulism, tetanus. • Weaner heifers require CA (contagious abortion) vaccination additionally between three and eight months of age.

We thank the following sources for the material used in this article: MSD Animal Health

https://www.msd-animal-health. co.za/

The Agricultural Research Council

https://www.arc.agric.za/

Vet360

https://vet360.vetlink.co.za/

Fivet Animal Health

www.fivetanimalhealth.com

General vaccination programme for beef cattle

(by Dr Ariena Shepherd)

Name Type How Animals Comments

Clostridium group

Inactivated vaccine

Anthrax Inactivated vaccine

Lumpy skin disease

Live spores (Sterne) vaccine

Brucella abortus

Anaplasmosis, Asiatic

redwater,

African redwater

Live freezedried vaccine

Live freezedried vaccine

Heartwater Live freezedried vaccine Injected under the skin, usually in the neck

Injected under the skin, usually in the neck

Injected under the skin, usually in the neck

Injected under the skin, usually in the neck Calves: twice 4-6 weeks at around 4-6 months Yearlings: booster at 16-18 months Cows: booster 4-6 weeks before calving Bulls: 4-6 weeks before breeding Calves: twice 4-6 weeks apart at around 4-6 months Yearlings: booster at 16-18 months Cows: booster 4-6 weeks Bulls: 4-6 weeks before breeding Calves: at 7/8 months Yearlings: 16-18 months Cows: annual after calving Bulls: annually after breeding ONLY heifers between 5 and 8 months

Injected into the muscle, usually in the hind quarters Calves: 8-10 months

Injected into a vein Calves: 2-3 weeks old

Rift valley fever

Different types of vaccines Injected under the skin, usually in the neck All animals anually depending on type

Three-day stiff sickness

Salmonella,

E Coli

Campylobacter, tricho-

monas, pink

eye

Live vaccine Injected under the skin, usually in the neck

Different types of vaccine Injected under the skin, usually in the neck

Inactivated vaccine Injected under the skin, usually in the neck All animals anually (as routine only bulls after breeding) Only use in herds which have a problem

Only use in herds which have a problem It is better to use a combination vaccine (7 or more) rather than single type as there are many clostridiums and different ones can be identified by a laboratory

Usually only used if feeding silage

Cows and bulls can be given a booster during outbreak

This vaccine is required by law

Older animals can be done, but they may need blocking. Do not vaccinate pregnant cattle Older animals can be done, but they may need blocking. Do not vaccinate pregnant cattle Don't use the live vaccine during the first half of pregnancy Vaccination during an outbreak will be effective

Vaccinate according to veterinarian instructions Vaccinate according to veterinary instructions