STOCK VETS VOICE
Diagnosing your down cows in what they are doing when they are tasked with treating these cows. own cows are one of those Milk fever (hypocalcemia/low blood frustrating aspects of spring that calcium) is just one of many causes of every farmer deals with. As a down cows. They are the most basic vet by trade, it wasn’t until presentation you will see and are the I worked as a dairy farm assistant fastest to respond to treatment. that I realised how much extra Other common causes of a down time a down cow adds to what cow include hypomagnesaemia are already very long workdays. (low blood magnesium), It was quite a shock to be hypophosphatemia (low blood out in the springer paddock phosphate), infections such as by yourself, in the dark at 6am, toxic mastitis, dislocated hip, and with two metabolic bags, a head Lisa Whitfield pregnancy toxemia (pre-calving). torch and a half-conscious cow for Taking a minute to do a brief company, and with the list of delayed jobs assessment of a down cow will give starting to stack up. I also realised it must you clues to decide on the cause, and be daunting for people who haven’t dealt confidence that you aren’t missing with down cows before, to feel confident something important that might change
Words by: Lisa Whitfield
Beads of sweat becoming visible on the nose of a milk fever cow after treatment.
D
s “Ju
t Be
Bee tter
the standard milk fever treatment plan or require immediate help from a vet.
SYMPTOMS NOSE: Is the nose wet or dry? With hypocalcemia, the muscles which control the sweat glands in the nose are unable to contract, which results in a dry nose. EYES: Are they sunken? A straightforward milk fever case should not have sunken eyes.
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6th Annual Yearling Bull Sale FRIDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER 2021 1:00 PM AT 43 FINLAY ROAD, CAMBRIDGE Viewing of bulls from 11:00 AM 38 SALE BULLS SIRED BY: • GB FIREBALL 672 • MUSGRAVE STUNNER • MUSGRAVE BLACK LOCH • STORTH OAKS K20
• TAKAPOTO 15/167 • TAKAPOTO 17/11 • HEATHER DELL ATTRACTIVE P20
Follow Takapoto Angus on Facebook Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | August 2021
Visitors always welcome. For all enquiries, contact: Sam LeCren M: 027 474 9989 E: sam@takapoto.co.nz www.takapoto.co.nz
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