Achieving Excellence in Health and Productivity
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
ISSUE 38
Livestock NEWS
Buzz Off! Farewell Kath... This month we are sorry to say goodbye to Kath. We are all going to miss her and would like to thank her for all her hard work over the past 6 years. We wish her good luck in her new job at Appleby.
It’s that time of year when flies start to become a nuisance to both livestock and us!
The ‘fly season’ can last from May to September, however warmer weather means they can arrive sooner and for longer. Flies have the ability to replicate rapidly and can have up to 15 generations in one year - making them a very persistent pest! Flies cause a great deal of irritation to livestock which can reduce grazing and feeding times and impact on production as well as being responsible for the spread of numerous diseases in all animals. Herds and flocks with good fly control benefit from healthier and happier animals and people. Diseases which can be prevented or reduced with effective fly control include: ●
Summer mastitis
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Contagious mastitis
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Blow fly strike
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Pink eye/infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis sicca Salmonella
Flies are also attracted to any wounds or operation sites on animals, which can become infected with maggots and severely effect animal welfare. Good fly control involves the application of topical pesticides and environmental management to reduce the fly burden.
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
visit us at: www.paragonvet.com
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Avoid grazing in ‘fly risk’ areas - use large open fields away from streams and trees
Tel: (01228) 710208
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Good waste/manure management
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Drainage management
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PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP CALDEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle
Reduce fly breeding sites
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Contact us:
All animals should be treated throughout the risk period, frequency of application depends upon the product used - please ask
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JULY 2013
Don’t house/graze cattle close to middens
vets@paragonvet.com TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Townhead Veterinary Centre, Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0HT
Larvicide treatment - this kills maggots and should be applied where muck/slurry/effluent accumulates
Tel: (01768) 483789
Adulticides can also be used anywhere where adult flies congregate e.g. sunny walls, under feed troughs.
PARAGON ET The Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3SG
townhead@paragonvet.com
Tel: (01434) 600566
Reduce the risk of Schmallenburg Schmallenburg virus has been diagnosed on several farms throughout the county meaning that the midges carrying the virus are in the vicinity. Application of topical pesticides also helps to control midges, which are responsible for the transmission of the Schmallenburg virus.
et@paragonvet.com
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LIVESTOCK NEWS
Abattoir condemnations So you have packed a cow off to the abattoir and she seemed fine when she left the farm, but you have just had a call from the abattoir to say that she has been condemned! It is worth establishing the responsibility for standing the cost of any part or total condemnation with each abattoir before you send animals in. Cattle sold through the auction are generally insured but you should still be told of any condemned parts and the reasons why (fluke, bruising etc). Cattle taken individually, particularly casualties, are often at your risk and you will only be paid for carcases that are passed as fit over the scale. If you do receive a call to say that an animal has been condemned it is worth establishing whether the carcase or parts are still available and, if they are, asking the abattoir to hold them for possible inspection. All red meat carcases are individually inspected by Meat Inspectors employed through the Food Standards Agency. They should issue a rejected meat receipt for parts or whole carcases that do not pass meat inspection with the weight, identity of the carcase and reason for rejection. Always ask for a copy of this receipt if you wish to query a condemnation as this will allow us not only to see the reason for rejection, but also give us the name of the official concerned so that we can speak to them directly if necessary. Often we find that there is an explanation e.g. I once saw 40 out of 120 apparently healthy sheep condemned as they were riddled with tapeworm cysts throughout the muscles, but occasionally human error intervenes and we find that it wasn't your beast that was condemned at all!!
Calf Rearing Workshop Jemma is running the Farmskills calf rearing workshop on 11th July with Zoetis (Pfizer) vet Dan Griffiths. The day is being held at Mellguards Farm by kind permission of Richard Fisher between 10am and 3pm. It is a practical course looking at the management of dairy calves from birth through to weaning. There are a few places still available so book now to avoid disappointment! If this course helps you save one calf it will be well worth your time and money!!!!
JULY 2013
Improve your calf growth rates after disbudding Disbudding calves is a routine management procedure that is a particularly painful and stressful event, often done close to or at the time of weaning. Farm animals are known to have altered behaviour in response to pain such as reduced feeding and animal welfare. Pain can therefore ultimately lead to a reduction in productivity. The pain associated with disbudding can manifest itself as a growth check in calves that were previously thriving. Control of pain at disbudding is important to avoid growth checks and reductions in feed intakes at such a critical and stressful period for a calf. It is an offence to disbud or dehorn calves without the use of local anaesthetic. The use of anaesthetic provides pain relief during the procedure and for a few hours afterwards: ●
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Local anaesthetic (Adrenacaine®) numbs the cornual nerve, which provides nerve sensation to the horn bud Inject 2-3mls of local anaesthetic each side of the head Allow a few minutes after injection for the anaesthetic to work before commencing with the hot iron
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It's a good idea to nerve block all the calves to be disbudded prior to starting Ask one of the vets for a demonstration if you're unsure of the site of the nerve block in calves
The pain associated with disbudding has been shown to last up to 44 hours after the event and can have a highly significant impact on calf health and welfare. Calves in pain after disbudding show increased ear flicking and head shaking, a reduction in the time spent grazing and an increase in lying time. Providing pain relief which has a longer lasting duration than local anaesthetic alone can help to control these effects and allow calves to continue to feed and maintain growth rates. Metacam® (meloxicam) has now been licensed to control the pain relief associated with disbudding. The analgesic effect of Metacam® lasts up to 3 days making it a great choice to reduce the negative effects of pain following disbudding.