Achieving Excellence in Health and Productivity
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
ISSUE 37
Livestock NEWS Calf (foal and lamb) resuscitation after dystocia or assisted births
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Facts:
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
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BVD threat in imported cattle Cattle in Rhine-Westphalia in Germany have been diagnosed with a strain of BVD (type IIc) that is causing severe haemorrhagic diarrhoea and deaths in calves and adult cows. Some veal calves have been affected including animals exported to The Netherlands. Germany has a BVD control programme and movement restrictions have been put on the affected farms with emergency vaccination in the surrounding areas. BVD submissions to the lab in this country are not routinely screened down to type level so no-one knows if this type is present in the country, whether animals can be non-clinical carriers or what level of disease this can cause in vaccinated animals (both UK vaccines cover type II virus but it may not necessarily be this particular strain - the level of cross-reactivity is unknown). If you are considering purchasing cattle from Germany or The Netherlands it may therefore be worth thinking about BVD and considering testing on import/ isolating animals on arrival as a precaution against infection. It is unlikely that you will buy from affected farms as they are under movement restrictions but it always pays to be vigilant!
JUNE 2013
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Dystocia affects 13-15% of Holstein calves and more in beef breeds 48-hour survival is poor for calves delivered manually, mechanically or surgically, compared to unassisted births 120-day survival is 70% less than unassisted births Treatment rate for dystocia calves is higher (scour 17%, pneumonia 70%) than unassisted calf births Providing special care, both in the first few hours and 2 weeks, can cut death losses and treatments significantly
Clinical signs of dystocia calves ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Less alert Facial/tongue swelling Slower to lift head and roll into sternal position Slower to stand Slower heart beat Lower body temperature Erratic breathing Less responsive to stimulation
Resuscitation and immediate post-natal care Calf resuscitation follows the ABC-rule: Airway patency, Breathing stimulation and Circulation support. Immediately after birth, the calf should be briefly suspended upside down to drain lung fluids and stimulate lung-gas exchange. Hypothermal stimulation, by pouring cold water down the calf’s ear/head will induce a gasp reflex and stimulate lung-gas exchange. Stimulate the calf’s
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nasal receptors to induce breathing by placing a straw or finger in the nose or pinch the nasal septum. Once a patent airway has been established and breathing stimulation has commenced, place the calf in sternal position. Using a large cloth (bath towel size) rub the calf. Keep at it. Use more than one towel. Get the calf hair coat ‘fluffy dry’. Work at getting a strong breathing pattern, stimulation to the neck and shoulders helps with this. The name of the game is stimulation; as intense as you can and be persistent to stimulate both breathing and blood circulation. Aspirator pumps and compressed air devices (Ambu bag, calf resuscitators) can be helpful to clear the airways and stimulate breathing. If oxygen (welding, scuba, medical, airplane) is available start supplementation as soon as the airways are clear. Welding grade oxygen will work if medical-grade oxygen is not available. Start oxygen flow through a small plastic tube. Adjust the flow to get a gentle/tickling flow on your cheek. If you do not have an air-mask, slip the tube up into the calf’s nose roughly the width of your hand. If necessary tape the tube in place. Keep the oxygen flowing until the calf is too active to keep the tube in place. Attend to umbilical/navel care and feed plenty of colostrum, use artificial colostrum or concentrated products if necessary. Feeding from a nursing bottle provides more persistent stimulation than an oesophageal tube feeder. Keep the calf warm in deep dry straw and use a calf/dog coat.
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LIVESTOCK NEWS
Nematodirus URGENT WARNING TO SHEEP FARMERS Widespread reports of Nematodirus have been reported around the UK over the last 7-10 days. It is likely that most areas have had a hatch and farmers must remain vigilant!
Main risk factors to consider are: ● ● ●
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A sudden, late cold snap followed by a period of warm weather. Lambs grazing pasture that carried lambs last spring. Lambs that are old enough to be eating significant amounts of grass (generally 6-12 weeks) Groups where there is also likely to be a challenge from coccidiosis. Lambs that are under any other stresses eg triplets, fostered, on younger or older ewes.
SCOPS (Sustainable control of Parasites) advise farmers to use a white (BZ) drench, these are highly effective against this parasite and suitable for young lambs. It maybe necessary to treat lambs more than once depending on the spread of ages in a group and weather conditions.
JUNE 2013
Schmallenberg Vaccine A vaccine against Schmallenberg disease will be available in June.
What animals can be vaccinated? ● ● ●
Sheep from 4 months old
Cattle
Cattle from 2 months old Not licensed for use in pregnant animals.
What's the dose? Sheep:
1 dose; 2ml under the skin
Cattle:
2 doses 4 weeks apart; 2ml intramuscular
Full immunity develops 3 weeks after vaccination. We don't currently know how long immunity will last, and whether annual boosters will be needed.
What does it cost? Sorry, don't know that at the time of writing - we should find out soon.
Should I vaccinate my stock? Some animals - definitely. Others are less at risk. It's worth doing a bit of risk assessment:
ENDOSPEC 2.5% (Albendazole)
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2.5 litre £23.00, 5 litre - £40.00, Meat Withdrawal 14 days
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The disease will be spreading when midges are active - normally June to Sept? Unusual weather means this is becoming less predictable, and many midges survived well into the winter last year. Grazed animals are at much higher risk than housed animals. Deformed calves or lambs occur when pregnant cattle or sheep are infected at critical times during pregnancy. The riskiest periods are: ● ●
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Cows served from February through to July would be most at risk. With vaccine only available from June and a lag until immunity, there will be a risk of disease between midge emmergence and immunity. For cattle being served in July or August, and likely to still be grazing in October, vaccination should be considered.
How long does it last?
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So..
70-120 days for cattle 25-50 days for sheep
Non-breeding animals or animals in late pregnancy can get infected, but are unlikely to develop significant clinical signs.
It's also worth considering the risk period for Scmallenberg when planning synchronisation programmes for heifers.
Sheep Flocks tupping before October will have ewes in the critical period of pregnancy during the active midge season and should definitely consider vaccination. Later lambing flocks are at less of a risk but midges are around longer.
It's Bluetongue all over again just a wheeze to sell vaccine, and nothing happened… That's the whole point in vaccination - nothing happened! Bluetongue was spreading into southern England from Europe. There was enough coverage of vaccine across the country to prevent it spreading to Cumbria. With Schmallenberg, the ‘front line’ is further north - many animals in Southern England have been exposed to the disease and have immunity. It reached Cumbria in about September last year - after many cattle had been housed. Some animals in Cumbria have come across the disease and developed immunity, but many still have no immunity. The likelihood is that it will be actively spreading throughout this summer, so there will be many more animals at risk.
Speak to a vet to discuss whether vaccination is appropriate for your stock.
Locatim - Boosting colostrum protection The only UK licenced concentrated lactoserum with specific immunoglobulins against E coli K99 which will aid in boosting immune protection immediately after birth if administered with colostrum. The colostrum used in the production of Locatim® is produced from hyperimmunised cows also vaccinated against Rotavirus and Coronavirus so there will be some protection against these. Donor cows are free from Brucellosis, TB, Johnes, EBL, IBR and the colostrum is tested free from BVD and IBR
When to use it? Reduced colostrum intake or Poor quality colostrum: ●
Weak, stressed calves
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Difficult calving
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Poor teat conformation
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Poor mothering
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Heifers
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Johnes risk
Locatim Calf