Achieving Excellence in Health and Productivity
PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP
ISSUE 28
Livestock NEWS E. Coli Mastitis and Early Lactation Therapy FARMER TIP! We have a couple of clients who have been tubing maiden heifers with dry cow tubes prior to calving for some time, and both have been very impressed. One of these farmers has now down his own mini trial and has asked that we pass on the results. He has tubed one batch of heifers with Cephaguard DC at the same time as he gives them CoSeICure boluses and their pre-calving vaccinations - usually between 4 and 8 weeks before they calve. The other group were not tubed. The farm is one on which we use the CellCheck tool to measure and monitor individual cell counts, and we can see that not one of those heifers that were tubed has had a high cell count (ie over 200cells/ml) at their first recorded sampling point, whereas over 25% of those not tubed had clinical mastitis or had high cell counts at their first recording and several have required aggressive treatment. Both clients have reported that heifers do not seem to resent the intra-mammary infusion, and it would seem that the benefits of tubing the heifers far outweighs any negative effects of breaking the natural keratin seal. As our client has urged us to do... Pass It On!
Due to the bad weather over the last couple of months there has been a significant increase in the cases of E. Coli mastitis that we are being called out to. The signs of E. Coli mastitis can vary greatly, with some animals just having a few clots in the milk, to the more severe cases being down with a high temperature and in the worse cases, death. The amount of time it can take for a cow to go from looking healthy to down and very ill can be as little as 6 hours, so prompt, effective treatment is of the utmost importance. The most important aspects of treatment for E. Coli mastitis are to maintain the cow's fluid levels, and reduce the amount of toxin in the blood stream. This, along with stripping the affected quarter as often as possible, will help lower the toxin and amount of bacteria, and so any antibiotics given will work better. The best treatment for lowering the toxin in the bloodstream is intra-venous flunixin, with it's proven anti-endotoxic properties. Fluids can be given orally through a drench if the cow is not completely flat out, or if this is not possible, can also be given into the vein. Antibiotic use is a controversial issue, as in mild cases the use of antibiotics can cause an increased amount of toxin release into the udder, and therefore, the blood stream. However, in more severe cases, the use of antibiotics is useful in shortening the length of time the cow is ill. In these more severe cases systemic
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antibiotics should also be used, with the most common antibiotic used here being Advocin. Although this is a fluoroquinolone, and therefore currently under scrutiny in Europe, we believe that this is a valid use of this drug. Other useful antibiotics include Norodine. Most intra-mammary tubes will be useful against E. Coli. Early Lactation Therapy (ELT) is the ideal way to combat mastitis. This involves assessing the cows most at risk, those in the first few weeks post calving, and mark these cows somehow, with tail tape, or a leg band. This then allows these cows to be monitored more closely for signs of mastitis. Once a change has been noticed the cow should be separated so that a temperature and a milk sample can be obtained and appropriate treatment can be given.
AUGUST 2012
Contact us: PARAGON VETERINARY GROUP CALDEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL Carlisle House, Townhead Road, Dalston, Carlisle
Tel: (01228) 710208 vets@paragonvet.com TOWNHEAD VETERINARY CENTRE Townhead Veterinary Centre, Newbiggin, Stainton, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 0HT
Tel: (01768) 483789 townhead@paragonvet.com
So in summary
PARAGON ET The Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3SG
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Tel: (01434) 600566
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Mark the at risk cows so they can be assessed.
et@paragonvet.com
Monitor these cows by examining the udder, foremilking and assessing the overall body condition of the cow. Treat early and effectively. 24HR EMERGENCY SERVICE
If all these things are done then hopefully the number of cases of E. Coli, as well as all other types of mastitis should be treated earlier and have a better outcome.
LIVESTOCK NEWS
AUGUST 2012
Are you having to worm your lambs more often now than 5 years ago? Do you have any idea how effective the wormers that you use actually are? Together with XlVets, we are running a Worm Control campaign in sheep this summer. We have the following Farmskills courses planned at Paragon:
6th-9th August 2012
‘DIY AI’ 4 day course (Semex) 14th-16th August 2012
‘Cattle foot trimming’ 3 day course w/c 20th August 2012 (tbc)
The main agenda is to highlight the increasing threat of anthelmintic resistance to UK sheep flocks and provide ways of reducing your reliance on wormers to enable you to continue sheep farming for years to come. We will be offering FREE before and after dosing faecel egg counts (drench tests) ●
this will establish the need to drench
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the efficacy of the anthelmintic you are using.
For this we will need faecal samples from 10 sheep before dosing (testing to be done ideally within 48hrs after collection), then repeated 7 days after dosing with Group 2-LV wormer, 10-14 days after Group 1-BZ wormer and 14-16 days after a Group 3-ML wormer
to your sheep. Together with implementing as many of the SCOPS principles we can work together to remove this threat before it gets a hold of your farm. If you have any questions regarding your wormer or would like to know more about the faecal egg counts please contact one of the large animal vets or Cheryl, or would just like to know a little more about the SCOPS principles then contact us or the website www.scops.org.uk
It is thought that 80% of UK flocks have developed resistance to at least one class of wormer with resistance to all three classes present on some UK farms. By finding out the answers to the above two questions we can help develop a control strategy on your farm so that you can maximise the effectiveness of each worm drench given
Reproduced by kind permission of LSSC Ltd.
‘Bull Fertility’ at Penrith and Wigton auctions
Bull Fertility Workshops Summer 2012
4th September 2012
‘Cattle Practical Techniques’ 17th-19th September 2012
PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP ON BULL FERTILITY AND SOUNDNESS TESTING DATE: TIME:
20th August 2012 12 noon - 3pm
DATE: TIME:
22nd August 2012 12 noon - 3pm
VENUE:
Wigton Aution Mart
VENUE:
Penrith Aution Mart
‘Cattle foot trimming’ 3 day course 2nd-5th October 2012
‘DIY AI’ 4 day course (Semex) 7th November 2012
‘Safe & effective use of vet meds’ Sheep
Paragon Vets, will be highlighting why fertility testing and physical examinations of your stock bull are important; how infectious disease and issues such as lameness can impact on your bull's health, and what you can do to make sure you get the most from this valuable asset on your farm. The workshops also involve refreshments and useful handouts for you to take away.
In association with
To register for your FREE place at one of these events, please contact Helen or Sophie in the FarmSkills booking office on 01765 608489 or email us farmskills@xlvets.co.uk