MoleValley Calf - Mole Valley Farmers

More documents

Recommendations

Info

14 MOLE VALLEY FARMERS | CALF MANAGEMENT GUIDE 2012 Health and welfare Pneumonia - prevention is better than cure Tim Potter PhD, MRCVS Pneumonia is a cause of major economic loss for the cattle industry, with estimates for the annual cost of the disease running to in excess of £60m. These costs are associated with decreased production, higher levels of mortality and increased veterinary and labour costs. Pneumonia can cause irreversible damage to the lungs, meaning that even if an animal recovers, its lifetime performance will suffer and it will be more susceptible to future disease challenges. Pneumonia is a multifactorial disease caused by various infectious agents. The important viral causes of respiratory disease are Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) and Parainfl uenza-3 virus (PI3). Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) may also be associated with pneumonia in some herds due to the negative effects it has on an animal’s immune status. These viruses can cause disease by themselves or damage the defence mechanisms of the upper respiratory tract and predispose to secondary bacterial infections of the lungs. There are a large number of bacteria that can cause either primary lung disease or secondary to viral compromise of the lung defence mechanisms. The important bacteria associated with pneumonia are: Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma Bovis. An accurate diagnosis of the cause(s) of pneumonia is important so that the correct treatments are given and that steps can be taken to prevent future disease using appropriate vaccines. Producers should contact their vet when they are faced with an outbreak of disease so that investigations can be carried out to identify specifi c causes and risk factors that contributed to the outbreak. Common ailments of calves Calves face a number of challenges in their early lives. This table gives a guide to when these are likely to strike. Vaccines are now available that will provide effective control of the common viral (and some of the bacterial) causes of pneumonia and should be used prior to high-risk periods to minimise the risk of disease. Vaccination programmes need to be tailored to the circumstances on individual farms and care must be taken to ensure vaccines are handled and administered in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure their effectiveness. Treatment When faced with an outbreak of calf pneumonia, the fi rst priority is treatment of the affected animals and to minimise the spread of disease within the group. Treatment will be most effective if it is given as early as possible in the course of a disease; so it is important that animals with pneumonia are rapidly identifi ed and treated correctly. Look out for coughing, nasal discharge and laboured breathing; if you are concerned about an animal, taking its temperature can help identify animals with disease. A temperature above 39.5C indicates there is an infection. Prevention The prevention of pneumonia in calves is more desirable than having to treat in the face of an outbreak. Prevention consists of both vaccination programmes and establishing and maintaining management practices that reduce the risk of disease. Mixing animals of different of ages or from different sources within the same airspace will increase the risk of respiratory disease. To reduce the risk of pneumonia it is important that sheds are well ventilated. Do not underestimate the impact of the environment; if the housing is poor, even high levels of immunity will not prevent infection. Tim Potter PhD, MRCVS (Veterinary Surgeon & Consultant) graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2003 followed by a 3 year residency programme in dairy herd medicine and surgery, when he completed a PhD in antimicrobials used in the treatment of calf pneumonia through his involvement in various research projects where he has gained extensive experience. Tim remains an active farm animal clinician and is also involved with the clinical research projects being managed within the practice and regularly speaks at meetings, both in the UK and internationally.
Coccidiosis in calves Coccidiosis has been recognised as a major cause of scouring and poor growth rates in calves. Sub-clinical coccidiosis is often an ’invisible’ disease that can have a serious economic impact on calf production. Coccidiosis in calves causes intestinal damage, resulting in depressed growth and performance and greater susceptibility to other infections. Fortunately, where there is a known history of coccidial infection, outbreaks can be prevented with pro-active herd health planning. Coccidiosis in caused when cells in the lining of the animal’s gut become infected with a single-celled ‘parasite’, not a bacteria but a protozoa called Eimeria. Coccidiosis rapidly destroys the lining of the gut. An infected calf will shed millions of coccidial oocysts in its faeces, every day, meaning infection is spread easily when animals are stocked densely and the environment is heavily contaminated. Other calves contract the infection when they consume these oocysts from the environment. Many coccidial infections exist at a sub-clinical level, and so it is often not tested for. It is this ‘sub-clinical’ infection that can cause unnecessary and serious production loss. • Sub optimal weight gain • Dry rough coat • Poor appetite Patrick Traill MRCVS, MVF Veterinary Services Manager Reduced growth is the main sign of coccidiosis. Signs of clinical coccidial infection Anorexia Weakness Fever Diarrhoea Dehydration Calves that survive severe clinical coccidiosis may never fully recover and could end up as runts and remain in poor condition. Risk factors for coccidiosis Any factors that cause stress Mixed ages Crowding Poor ventilation Soiled bedding with warm environment Presence of calves that are infected and shedding cocci into the environment 2012 CALF MANAGEMENT GUIDE | MOLE VALLEY FARMERS Diagnosis An analysis of faeces will confi rm presence of coccidial oocysts. Samples need to be collected from at least 10 animals and importantly not just those that are scouring, as peak oocystshedding often does not occur when diarrhoea is present. Appropriate treatment at an appropriate time can then be recommended, stopping any further losses. Treatment, control and prevention Where there is a history of coccidial infections, it is possible to calculate when an outbreak of coccidial scours is most likely to occur, and consequently the best time to administer preventative treatment. There are two types of preventative treatment for coccidiosis: 1) An in-feed coccidiostat fed for 28 days, which stops further reproduction and growth of coccidia. 2) An oral administration of a coccidiocide to destroy the coccidia and prevent the clinical signs of coccidiosis. This also signifi cantly reduces the levels of oocyst excreted, reducing the disease pressure and helping safeguard other calves from developing infection. Hygiene Health and welfare Coccidial oocysts are very persistent; existing for over a year they are able to withstand freezing temperatures and are resistant to many to the majority of disinfections. Where possible operate an ‘all-in all-out’ policy with effective cleaning and disinfection in between bunches. Isolate scouring calves to allow them to be treated effectively and to reduce risk of disease transmission to others in the group. Spotting infection early with a faecal egg count and reducing the infective burden and treating where necessary is key to controlling this important disease that impacts on growth and production. Ask at your local MVF Branch for a Faecal Collection Kit Call us on 0844 272 4900 8.30am - 5.30pm 5 days a week 15
Page 1 and 2: 2012 CALF MANAGEMENT GUIDE | MOLE V
Page 3 and 4: New born calves - meeting their nut
Page 5 and 6: 2012 CALF MANAGEMENT GUIDE | MOLE V
Page 7 and 8: Calving and looking after young cal
Page 9 and 10: Milk replacers from Mole Valley Far
Page 11 and 12: Dry feed management Background Nume
Page 13: Hygiene is vital for healthy livest

MoleValley Calf - Mole Valley Farmers

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?