Level II Agricultural Business Operations
This session will include ◦ Sources & signs of infection and sickness ◦ Colostrum feeding ◦ Calf diseases ◦ Animal welfare ◦ Biosecurity and health plans ◦ Safe use of veterinary medicines
Heifers have significant rearing costs More than 15% of heifers born don’t reach 1 st lactation. Important to maximise calf’s early growth potential and good feed conversion efficiencies
Dirty udder Farmer
Housing and ventilation
Feed and water Feeding utensils
Contact with other stock
Check calves at least twice per day. What to look for;
Faeces/ dung
Nose dryness or discharge
Ear position / alertness
Posture of calf Eyes - dehydration
Navel and joint ill
Also check... ◦ Coat condition ◦ Breathing ◦ Temperature ◦ Heart rate ◦ Eating habits
Calves born with no immunity The three Q’s of colostrum feeding ◦ Quantity ◦ Quality ◦ Quickly
10 % of calf’s birth weight. Generally 3 to 6 litres 20 min suckling = 3 litres intake!! Volume required is dependant on colostrum quality
Quality varies from cow to cow Cow Body Condition Score of prior to calving Minimum five weeks dry cow period Cows exposed to pathogens on farm
Colostrum from 2 nd – 3 rd lactation cows, usually best quality. Colostrum hygiene also important – collection and feeding utensils Assess quality using colostrometer
Assess at room temperature (22 C )
ComponentMilking Number ColostrumTransitional milkWhole milk Total solid % Fat % Protein % Antibodies % Lactose % Mineral % Vitamin A ug/dl Adapted from Folley & Otterby 1978 Feed value of colostrum falls quickly Antibody levels fall quickly
Within first 4-6 hours. Feed 50 % within 60 minutes of birth Antibody absorption decreases after birth and stops by 24hrs Feed for 3-4 days minimum
Suckle the dam Suckle from teat on bucket Stomach tube Commercial substitutes
Biggest killer of calves under 1 month 1 in 10 calves suffer from scour All outbreaks should be investigated Half of deaths < 1 month due to scour
1. Wet and dirty bedding 2. Pens not disinfected between calves 3. Insufficient colostrum 4. Communal rearing
Diarrhoea of varying severity Dehydration Calves dull/depressed Poor appetite Occasional high temperature
Two main categories of scour ◦ Non- infectious e.g. nutritional ◦ Infectious
Irregular feeding times Incorrect temperature and strength of milk substitute Poor hygiene Incorrect positioning of feed buckets/teats – oesophageal groove
Calves rumen is undeveloped at birth Develops fully at 3-8 weeks Milk digested by 4 th compartment of stomach – abomasum Oesophageal groove allows milk to pass from oesophagus to abomasum Milk “leaking” into rumen can cause scour
Reticulum Oesophagus Rumen
Organisms causing infectious scour ◦ Rotavirus ◦ Cryptosporidia ◦ Coccidia ◦ Coronavirus ◦ E.coli K99 ◦ Salmonella
Mortality Cost of veterinary treatment Loss of condition Additional labour
Consult vet early in an outbreak Isolate, dry bedding and heat lamp Depending on severity - Stop or reduce milk for hours (vet advice) Electrolytes and fluids for dehydration and temporary nutrients - stomach tube
Symptoms of dehydration ◦ Sunken eye, skin fold stays up, skin tight Antibiotics to combat primary or secondary infection Gradually re-introduce milk with electrolyte
Involves collecting a scour sample to send to the lab to identify the cause Samples should be taken before animals are treated with antibiotics Must be taken from the calf and not the floor!
Vaccinate cows prior to calving – antibodies in colostrum Diagnose causes of scours and put control plan in place (different causes = different treatments) Prevents losses due to treatment costs, stunted growths and additional labour
Hygiene in calving pens and of feeding utensils Housing – drainage, ventilation, air space. COLOSTRUM
Multifactorial disease Caused by one or more organisms ◦ Viruses ◦ Bacteria ◦ Mycoplasms Most common cause of death in 1-6 month calves
Mixing cattle from different sources and/or ages Stress often triggers respiratory diseases Inadequate ventilation BVD lowers resistance Inadequate colostrum
Animal Health Ireland
Being “off form” - Dullness Reduced feed intake Fever (over 39.5 C) Increased respiratory rate Frequent chesty coughs (not always) Discharge from nose and eyes
Most cases are mixed infections. However, the main organisms that start the disease are; ◦ Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ◦ Para-influenza type 3 (PI3) ◦ Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) ◦ Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) ◦ Coronaviruses
Mortality Cost of veterinary treatment Loss of condition Production loss due to residual lung damage
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Consult vet early in an outbreak Isolate, dry bedding and draught free Antibiotics to combat primary or secondary infection
Anti-inflammatory drugs lower temperature and reduce inflammation of lungs Steroids may help in severe cases Handle gently – stress can kill Preventative treatment of group
Vaccination – maximise immunity Adequate colostrum intake Ensure a dry bed (fall of 1:20) Avoid mixing stock Optimise stocking density Adequate ventilation – no draughts Medicate with antibiotics
Painful infection of navel within first week of life Hygiene of calving pens important At calving spray with antibiotic aerosol or iodine
Lameness, and later swelling of joints From 2-4 weeks old Infection via the navel Bacteria gather in joints causing inflammation