Health, Vaccinations, and Deworming Shannon Irwin GJCA Officer Chapter Relations Director

Health

 When raising cattle for show, meat, or to sell, your cattle’s health is important; whether its mild or life threatening.  To ensure good cattle health: –Provide proper nutrition –Keep clean cattle facilities / spaces

Signs of Healthy Cattle  Usually alert to their surroundings.  Eager to eat when feeding time.  Enjoys attention.

Signs of Unhealthy Cattle  Less interest in their surroundings.  Poor eating habits.  Attitude and behavior are different.

 Respiration  Temperature Two Ways to Check if Your Cattle are Healthy or Unhealthy

Checking The Respiration And Temperature In Cattle  In healthy cattle the respiration is about 20 breaths per minute. Between 10 and 30 is also normal. On a hot day the breathing may be heavier.  In healthy cattle the temperature is 101.5*F. If the animal’s temperature is 102.5*F, its above normal and considered a fever. If it is 100.5*F, its subnormal and also a serious condition.

Vaccinations

 Vaccinations should be given to young calves, calves at weaning, and adult cattle (including cows).  Yearlings and cows should be vaccinated annually or semi- annually.

Proper Use Of Vaccines  Make sure it has been refrigerated.  Check the expiration date (if kept too long they may lose potency).  Follow the directions on the label (dosage).  Do no combine Vaccines.

Injecting  For adult cattle –Use a 16ga needle at least 2 inches long  For calves –Use an 18ga needle at least inches long  Subcutaneous Injection (SQ) –Injection given under or between the skin  Intravenous Injection (IM) –Injection given into a large vein  Consult a vet to either give the injection or demonstrate  The neck and rump muscles are the primary injection sites

Giving an IM or SQ injection  Needle needs to go in with a forceful thrust so it goes to the muscle. Into either the neck or rump. (A sharper needle can go in with less effort and pain).  Find a place where the skin is loosest. Either the loosest part of the neck or shoulder. Make sure the shot goes into the part you’ve pulled up, not the muscle. The IM INJECTION THE SQ INJECTION

REACTIONS Reactions to vaccinations may include:  Temporary swelling at site of injection –Not a serious problem.  Anaphylactic Shock –Difficultly breathing and then collapsing –SEVERE! Treat Immediately!

How To Treat Anaphylactic Shock  Inject antihistamine –Should be in a first aid kit  Use epinephrine (adrenaline) and dexamethasone –Usually reverses the reaction allowing the animal to recover quickly  If an animal has a reaction to a vaccine, DO NOT ever give the same one again. It may kill the animal.

First Aid Kit  Needles and syringes of different sizes  Animal thermometer  Injectable antibiotics  Topical pinkeye  Epsom salt  Nitrofurazone (solution or ointment)  Nolvason disinfectant solution  Iodine (7% Tincture)  Hydrogen peroxide  Mineral oil  DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide)

Several Vaccinations for Your Cattle  IBR - Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (Red Nose) –Caused by respiratory problems; can lead to pneumonia  BVD - Bovine Viral Diarrhea –Common disease of the digestive/respiratory system; severe diarrhea  PI3 – Parainfluenza –Causes respiratory problems; can be completed if IBR and BVD occur all at the same time  Brucellosis (done by Vet) –Causes abortions and has no cure –Do no vaccinate bulls –Try to maintain closed herd, raising all of your own replacement heifers  Tetanus - caused by bacteria  Big Head (feedlot cattle) - No symptoms –Dead animals have had swelling in throat  Vibrio –Causes abortions; is spread from bull to heifer

Deworming

Where Worms Infest Worms can infest:  Digestive Tract  Lungs  On the skin  Found mainly in animals grazing irrigated pasture and young cattle that have no resistance

Symptoms of Worms  Loss of weight  Rough hair  Poor appetite  Diarrhea  Coughing  Loss of hair  Respiratory distress

TYPES OF WORMS

Round Worms (Ostertagia ) Brown Stomach Worms-Most common internal parasite found in cattle. Grazing cattle ingest 3 rd stage larvae. Type 1 - eggs appear in manure days after larval ingestion. Effects calves from 7-15 months. Seen early in temperate regions and late cool regions. Type 2- Larvae may hibernate for up to 6 months in the gastric glands caused by unusual conditions, nutritional or climatic conditions. Occur in month old cattle. Seen in late summer - autumn in warmer temperature regions or late winter to early spring in colder regions.

Lungworms (Dictyocalus Viviparous)  Occurs where pastures are normally wet or swampy.  Ingested through grazing.  Larvae migrated to lungs to lymphatic system the arterial blood supply.  Emerge into alveoli to the bronchioles and to the bronchi where they mature.  Leads to emphysema or pneumonia.  All ages of cattle are infected.

Large Stomach Worms and Tape Worms  In the abomasums, punctures small blood vessels, then feeds on blood.  Called-Barber pole or wire worm.  Seen most frequently in young animals. Older animals that haven’t been exposed can be seriously infected.  Affect young cattle.  Live in soil and grass.  Ingested by feeding oribatid mites.  After 6 weeks the eggs convert to an infective form which is cysticercoids.  Infected by ingesting mites. Large Stomach Worms - Haemonchus Tape Worms

Ringworm  Even though this is not an internal or serious disease it is still important to get rid of.  It is a fungal disease found in many animals including cattle.  It is transmitted by direct contact with the animal that was previously infected.

What Ringworm Looks Like  It is a circular patch where there is broken stubby hair, it may be crusting, and have a redness to it.  Will appear to be spreading in an outward position.  There may be one or more on the animals body.

How to treat Ringworm and Why Treat!  The spot can be treated with a topical anti-fungal cream. There are also oral medications to give if the ringworms are more severe.  Ringworm should be treated to prevent spreading to humans and other animals.  Remember, it spreads easily. So you should treat the infected animal as soon as possible. Also keep infected animal away from others so it will not spread.  You can use Iodine on ringworm.

Types of Dewormers for the Worms That were listed  Privermectin (Pour On) –1mL per 22lb of body weight –Used for the control or treatment of roundworms and lungworms –Apply to backline from the withers to the tail head  Ivomec Eprinex (Pour On) –1mL per 22lb of body weight –Used for the treatment or control of roundworms and lungworms –For use on cattle 8 weeks or older –Apply to backline from the withers to the tail head.  Dectomex (Pour On) –1mL per 22lb of body weight –Used for the treatment or control of internal as well as external parasites  Such as roundworm and lungworms –Apply to backline from the withers to the tail head  Agri-Mectin (Pour On) –1mL per 22lb of body weight –Used for the control or treatment of roundworms and lungworms –Apply to backline from the withers to the tail head These wormers are also used for the control and treatment of lice, grubs, horn flies, and mites.

Things To Remember

Nutrition  Proper nutrition is key to keeping your cattle healthy. How they are fed and what you feed has an impact on their health. Vaccinations  Consult with your vet on which vaccinations are needed, when, and how much to administer. Remember that some states require certain vaccinations against certain diseases.  When using a live-virus make sure it is not exposed to heat and chemically disinfected syringes can inactivate them.

SQ & IM INJECTIONS  When giving an IM injection in the neck or rump make sure you choose a large, thick muscle so you won’t hit a bone. When giving the IM injection to a small calf a shot remember the neck muscle is not large enough to absorb different types of antibiotics or shots.  When giving the IM injection, make sure you don’t hit a vein. If you do hit a vein remove the needle slowly and find a different place.  When giving the SQ injection, hold the loose skin to make sure the needle doesn’t poke the tissue. Helpful Hints  If the animal is resisting, wait until it settles down.  Always be sure you give the injection in a clean, dry area on the calf.  Remember that vaccinating calves too soon may cause them not to gain adequate immunity due to the fact that their immune system is still immature.  If you have any questions on age of proper administration consult with your vet.

The End!