1. Level II Agricultural Business Operations

2.  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

3.  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

4. Dirty udder Farmer

5. Housing and ventilation

6. Feed and water Feeding utensils

7. Contact with other stock

8.  Check calves at least twice per day.  What to look for;

9. Faeces/ dung

10. Nose dryness or discharge

11. Ear position / alertness

12. Posture of calf Eyes - dehydration

13. Navel and joint ill

14.  Also check... ◦ Coat condition ◦ Breathing ◦ Temperature ◦ Heart rate ◦ Eating habits

15.  Calves born with no immunity  The three Q’s of colostrum feeding ◦ Quantity ◦ Quality ◦ Quickly

16.  10 % of calf’s birth weight.  Generally 3 to 6 litres  20 min suckling = 3 litres intake!!  Volume required is dependant on colostrum quality

17.  Quality varies from cow to cow  Cow Body Condition Score of 2.5 - 3 prior to calving  Minimum five weeks dry cow period  Cows exposed to pathogens on farm

18.  Colostrum from 2 nd – 3 rd lactation cows, usually best quality.  Colostrum hygiene also important – collection and feeding utensils  Assess quality using colostrometer

19. Assess at room temperature (22  C )

20. ComponentMilking Number 12311 ColostrumTransitional milkWhole milk Total solid %23.917.914.112.5 Fat %6.75.43.9 Protein %14.08.45.13.1 Antibodies %6.04.22.40.09 Lactose %2.73.94.44.9 Mineral %1.110.950.870.74 Vitamin A ug/dl2951901.1334 Adapted from Folley & Otterby 1978 Feed value of colostrum falls quickly Antibody levels fall quickly

21.  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

23.  Suckle the dam  Suckle from teat on bucket  Stomach tube  Commercial substitutes

24.  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

25. 1. Wet and dirty bedding 2. Pens not disinfected between calves 3. Insufficient colostrum 4. Communal rearing

26.  Diarrhoea of varying severity  Dehydration  Calves dull/depressed  Poor appetite  Occasional high temperature

27.  Two main categories of scour ◦ Non- infectious e.g. nutritional ◦ Infectious

28.  Irregular feeding times  Incorrect temperature and strength of milk substitute  Poor hygiene  Incorrect positioning of feed buckets/teats – oesophageal groove

29.  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

31. Reticulum Oesophagus Rumen

32.  Organisms causing infectious scour ◦ Rotavirus ◦ Cryptosporidia ◦ Coccidia ◦ Coronavirus ◦ E.coli K99 ◦ Salmonella

33.  Mortality  Cost of veterinary treatment  Loss of condition  Additional labour

34.  Consult vet early in an outbreak  Isolate, dry bedding and heat lamp  Depending on severity - Stop or reduce milk for 12 - 24 hours (vet advice)  Electrolytes and fluids for dehydration and temporary nutrients - stomach tube

35.  Symptoms of dehydration ◦ Sunken eye, skin fold stays up, skin tight  Antibiotics to combat primary or secondary infection  Gradually re-introduce milk with electrolyte

36.  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!

37.  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

38.  Hygiene in calving pens and of feeding utensils  Housing – drainage, ventilation, air space.  COLOSTRUM

39.  Multifactorial disease  Caused by one or more organisms ◦ Viruses ◦ Bacteria ◦ Mycoplasms  Most common cause of death in 1-6 month calves

40.  Mixing cattle from different sources and/or ages  Stress often triggers respiratory diseases  Inadequate ventilation  BVD lowers resistance  Inadequate colostrum

41. Animal Health Ireland

42.  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

43.  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

44.  Mortality  Cost of veterinary treatment  Loss of condition  Production loss due to residual lung damage

45. Image: www.fwi.co.uk

46.  Consult vet early in an outbreak  Isolate, dry bedding and draught free  Antibiotics to combat primary or secondary infection

47.  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

48.  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

49.  Painful infection of navel within first week of life  Hygiene of calving pens important  At calving spray with antibiotic aerosol or iodine

50.  Lameness, and later swelling of joints  From 2-4 weeks old  Infection via the navel  Bacteria gather in joints causing inflammation