LIVER FLUKE AND MORE
Livers in meat factories are currently showing high incidence of recent fluke activity, especially in older beef cattle, cows and ewes. Dung samples completed in our clinic have revealed liver fluke in yearlings and older stock, with ewes also affected.
Usually a correctly timed post housing dose will suffice to deal with liver fluke. This year I advise taking dung samples before and after housing, because waiting eight weeks after housing to dose your stock could lead to severe liver disease and losses. A word of warning a negative liver fluke reading doesn’t mean you have no fluke – call for advice for the best strategies for your sheep and cattle this back end
Lung worm is still a major problem in this year’s calves and yearling stock, even those dosed earlier in the year. If they are coughing; at rest or in exercise, and seem healthy, lung worm is present and needs to be treated, especially before housing. Albendazole and Fenbendazole oral doses and Levamisole injection are safe where no dosing or a poor history of dosing exists. If previously dosed doramectin or moxidectin products are excellent to clean up lung and stomach worms before housing.
VACCINATION
We advise an RSV and /or PI3 live vaccination programme now! Suckler and dairy calves born in the spring will be greatly protected by Nasym or Rispoval 2 into the muscle, and a repeat shot one month later gives 6 months protection from RSV and/or PI3 (complies with the Suckler cow welfare scheme) .
If you buy in weanlings leave then 2 to 3 days to settle after arrival, then vaccinate them into the muscle with Rispoval 2 or Nasym . DO NOT DOSE THEM AT THIS STAGE. Ideally a booster one month later will give you protection to turnout in Spring.
Clostridial vaccination is a must now too for reared and bought in calves and yearlings but supplies of vaccine are at best difficult. Cattle require 2 shots, 4 to 6 weeks apart. Supplies of these vaccines are very difficult to get –call us to check availability.
Dairy calves from calf to beef rearing farms or dairy farms can get an IBR live shot (Hipra Bovis Ibr Live, Bovilis IBR marker live or Rispoval IBR marker live) now before housing to reduce IBR virus, shedding indoors and to reduce infection pressure especially if stocking density is high.
Multimin injection augments and potentiates the effect and “take” of all respiratory vaccines. It helps get over the stress of housing, sore feet, and change of diet speeding up the rumen’s adaption to silage and meal. It is a must for heavy cattle on high or add-lib meal, or forward stores to maximise growth and live weight gain from meal and suitable roughage.
DAIRY COWS
Now is the time for your last milk recording of the season to gain valuable insights into which cows can use selective dry cow therapy. Cows with mastitis should have samples cultured in a laboratory, and any samples saved in the freezer from previous cases can be tested now too. These are a fantastic picture of a herd’s mastitis history since Spring. Treat these with a combination of milking cow tubes and injectable antibiotics, if young and valuable cows otherwise dry off immediately or consider culling.
Dairy cows with a cell count of under 50,000 are the most ideal for sealer only, and at a recent Cell Check meeting the Department of Agriculture expects herds to have a minimum of 10% of a herd to be dried off with sealer only, and for this percentage to increase yearly. We recommend Boviseal as the sealer of choice for seal only cows and this is closely followed by Fatroseal for quality and performance, and both are ideal to pair with suitable dry cow antibiotic tubes.
As always manage hygiene in walk ways, beside the parlour, collecting yards and roadways . Increase scraper frequency if cows are staying in on zero- grazed grass and brushing ,cleaning and liming cubicles for the first two weeks after drying off pays serious dividends ( and as good as an hour in the gym daily!!)
It is a really good idea to Dung Sample cows now, to check the fluke and rumen fluke levels.
GRASS TETANY
A word of warning for suckler cows – weaning is the most stressful time for cows and the highest risk period for grass tetany. Gradual weaning, supplementation with hay / silage, or meal and high mag lick buckets can help but bolusing with two Opti-mag boli is the best insurance. Wet cold nights on lush green grass, are ideal for tetany, so bolus now to protect your suckler cow. Fact – 80 % of grass tetany cases are found dead!
SHEEP
Rams are ready to go out to ewes as we speak for mid March lambing . Ensure you have different colour raddles and proper harnesses ready, and there is still time to mineral dose ewes and the ram with Growvite sheep or bolus ewes with Coseicure/ Zincoisel.
Ram fertility testing is still an option if you are one week or more away from breeding and is vital for newly purchased or doubtful tups. We perform in house fertility testing, focusing on both sperm motility and sperm abnormality, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry especially with the price of SIS accredited rams .
Lame rams should be treated as a matter of urgency and most antibiotic and anti-inflammatory combinations have no negative effect on sperm health. Contact us for appropriate treatment.
VACCINATION
Clostridial vaccinations such as Covexin 10 and Tribovax 10 are almost impossible to source this year so we advise Heptavac P Plus which covers both Clostridial diseases ( lamb dysentery, pulpy kidney, braxy, blackleg, tetanus and struck) and 2 strains of Pasteurella pneumonia. Replacements, newly purchased rams and lambs should get 2 shots 4 to 6 weeks apart and all ewes will benefit from a shot before breeding. Store lambs are very susceptible to pasteurella especially if heavily meal fed, so 2 shots of Heptavac p plus can save a lot of deaths.
Toxoplasma / Enzootic abortion
Enzovax the usual chlamydial one off vaccination for Enzootic Abortion, has not been available most of this year and Hipra Inmeva (inactive) is the only option at present. This is an inactive vaccine so 2 shots are required 3 to 4 weeks apart. Because of huge demand supplies have been slow and many sheep will only get there first shot in November at ram removal with a booster a month later.
This will protect ewes and hoggets from the curses of Enzootic abortion. Toxoplasma vaccination needs to be ordered 10 days in advance and given at least 2 weeks before ram turnout so I think that ship has sailed for this year.
Ectoparasites
Plunge dipping with Gold fleece or Cyperguard sheep dip are still the best treatment and prevention for scab, blowfly, ticks, keds and lice at this time of the year, and a must on most farms. If dipping is not possible a combination of pour-on (Spotinor or Dectospot ) with injectable (Dectomax or Cydectin ) may suit.
As always feel free to contact us for advice. Thanks for reading folks, hope you got some tips.
Paul Cummins Veterinary Surgeon MVB