Level II Agricultural Business Operations
Dec 18, 2015
To recognise animal signs of good and ill
health
To know how to prevent and treat calf scours
and pneumonia
To identify on-farm biosecurity measures
Shiny coat
Bright eyes
Clear warm nose
Pricked ears
Normal faeces
Steady breathing
Body temperature
Normal behaviour
Feed intake
Thrive
Dull coat
Sunken eyes
Runny nose
Droopy ears
Diarrhoea
Laboured
breathing
High/Low temp
On its own
Off feed
Hunched
Loss of production Welfare issues Loss of health status Antibiotic use / resistance Financial losses Sickness/death Consumer perception
There are moral, ethical and economic reasons for taking animal welfare seriously
Animal WelfareAnimal Welfare
Freedom from hunger and thirst
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury or disease
Freedom from fear or distress
Freedom to express normal behaviour
Welfare – 5 FreedomsWelfare – 5 Freedoms
Welfare Codes of PracticeWelfare Codes of Practice
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare/farmed-animal-welfare.htm
Biosecurity is the prevention of disease causing agents entering or leaving any place where they can pose a risk to farm animals, other animals, humans, or the safety and quality of a food product.
The same principles apply within the farm, preventing disease spreading between animals and groups
BiosecurityBiosecurity
A neighbour to borrow your bull
Visitors, without disinfection
Meal to be stored uncovered
A neighbour to use your cattle trailer
A dead lorry near your cattle
Cattle to drink downstream from another
herd
Would you allow?Would you allow?
Guidance on BiosecurityGuidance on Biosecurity
http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health-and-welfare/disease-control-prevention/biosecurity.htm
Safeguard the herd against disease reducing
stress on animals and farmer
Safeguard human health
Improve production efficiency by reducing the
spread of disease within farm
Stops the spread of disease to other farms
Protects export markets
Why Bother with Biosecurity?Why Bother with Biosecurity?
Maintain a closed herd
Pre-test and isolate purchased animals
Restrict visitor access
Provide boot washing/disinfection facilities
Use common sense when moving around farm
Restrict access to water courses/neighbouring
stock
What Can You Do?What Can You Do?
Important points: Buy from as few sources as possible Buy from reliable source (know health history if
possible) Quarantine bought-in animals for at least 2 weeks
Screening: Ideally, test for main diseases (e.g. BVD) before mixing with the rest of your herd
Treatments: Vaccinations, Dose for fluke/worms
Buying in CattleBuying in Cattle
Common Diseases on Beef FarmsCommon Diseases on Beef Farms
Name some common diseases on beef farms
The diseases looked at will provide a general guide to animal health
Starting with neonatal (new born) calf
HOST
ENVIRONMENT
AGENT/ PATHOGE
N
Principles of DiseasePrinciples of Disease
Disease is multifactorial
Calf Scour (Neonatal calf Calf Scour (Neonatal calf diarrhoea)diarrhoea) Accounts for ~50% of deaths in calves < 1 month
oldSymptoms
Diarrhoea Temperature (fever) Dull Weak Reluctant to eat or drink Dehydration
o Sunken eyeo Skin elasticity
Nutritional Calf ScourNutritional Calf Scour
If calves are bucket fed ensure: Regular feeding times
Milk substitute is fed at correct strength & temperature
Correct positioning of feed buckets
Buckets are thoroughly cleaned after use
Feeding through a teat can help
How Infectious Agents Cause Calf How Infectious Agents Cause Calf ScourScour
1. Agents attacks gut wall.
2. Gut cannot absorb milk
3. Scour
4. Dehydration
5. Collapse / prolonged recovery
Early Diagnosis is ImportantEarly Diagnosis is Important Take a dung sample
o So appropriate treatment can be started and losses saved
o Cause has often disappeared by the time you go to look for it, although damage is done and symptoms remain
Treatment of Calf ScoursTreatment of Calf Scours1. Rehydration
Manage milk intake Alternate electrolyte and milk feeds (4 per
day) Intravenous fluids if very weak
2. Antibacterials etc to combat agentsConsult Vet
3. Isolate, dry bedding & heat lamp
Host FactorsHost Factors1. Age – younger calves more susceptible
2. Nutrition – high milk intake, milk replacer, erratic feeding, overfeeding, poor hygiene
3. Immunity – inadequate colostrum
4. Mixing of calves – less risk after 8 weeks provided enough fibre is offered.
ColostrumColostrum
First milk produced by dam after giving birth
Immunoglobulin (antibody) rich
Essential source of antibodies for newborn
calves
Newborn calves have no immunity
Absorbed during first 6 hours
Lines gut and protects it
2 litres within 6 hours
In total 10 % of calf’s birth weight with 12 hours
Generally 3 to 6 litres
20 min suckling = 3 litres intake!!
Colostrum QuantityColostrum Quantity
To ensure optimum colostrum quality...
Cow Body Condition Score of 2.5 - 3 prior to
calving
Minimum 5 weeks dry cow period
Cows exposed to pathogens on farm
Dry cow minerals fed prior to calving
Vaccination against specific causes
Quality – Cow ManagementQuality – Cow Management
Antibody absorption decreases after birth and
stops by 24hrs
Colostrum QuicklyColostrum Quickly
Antibody Absorption
Suckle the dam (quantity?)
Suckle from teat on bucket
Stomach tube
Source from dairy herd (Biosecurity)
Commercial substitutes
Colostrum OptionsColostrum Options
Colostrum StorageColostrum Storage
Freeze soon after collection
Freeze in quantities used ie 3 – 6 litres for
calves
Thaw slowly in warm water
Pour & store sealable bags/pouches are ideal as
easily thawed
Don’t microwave
Prevention is Cheaper than Prevention is Cheaper than TreatmentTreatment
Avoids treatment costs, loss of growth & labour
Vaccination too late when outbreak occurs
Vaccines available for Rotavirus, coronavirus &
E.coli
Vaccinate within 12 and 3 weeks before calving
Needs good colostrum management
PneumoniaPneumonia Lung inflammation
Highly infectious
Can be difficult to treat – multi-factorial disease
Loss in animal performance greatest cost
Causes of PneumoniaCauses of Pneumonia
Viruses eg IBR
Bacteria eg Pasteurella
Parasites eg lungworm
Most often: primary agent = virus secondary agent = bacteria
Clinical Signs of PneumoniaClinical Signs of Pneumonia Reduced appetite
Temperature / Fever
Depression
Dullness
Rapid, shallow breathing
Coughing
Nasal discharge
Discharge from eyes
Salivation
Diagnosis and TreatmentDiagnosis and TreatmentDiagnosis Clinical signs Involve the vet early on
Treatment Antibiotics (ineffective against viruses) Anti-inflammatories Anthelmintics
Prevention of PneumoniaPrevention of Pneumonia Adequate colostrum in newborn calves
Reduce Stresso Introduce concentrate prior to weaningo Avoid dehorning or castration around weaningo After weaning - calves in same place for 1 wk
Prevention of PneumoniaPrevention of Pneumonia Suitable housing
o Dust & noxious gases irritate respiratory tract
o Warm , humid conditions favour agents
o Enough air space & ventilation reduces illness
o Avoid draughts
o Air inlets should be above animal height
o Dry, comfortable bed, “knee test”
o Avoid mixed ages esp. Calves & adults
Ventilation of Cattle HousingVentilation of Cattle Housing
The Stack EffectThe Stack Effect
Heat from livestock warms the air which rises, to be replaced by fresh air coming in at a lower level through the eaves.
Maximising the Stack Effect
Roof Pitch between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3
Ridge Width 5cm for every 3m of building width
Inlet area 2 times to 4 times the outlet area
VaccinationVaccination Discuss options with your vet
Cover the most likely pathogens
Get immunity in place before the challenge
Vaccinate all in same air space - less disease & virus
Overwhelming challenge still leads to disease
Reduced immune response – purchased & stressed