Download November 2012 Newsletter - Carrick Veterinary Centre

CARRICKVETS.ie
November 2012
Carrick Veterinary Centre,
Unit 11, Stedfast Industrial estate, Carrickmacross,
Co. Monaghan.
Tel. 042 9663152/9661384.
HERD HEALTH +
Nutrition Talk
Pat O’Brien, a nutritionist from Co. Cork, is visiting us
shortly to do a presentation on reducing subclinical milk-fever,
negative energy before and after calving and mineral
deficiencies. To make it more real, Pat will do case studies on
problem herds he worked on. Problem herds could have an
outbreak of milk-fever, retained placentas and LDAs. Pat will
discuss the cost of metabolic diseases on farms.
Together we will describe how we
investigate, make suggestions and monitor
change. The talk will take place in Banty’s
board-room in the Fiddlers at 1.00pm on
November 15th.
Pat impressed me with his genuine interest in his field. He
drove from Cork and spent 6 hours with me working on a
problem herd before driving home to Cork. In 3 weeks there
have been steady improvements which are on-going. Take me at
my word this is an essential talk for any progressive dairy
farmer. All dairy farmers are welcome.
Charles Charvasse from Pfizer discussed viral pneumonia in
weanlings in Andy Boylan’s farm in Donaghmoyne. The talk discussed
managing weanlings prior to weaning, the cattle shed and factors
affecting immunity in weanlings.
Home reared weanlings should be vaccinated one month prior to
weaning. Give one shot of ‘IBR live’ vaccine in the muscle and one shot
of rispoval intranasal up the nose. This will cover approximately 85% of
virus pneumonia in weanlings. Bought in weanlings should get one shot
of ‘IBR live’ vaccine and one shot of rispoval intranasal, both vaccines
should be given up the nose. The weanlings should be wormed and kept
outside for a further 2-3 weeks.
The cattle shed was also discussed. Charles spoke of dropping to
his knees in the most remote part of the shed and checking for stuffiness
in the air. This is where the calf is breathing. High roof sheds are the best
particularly with a central vent along the whole apex of the shed. Heat
rises from the cattle below and passes through the vent at the top. This
produces the stack effect allowing air to be pulled in from inlets in both
sides of the shed. IBR virus particles are killed in 6-8 hours in fresh air
created by the stack effect. If the outlet and inlet vents are not big enough
IBR virus can linger in the shed for 30 hours.
Unnessecary moisture in the shed created by leaking pipes,
drinkers and absence of a rain shield above the vent helps IBR virus to
stay in the shed also. The moisture protects the IBR virus in the air. It is
also advisable not to mix different age groups of cattle in a common airspace. This is easier done in dairy cattle.
Air speed in a shed is also important. If it is too fast calves can get
cold and huddle. Hutches inside high roofed sheds can create warmer
micro-climates.
The BVD eradication program will be compulsorily in January
2013. This will have a very positive effect in the national herd in 1-2
years. BVD virus circulating in a shed full of cattle lowers their immunity
leading to more severe pneumonia outbreaks. Concurrent fluke and worm
burdens also lower cattle’s immune systems.
DOSING SOLUTIONS.
Thankfully common sense has prevailed and fasinex 240
has been passed for use in dairy cows. This allows dairy farmers
to use a product that will kill 90% of liver fluke at 2 weeks
housed. Last year ivermectin was also passed. Dairy farmers
should use both products at drying off. Zanil is used in dairy
cattle were rumen fluke is a problem. Rumen fluke is
particularly a problem were flooding of grazing fields has
occurred or if there is a river in the field. This allows a water
snail to live which is the intermittent host for rumen fluke.
Zanil is no longer available until December we have
limited stocks available. Beef farmers could use levafas
diamond instead of zanil until stocks of zanil return. It is
important to remember that levafas diamond is primarily a
treatment for rumen fluke. It also kills adult fluke. The levacide
component of the drug does not kill type 2 ostertagia so an
ivermectin based wormer should be used in addition as a final
housing dose.
This year I advise giving dairy cows at drying off one
shot of enovex, fasinex 240 and zanil. This will kill
lungworm, stomach worms, rumen fluke and 90% of all
stages of liver fluke. The cost to treat a 500kg cow with all
three products is €3.50. Tribex which is a generic of fasinex
is also in short supply. We have limited stocks of Tribex. The
5 liter size has run out nationwide and the 2.2 liter size is
rapidly running out.
There are a lot of fluke and worm doses out there and there
is a lot of confusion about what to use. Tribex an oral dose will
kill 90% of liver fluke from 2 weeks housed. Closamectin will
kill 90% of liver fluke from 6 weeks housed. Trodax will kill
90% of liver fluke from 7-8 weeks housed. Albex and endospec
10% will kill 90% of liver fluke from 10-12 weeks housed.
Ivomec super given at 10% extra kills late immature fluke also.
Cydectin is available to cattle as an injection or pour-on. It
works for 10 weeks against lungworm and stomach worms.
Cydectin pour on has been passed for dairy cows. It has a
4 day milk withdrawal. If it is given to a whole cattle shed it is
very effective against lice also.
We have great deals on all our dosing this year. We can
sell you closamectin 500ml injection for €75 or ₤48 with a valid
northern vat number. 500ml of ivomec super can be bought for
€175 or ₤115 with a valid northern vat number.
We are charging €100 per hour for scanning this year.
This is great value as where facilities are good, we can go
through a lot of cattle in a short time. It is no use feeding
empty cows with silage in poor supply. This equates to ₤70
per hour in the north with a valid northern vat number.
Drug prices have risen dramatically in the North due to the
change in currency also.
HOW DO I GET THE BEST VALUE
FROM CARRICK VETERINARY CENTRE.
We have the facility to charge different prices for drugs
based on whether you pay on the day, book it down or are in a
buying group. The best deals are available to all our customers.
They are the pay on the day prices. Alternatively the pay on the
day prices can be achieved if you sign up to a monthly standing
order. The amount of the monthly standing order is based on
your average annual veterinary bill. Once you sign up to a
standing order you are colour coded on the computer and get the
cash prices.
Credit prices are the poorest value.
Buying groups get intermediate value between cash and
credit prices. They have strict credit terms that should be
adhered to. Otherwise they will not get the deals.
Best prices are always given to all my customers who pay
on the day. They get a better price than buying groups who book
it down. Consequently buying groups get better value if they
pay on the day.