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westpoint veterinary group viewpoint ISSUE.3 ISSUE 3 IBR Disease The diagnosis, treatment and control Pages 12-13 BIOSECURITY WASTING WEANERS For smallholders and alpaca owners Pages 22-23 Page 20 BEEF EXPO 2015 Descending upon York Auction Centre in May Page 34 Science • Commitment • Results Practice Locations 1 Westpoint Horsham, West Sussex 2 Westpoint Ashford, Kent 3 Westpoint Chelmsford, Essex 4 Westpoint Midhurst, West Sussex 5 Westpoint Winchester, Hampshire 6 Westpoint Launceston, Cornwall 7 Westpoint RVC Potters Bar, Hertfordshire 8 Westpoint Okehampton, Devon 9 Westpoint St Columb, Cornwall 10 Westpoint Sevenoaks, Kent 11 Westpoint Ashbourne, Derbyshire 12 Westpoint Penrith, Cumbria 13 Westpoint Dumfries, Dumfries & Galloway 14 Westpoint Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire 15 Westpoint Reading, Berkshire 16 Westpoint Lavenham, Suffolk 17 Westpoint Camborne, Cornwall 18 Westpoint Heathfield, East Sussex 19 Westpoint Cullompton, Devon 20 Westpoint Daventry, Northamptonshire 21 Westpoint Wigton, Cumbria Lands end Contents 3 Foreword 17 Footrot in Sheep 27 The Future of Beef 4 Research is Key Biobest Laboratories 18 Looking at Lambing 28-29 The Island 19 CHeCS Schemes Watery Mouth Sheep Scab 30 Winter Footbathing 5 Footbathing Benefits 6-9 20 31 What is Johne’s Disease? Wasting Weaners Farm Support Team 10 21 32-33 Neosporosis in Cattle Vaccination Planning 11 22-23 34 BVD Free Biosecurity World Buiatrics Award Beef Expo 2015 12-13 What is IBR? 24 Coccidiosis in Poultry 35 Farm Assurance 14-15 Calf Pneumonia 25 Bovine TB 16 Leptospirosis 26 Clostridial Disease National Strengths • Local Service Welcome to the latest edition of Viewpoint! Now that 2014 has reached a close, our thoughts turn to a New Year and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for agriculture and animal health. The impacts of new policies in the early months of 2015 certainly promise to leave a lasting legacy on livestock farming in the UK! Early in 2015, the first applications will be made under the new Common Agricultural Policy. Under pillar 1, new payments to young farmers, greening and the three crop rule will have long term effects on farming businesses. As the government promotes an agenda of sustainable intensification, it will be more important than ever to ensure that preventative health programmes are adopted, keeping animals healthy no matter what size of herd or flock they are in. As part of this commitment to disease control, Westpoint is subsidising membership of Herdcare, the nationally recognised CHeCS accredited disease accreditation programme available through Biobest – ask your vet for more details. On the 7th May, the UK general election takes place. Whoever subsequently occupies 10 Downing Street, further budgetary cuts are inevitable and we are likely to see further pressure on animal health spending. As the financial support for APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) reduces, the Westpoint On the 1st January, the new Rural Development Programme for England launched. Key to animal health will be the support it offers for skills, training and innovation - translating research into practice. Westpoint have a long pedigree of turning research into knowledge and science into results. Our Research & Development team are working on a number of projects, such as research to develop predictive methods for parasite resistance - Westpoint vets believe in the early adoption of new technology, diagnostic techniques and medicines, as these often bring significant health and production benefits to the animals under our care. On 1st April, milk quota ends after 31 years of impact on the European milk market. With milk price already under pressure, spurred on by over production in New Zealand, the USA and Western Europe, it is unlikely that early 2014 prices will return soon. Indeed, following a great summer of forage production, we could see higher milk production this spring and further price pressure. With Irish farmers predicated to increase production by 50% over the next 5 years, price volatility may be a factor of the UK market for a number of years to come. One way to offset fluctuating milk prices is to invest in health, by eradicating/reducing the major infectious diseases, such as BVD and Johne’s disease, thereby reducing the impact of these diseases over the long term. A research programme in Scotland (where BVD control is compulsory), has estimated that an average BVD free dairy farm will be £15,800 better off each year! Investing in BVD eradication will pay dividends in pedigree and commercial suckler herds too! Matt Dobbs, Managing Director group of practices and lab are working hard to develop new services to replace those lost through government cuts. From field based post mortem services, efficient delivery of TB testing and cost effective lab testing, we are planning ahead to improve services, no matter what happens in Whitehall! Through all these changes, we are privileged at Westpoint to work with many of the most progressive farmers in the UK. As the gates of the New Year draw near – we look forward to caring for the health and welfare of all your animals through 2015 and beyond. Matt Dobbs BVM&S Cert CHP GDLaw MRCVS Managing Director Through our 4life programmes, we are always keen to communicate the benefits of health and lead the field in animal science. Our latest Health4life programme is focusing on controlling infectious diseases in cattle herds. www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 3 Research is a key part of what we do at Westpoint Research plays a central role in our work at Westpoint, and underpins our ethos of providing a science based, tested service to our clients. Our research team has over 40 years combined research experience, including the development of veterinary medicines and vaccines, the understanding of disease mechanisms and transmission, parasite control, reproductive biology, and a variety of other areas. During 2014 we have been involved in a variety of projects in cattle and pigs, and the arrival of Biobest Laboratories and Minster Veterinary Group to the Westpoint fold in the second half of the year opened research collaborations in the laboratory, poultry and equine sectors too. During the year our clinical research spanned a variety of areas. A key part of our research involves researching new and novel medicinal products in partnership with the pharmaceutical industry, projects which are conducted to the stringent “Good Clinical Practice (Veterinary)” (or GCPv for short) quality standard required by veterinary medicine regulatory agencies, and we have been busy with cattle, pig and poultry projects in this area. We are also heavily involved with collaborative research with leading academics and centres of excellence, looking to turn the information we harvest at farm level into knowledge that can drive best practice, and help us do a better job as an industry. In this area we have led a field project on wormer efficacy and methods to detect the emergence of resistance in collaboration with expert parasitologists, and we are working with the University of Strathclyde statisticians to analyse what will be one of the largest field parasitology investigations in cattle that the country has yet seen. We have also been active in mastitis diagnostic and economic research in collaboration with academic institutions, focused on a better understanding of disease impact, cost, and how to alleviate this impact. The research team has also partnered with our Westpoint Clinical Working Groups (working groups of our vets, focused on identifying and disseminating best practice approaches across our practices) in a variety of areas. Our research findings have been presented at national and international conferences in 2014, and we were particularly proud when an internal collaborative research project on bull fertility was presented at the prestigious World Buiatrics (the study of cattle and their diseases) Congress in Australia during the summer. The work involved the systematic analysis of 858 bull fertility tests conducted by Westpoint vets across the country, and revealed that bulls were more likely to become unfit for use as they get older, and that much of this infertility could only be detected by a semen analysis as part of a fertility examination. This demonstrates the importance of pre-breeding and pre-purchase bull fertility testing. We were particularly proud as the congress organising committee awarded the lead author Alex Walters the 2014 Young Research Scientist trophy for this work - the only clinical research award on offer. This is a testament to the way all involved worked together to turn local bull tests into robust, internationally recognised research findings which are directly relevant to the industry; truly a case of being “greater than the sum of the parts”, or maybe that’s “International Strengths, Local Service”. Ian Nanjiani, Head of Clinical Research Biobest Laboratories Join Westpoint Group Biobest is a veterinary laboratory based just outside Edinburgh. Unlike most private laboratories Biobest has always had a strong interest in farm animal diagnostic work, and this has been its biggest growth area in recent years as farmers work to improve herd health through their local vets and cattle health schemes such as HiHealth Herdcare. However we test samples from all species great and small (fish, parrots, cats, dogs, pigs, cattle and even the odd panda) and test samples from companion animals from all over the world. We have particular strength in cattle infectious disease testing, and this expertise together with the high throughput of samples from members of HiHealth Herdcare, allows us to offer certain tests and exceptionally good prices to health scheme members; while still providing full veterinary support and advice on how to use tests and their results. Expert advice allows farms to perform only the testing they actually need to do, for example we often 4 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 save farms money by advising them not to waste money on ear tag testing every calf for BVD when they do not have the disease in the first place. We joined the Westpoint family in August 2014 and are looking forward to providing a streamlined service to all Westpoint clients. We are strong believers in preventative care to avoid the losses caused by infectious disease in the UK herd and we are looking forward to working within the Westpoint group to provide this advice to all Westpoint clients. We are joining the fight against BVD and our long term goal is to work with every Westpoint Veterinary Group client to eradicate BVD from their herd; and if possible accredit them as BVD free in HiHealth Herdcare. We look forward to meeting Westpoint clients at the Health4life roadshows and hope that as many farms as possible will take advantage of the offer that Westpoint will provide a year’s free membership of HiHealth Herdcare. INDUSTRY CHeCS Schemes Cattle Health Certification Standards (UK), abbreviated to CHeCS, is the regulatory body for Cattle Health Schemes in the UK and Ireland. It is a non-trading organisation established by the British cattle industry for the control and eradication of non-statutory diseases by a set of standards to which all licensed Cattle Health Schemes must adhere. These standards ensure that herd health status in one scheme is equivalent to that in all other schemes in the UK and Ireland. Close collaboration by CHeCS with other countries ensures that licensed schemes in the UK and Ireland are as good as any in the world. Cattle Health Schemes provide programmes for the monitoring, control and ultimate eradication of disease. The schemes also provide certification when a herd meets the agreed national CHeCS cattle health standards. There are programmes for the five most important non-statutory diseases that are prevalent in both beef and dairy herds in the UK and Ireland: Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) Leptospirosis Johne’s disease Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) Neospora CHeCS is owned by the British Cattle Veterinary Association, the National Beef Association, Holstein UK and the National Cattle Association (Dairy). It received start-up funding from the Milk Development Council (DairyCo) and the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) provides administrative back-up. CHeCS principal objectives are:- To promote improvements in cattle health and welfare To provide standards and certification for Cattle Health Schemes To develop and maintain links with cattle farmers, breed societies, veterinary practitioners, laboratories, Government agencies and animal welfare organisations to promote the above objectives To ensure that CHeCS is operating to best practice and takes into account the latest available science, a technical group comprising representatives from the CHeCS licensed cattle health schemes plus a number of recognised international experts on the diseases of interest meet annually to review the documentation. Biobest is a member of CHeCS and their own HiHealth Herdcare cattle health scheme enables you to eliminate disease from your herd, whilst working within the CHeCS guidelines. This will reduce animal loss, increase productivity and increase the sale value of breeding animals, because they can be accredited as ‘disease free’. Westpoint fully endorse HiHealth Herdcare and to ensure clients benefit from this, every Westpoint client that attends an upcoming Health4life roadshow will receive a year’s free membership subscription paid for by Westpoint Veterinary Group. Look out for details of the roadshow soon! www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 5 What is Johne’s Disease? Johne’s Disease is a slowly progressing, chronic wasting disease affecting cattle (and other ruminants/ rabbits) which presents major economic and welfare problems for UK farmers. It is caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map), a bacteria which is very resilient and persists in the environment for a long time. It is most readily spread via infected faeces from shedding animals. Clinical signs? Once animals become infected they take a long time to show clinical signs (often years). The bacteria causes a thickening to the lining of the gut which reduces the animals ability to absorb nutrients and explains the range of clinical signs we see. Susceptibility to disease decreases with age, i.e. the younger the animal the more likely to become infected. 80% of infections occur within the first month of life, with youngstock being vulnerable up to 12 months old (where 10% of infections can occur). There is the potential for cow to cow spread; although this is much less common. Initially infected animals are asymptomatic and typically show no noticeable signs until at least ~2years post infection. No diagnostic test can detect the earliest stages of infection. Clinical signs may wax and wane but ultimately they persist and worsen. There is no cure for Johne’s Disease, and once animals enter the clinical phase of disease they usually deteriorate rapidly. As the disease progresses, more signs become apparent such as: Loss of production (10-20% drop in milk yield /poor fertility) Increased susceptibility to other disease Weight loss Scour Bottle jaw Ultimately emaciation and death 95% of cows that are infected show no obvious clinical signs and are sources of infection. It is for this reason that Johne’s Disease is often described using the analogy of “the Iceberg Effect”. The clinical cases are just “the tip of the iceberg”, and for every 1 animal showing clinical signs there will be another 7-10 animals in the asymptomatic phase of disease and shedding /spreading disease. Cost of Disease Johne’s Disease is of major economic importance and due to the cows lacking obvious clinical symptoms, this can go unnoticed. Examples of these costs are: Reduced milk production/increased susceptibility to other disease: A study in the US showed that Johne’s infected cows: Gave 4000kg less milk in their lifetime Were 5 x more likely to be lame Were 2 x more likely to develop mastitis/SCC problems Were 1.8 x more likely to develop digestive problems Premature culling – the major cost Reduced salvage value Lost opportunity for sales/export of genetics Beef cows target productive life of 9 years (Johne’s positive rarely achieve half of this) Beef bulls target productive life of 4 years (Johne’s positive rarely reach this) 6 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 The early costs of this disease are difficult to spot and may not be attributed to Johne’s, if ignored, costs increase and worsen with time as levels of the disease within the herd rise. DAIRY Early steps to assess whether disease is present in the herd and plan to keep it out or reduce its spread are therefore much better than waiting until clinical cases are seen. 3. TRANS PLACENTAL There is a risk that Johne’s can cross the placenta. This can occur in 20-40% of clinically affected cows and less frequently in asymptomatic cows. Transmission Although susceptibility to infections decreases with age, ability to shed and spread infection increases with age. Infected cattle shedding the bacteria are the main source of new infection. Infected animals may shed very little amounts of bacteria to start with, but as the disease progresses the amount of shedding (infectivity) increases. The actual onset of clinical disease/signs can vary greatly. Cows that are moving into the clinical phase of the disease are the animals that are the biggest source of infection shedding enormously high numbers of bacteria. Diagnosis The nearer the cow gets to clinical disease, the more reliable the tests are at picking up disease. In general tests are not reliable in animals under 2 years old. Animals may test negative initially and become positive later in life. Test results may fluctuate and even go negative again before finally remaining positive. There are 3 samples that can be used to test for Johne’s: There are 3 main ways infected cattle can spread disease: Milk antibody (e.g. 30 cow screens or all milking animals quarterly at recording for monitoring) 1. ADULT CATTLE FAECES: Bloods (e.g. 30 cow screens on animals showing signs, or with positive milk tests or as part of herd screens for accreditation) THE MAIN ROUTE OF TRANSMISSION! Calves become infected by ingesting the bacteria that is shed in the faeces of infected cattle. Anything that is contaminated by adult cattle faeces is the highest risk for Johne’s transmission such as environment, bedding, feed, water, dirt on cow’s teats, staff clothing, farm sheds, paddocks and slurry. Faeces for Map (e.g. usually on animals near the clinical phase and is costly and takes time) 2. COLOSTRUM FROM INFECTED ANIMALS We can test for antigen (the bacteria) or antibody (the bodies response to the bacteria). No tests are perfect, but used correctly in combination with an assessment of herd history they can be used effectively to monitor the presence of disease in the herd and help in control and eradication. Studies show 9% of clinically infected Johne’s cows shed the bacteria in their milk. Faecal contamination of colostrum may also be a problem. Diagram showing Iceberg effect Some infected cows are “super shedders” and release billions of bacteria into the environment acting as a huge source of infection. at or ie sA ge nc y Super shedders (Milk & Faeces) in ar yL ab or Production loss e: Ve t er “Normal” shedders (Most in faeces + Some in milk) nc Infect FEW animals Proportion of MAP shedding Infected (Potential future shedders) re Identify to avoid transmission { { Diarrhoea fe Infect MANY animals Re Identify and Cull Non-infected www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 7 Prevention & Control Although there is a vaccine against Johne’s, this is NOT usually recommended. At best our experience is that vaccination only reduces the number of clinical cases, without reducing herd infection levels. Vaccination may also interfere with TB testing and perhaps interfere with Johne’s diagnostic tests. The first step in any Johne’s programme is to assess whether infection is present in the herd. Your vet can advise on the best way to do this. If disease is not present then control should concentrate on keeping it out through strict attention to the Johne’s status of the herd of origin of added animals. Avoid spreading manure onto youngstock pasture Regular testing and identifying at risk animals and sampling clinical cases Signing up and following an eradication scheme programme Although a hard disease to eradicate (taking years) for reasons explained earlier, you can reduce levels over time. The most effective way to work towards getting on top of Johne’s is regular monitoring (e.g. whole herd annual bloods or quarterly milk sampling), identifying positive animals and putting a system in place to deal with these. This could involve culling affected individuals or identifying them to manage in separate groups. There is no “one strategy fits all” scenario, but testing and culling alone is not the answer, it must go hand in hand with management changes to limit the spread that is relevant to the farm system and level of infection. Efforts should be focused on stopping spread to replacement calves...... testing cows and killing cows alone will not be enough to block transmission to calves. Photo credit: NADIS Examples of points used in Johne’s Control programmes are basically focused on “keeping calving boxes clean to prevent the calves being exposed to infected faeces” and these include: Regularly monitoring herd (via testing) and calving any Johne’s positive cows in a separate calving box Identifying calves born to Johne’s positive cows for future management Not feeding colostrum from a Johne’s positive dam to any calf (use colostrum from “clean Johne’s negative testing dams”) Not pooling colostrum Snatch calving and not leaving calves to suckle Hygiene (e.g. cleaning teats prior to colostrum collection), footbaths, clean boots/equipment etc 8 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 Photo credit: NADIS Buying in animals? Testing animals before purchase cannot prove they are free of Johne’s but is better than nothing. Both blood and dung tests are performed Buying from a herd that is accredited as a ’Level 1 or level 2’ in a CHeCS health scheme such as HiHealth Herdcare is preferable to minimise the risk of introducing infection Westpoint recommend joining a CHeCS health scheme such as HiHealth Herdcare. Member herds gain access to discounted testing, additional expert advice and assistance in working towards reducing levels of infection or a formal CHeCS status for sale purposes. Talk to your vet if you have any questions or want further information on how to control Johne’s disease on your farm! Charlotte Pennington BVetMed MRCVS Remaining as a closed herd to avoid introduction of new infection is the best policy Johne’s Disease is a slowly progressing, chronic wasting disease affecting cattle www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 9 Neosporosis in cattle Neospora is a parasite that is currently the most frequently diagnosed cause of bovine abortion in the UK (Eblex/Moredun). Definitive Host How is it transmitted? Dogs are ‘definitive hosts’ acting as a factory for the parasite to reproduce. Infected dogs then shed infective ‘oocysts’ in their faeces into the environment. Infected meat Cattle are ‘intermediate hosts’ and become infected by consuming feed or water that is contaminated by oocysts. In the cattle there are two ways disease can be spread: Horizontal Transmission Canine faeces Intermediate Host 1. The cow can transmit infection to her foetus during pregnancy. This is the main route of spread. 2. The dogs can become re-infected if they consume raw meat or placental tissue from infected cattle. Vertical Transmission Clinical Signs Calves born from infected dams often display no obvious symptoms; occasionally they may be weak or have neurological deficits. In adult cattle the most obvious sign is abortion (3-8 months gestation). However there are other economic impacts in lost time and production. Aborted Calf It is worth noting that ‘persistently infected breeding dams’ will either consistently or intermittently pass the parasite across the placenta to their calves. Hence infected dams are 3-7 times more likely to abort in comparison to uninfected cattle. 95% of the calves born from positive dams are infected. Infected calves are ‘persistently infected for life’ and are also at risk of aborting. Diagnosis Submitting aborted foetus and placenta Blood sample from the dam to test for antibody Blood sampling the calf at less than 1 week old Treatment There is currently no vaccine or recognised licensed treatment for cattle. Placenta Control Congenitally Infected Calf Reducing contamination of feedstuffs/grazing area etc by canine faeces and encouraging dog owners to clean up after their dog if grazing land has public walkways. Also the use of fences to prevent dogs getting access to fodder producing or grazing land Dead stock and post calving fluids /placenta should be disposed of rapidly in a manner that prevents the farm dogs potentially ingesting any of it Herds with endemic neosporosis abortions may consider not retaining heifer calves born to seropositive cows, so reducing the number of congenitally infected replacement heifers that enter the breeding herd. In dairy cows seropositive dams can be bred to beef semen For seropositive cows with valuable genetics, the use of embryo transfer to Neospora-seronegative surrogates, a technique that blocks endogenous transmission, can be considered References: 1. Merck Veterinary Manual 2. Cuteri. V et al . Application of a new therapeutic protocol against Neospora caninum-induced abortion in cattle: a field study.Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 2005. 3. http://www.moredun.org.uk/research/research-@-moredun/reproductivediseases/neospora 4. Illustration from Dubey JP: Neosporosis in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 21:473-483, 2005 10 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 Dam infected with BVD in first trimester of pregnancy Cow and calf both infected Cow becomes immune Calf born persistantly infected (PI) Figure 1. The transmission of BVD from dam to calf in the first trimester of pregnancy. BVD Free Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is a disease caused by a virus, and it is widespread within the UK cattle population. The disease can cause immunosuppression, poor reproductive performance, abortions and the birth of deformed calves. Therefore, it is essential that the disease status of the herd is known and monitored to offset the economic impact of the disease. Then subsequently appropriate biosecurity measures to control and prevent the disease can be applied that are specific to the farm and the herd’s BVD infection status. What is the impact of the disease on the herd? Infected herds often underperform in many aspects of the dairy production cycle. Poor pregnancy rates can result from early embryonic death and an increased number of abortions that together extend the calving interval. It also leads to an increased age at first calving for heifers that have had poor growth rates due to cases of pneumonia and/or diarrhoea. This is due to the immunosuppressive effects of the virus that have made them more susceptible to these diseases. How is the disease spread? The disease process itself is complex and has differing outcomes which depend upon infection timing and the different groups of susceptible animals it affects. If the dam becomes infected during the first trimester of pregnancy a calf may be born persistently infected (PI) with the BVD virus (figure 1 - above). This will result in the calf shedding the BVD virus for its lifetime. These PI animals can live to adulthood. They will remain a constant source of BVD virus infection within a herd until they are identified and culled to prevent the spread of disease in the herd. The subsequent poor health status and reduction in growth rates from an active infection as a result of a PI animal will have a detrimental effect on the profitability of your herd. If the dam becomes infected during the first trimester of pregnancy a PI calf may be born Alarmingly, it is estimated to cost the UK livestock industry £40 million each year. Unsurprisingly the introduction of this disease to a naive herd, via bought-in, borrowed animals or during visits to shows; can be catastrophic due to milk drop, diarrhoea in adults, abortion, poor fertility and affected youngstock. Therefore, it is vital that we know the disease status of our herds and of purchased replacement cattle to prevent buying in infectious animals. Work with your vet to understand and control the disease on your farm Initial assessment of the herd’s BVD status can simply be done by a so called “Check” test on separately managed youngstock groups (5 animals per group of 9-18 months old) and the testing of a bulk milk sample for both BVD antibody and virus. After veterinary interpretation of the results of these tests the BVD status of the herd can be defined. The assessment is based on whether there is evidence of exposure to BVD infection, BVD vaccination or whether a PI animal has been found. If a PI animal is identified the best option is to perform further testing. Your veterinary surgeon will identify the animal(s) and cull them from the herd to remove the source of infection. Continuous PI monitoring of calves born can be done using a ‘Tag and Test’ service. Farm staff can place the tag and collect an ear notch sample of tissue. These samples are then sent to the lab to check for the presence of BVD virus. Testing will pinpoint the PI animals that will need to be culled and allow us to trace their dam so that her PI status maybe checked too as part of effective disease control. As you can see, monitoring of the herd status is an essential part of disease surveillance, control and ultimately eradication. Discussing the assessment and control of BVD in your herd with your veterinary surgeon is certainly a worthwhile investment. Lucy Bright BVM BVS MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 11 What is IBR? IBR is a highly contagious disease caused by a bovine herpes virus – BHV-1. It is endemic in the UK and in many parts of the world, but some countries are free from the disease and there are moves in other EU countries to eradicate it. As well as causing clinical disease, IBR causes huge economic losses to farmers. Infection with IBR creates significant problems when exporting live cattle to other regions or countries within Europe which have already eradicated the disease. It can also prevent high genetic value genomic breeding bulls from being used for semen. How is IBR spread? The disease is spread via respiratory secretions from infected animals, both aerosol (i.e. droplets spreading in the air) and contact (animals nose to nose), but can also be spread in semen from infected bulls or via mating. Clinical Signs There are several “syndromes” of the disease caused by BHV-1 which lead to a range of respiratory and reproductive symptoms: Some bulls lose their libido and find erection and ejaculation painful 12 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 1. Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR – mainly respiratory signs) Clinical signs include high temperatures, loss of appetite, nasal discharge (clear to start with but then turning pus-like), ulcerative blisters on the nose/ mouth, conjunctivitis (red inflamed eyes), a drop in milk production, poor fertility and abortion. 2. Infectious pustular vulvovaginitis (IPV reproductive) Swelling of the vagina/vulva, with lesions in the reproductive tract (which usually heal in a couple of weeks), in some animals a pus-like discharge may persist. 3. Infectious pustular balanoposthitis (IPB reproductive) The sheath (prepuce) may be swollen and pus-like discharge may be seen. Often lesions are only obvious on extrusion of the penis. Some bulls lose their libido and find erection and ejaculation painful. BEEF The respiratory form is the most common presentation in fattening units and young stock. The virus infection alone is not life-threatening but predisposes the animal to developing secondary bacterial pneumonia, which may result in severe illness and death. In breeding, animals abortion or reproductive problems e.g. the failure to conceive or genital infections, may be the first signs of herd infections. However, respiratory disease may also be noted. Once an animal has become infected, it remains infected for life. The virus survives as a “latent infection” meaning it can be shed at any time when the animal is stressed e.g. when calving or when being transported, thus providing a source of infection to susceptible animals. Diagnosis Diagnosis can be made from clinically suggestive signs in combination with the following: Blood sampling Nasal swabs to detect the virus (in the early stages of disease) Submitting an aborted foetus and placenta to the lab for virus isolation Post mortem examination of any dead animals NB: It is worth remembering that semen from on farm collection can be a route of transmission. It is possible to test the semen for IBR via a PCR test before it is used to ensure there is no introduction of disease via this route. Treatment Once an animal is infected, it remains infected for life and there is no specific treatment Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories can be used to help with the secondary bacterial infections e.g. pneumonia, that can develop plus any other useful supportive treatments that may help Vaccination in the face of an outbreak can help limit the severity of the outbreak. However, the health status and future plans of the herd need to be considered before this is carried out e.g. the impact on selling breeding bulls etc References: www.biobest.co.uk www.checks.co.uk www.nadis.org.uk Control Accreditation There are many accreditation schemes around that you can sign up to in order to achieve “IBR free accreditation” e.g. BioBest HiHealth Herd Scheme or CHeCS. Being an IBR free accredited beef herd has many advantages. These include gaining higher prices for any cattle sold for breeding and being more flexible with any potential bulls that may have semen collected or sold. In the event of an infected animal being found in an IBR accredited free herd, it is best to communicate with your vet. You will need to follow the specific guidelines for the scheme that you are involved with for further testing and intervention in order to maintain accreditation status. Vaccination There are several effective vaccines on the market; discuss with your vet if vaccination is necessary and which product to use. The main problem with most vaccines is that they produce antibodies which cannot be distinguished from those caused by natural infection. Thus, vaccinated cattle cannot be separated from latently infected cattle. There are marker vaccines which get around this problem which are helpful in control programmes. Vaccination will reduce virus shedding and limit the severity of disease. This will help to prevent disease and losses but it will not eliminate the virus. It is worth noting that no IBR positive bull (vaccinated or wild virus) can be sold or have semen sold to AI companies within the EU. So think carefully before vaccinating any potential breeding bull that may be used for such a purpose. Biosecurity There are several measures that can be taken to increase the biosecurity of your farm: Quarantine facilities should be provided for any new animals or those returning from shows IBR status/vaccine status should be considered prior to purchase 3m fencing should be erected between neighbouring animals to prevent nose to nose contact Be aware that cattle are the main source of the virus. The most common source of infection is buying in or bringing in infected cattle that have recovered from disease, as these cattle still have the virus in their body (they are ‘latently’ infected) Charlotte Pennington BVet Med MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 13 Every Cough Counts Bovine respiratory disease (BRD or pneumonia) will be no stranger to most beef producers. But have you ever thought how much each case could be costing you? Recent estimates suggest that BRD is costing the UK beef industry in excess of £50 million a year. Assessing the cost of each individual case is very difficult as a large proportion of the costs of pneumonia are hidden. The direct cost of dead animals, their disposal, medicines, extra labour and veterinary input are easy to quantify. But producers often forget about the impact on live weight gain, feed conversion efficiency and the long term cost of irreversible lung damage. Within Westpoint we use a tool called the Pneumonia Cost Calculator which can help to estimate the individual costs on your farm. However, broadly speaking, when all of these factors are put into the equation we are looking at £30-£100 per case, rising to over £500 if an animal dies. Prevention therefore makes perfect economic sense. Unfortunately, the prevention of BRD is no easy feat as there are multiple contributing factors. Generally disease develops when there is an imbalance between environmental factors, animal factors and a whole host of infectious agents including viruses (PI3, RSV, BVD and IBR), bacteria (Pasteurella and Haemophilus), and Mycoplasmas. Figures suggest approximately 90% of UK herds already carry at least one of the respiratory viruses. Thus we must look at ways in which we can improve our management of susceptible animals, particularly youngstock, and minimise their exposure to risk factors. A strong immune system is essential for protecting animals from BRD. Ultimately, calf health relies on the provision of adequate, good quality colostrum as soon after birth as possible. This is much easier to control on dairy farms but what can be done with suckler herds? It is important to ensure cows are in good health and body condition prior to calving and all calves should be monitored closely to ensure they are suckling correctly and for long enough. It is also quick and easy to check colostrum quality with a colostrometer; this also helps identify any cows which may have colostrum suitable for storage. If you have concerns about colostrum provision, blood sampling a small group of newborn calves at 24 hours to 7 days old can check immunity levels. As the calves grow, attention to on-going nutrition and parasite control is equally important to maximise immunity levels and growth rates. Procedures such as weaning, castration, disbudding, TB testing, housing and transport are inevitably stressful and these will adversely affect an animal’s immune system and increase its susceptibility to BRD. Care must be taken to make these procedures as stress-free as possible with quiet handling and consideration of timing. Environmental conditions have a huge role to play in the susceptibility to and transmission of BRD. The negative effects of dust, excessive moisture, inadequate ventilation, crowding and mixing of groups can all result in an animal which is apparently healthy one day, being extremely ill or dead the next. The first positive step must be to identify which aspects of your system, be it housing or management, are at fault. In combination with your vet, an environmental assessment can be made to highlight areas requiring attention. Following this we would advise a cost-benefit approach; to build a new shed would be lovely but vast improvements can often be made easily. For example, opening up an air outlet in the roof or fixing a leaky water trough shouldn’t break the bank. GOOD IMMUNITY Fig 1. Factors that can contribute to poor immunity and increase the risk of BRD DEHORNING CASTRATION ABRUPT WEANING VIRAL & BACTERIAL CHALLENGE HOUSING & DIET CHANGE POOR IMMUNITY - PNEUMONIA Animal Health Ireland 14 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 If some of your animals do succumb to disease with symptoms such as coughing, nasal discharge, depression and being off their feed, it is vital to seek veterinary advice early. A prompt examination and accurate diagnosis of the causative infectious agents (not forgetting lungworm) is essential. This will help to tailor medicinal treatment and preventative vaccination programs if required. Additional testing of blood samples, nasal swabs or dung may be required especially throughout the winter. Subsidised schemes are often available so be sure to discuss this with your vet. performance and your profitability. Depending on circumstances we may also advise treatment of in contact animals to minimise the risk of the group contracting disease. This often results in reduced overall usage of medicines and minimises the impact on the group’s performance. Early treatment is essential to minimise permanent lung damage which will have disastrous effects on the animal’s Julie Elkins BSc (Hons) BVM&S MRCVS So with the current state of the UK beef price, can you afford to have coughing calves this winter? There is no better time to consider protecting the uninfected and start preventing BRD in your herd by discussing your herd’s health plan with your vet. Don’t stall, every cough counts. Environmental conditions have a huge role to play in the susceptibility to and transmission of BRD www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 15 Leptospirosis: Do you know your herd’s status? Leptospirosis (Lepto) is an infectious disease of economic importance in the beef industry due to its detrimental effects on the health and productivity of the herd. Furthermore it is a zoonotic disease that has the potential to cause disease in humans, as well as various other species of animal. It is caused by bacteria of the Leptospira species, of which there are several subtypes, Leptospira Hardjo being the most common in the UK (and will therefore be the focus of this article). In the face of an outbreak, it is important to establish which serotype you’re dealing with, as cattle are the maintenance host of L. Hardjo, so once infected will maintain the disease in the herd. For other serotypes, cattle act as an accidental host, and so disease can be eradicated once the infecting hosts are removed and infected animals treated. After contracting Lepto, bacteria colonise the kidneys and reproductive tract of the host and are excreted in the urine, semen, milk and afterbirth of infected individuals. Transmission can occur across species, and as such the major risk factors for introduction of Lepto into a naive herd are: Purchase of infected cattle Co-grazing with infected cattle or sheep Purchase or loan of infected bulls Access to contaminated watercourses Grazing downstream from sheep or an infected herd Often the most severe impact from an economic stand point is through abortion and infertility Whilst Lepto can cause clinical disease in both calves and adult animals, often the most severe impact from an economic stand point is through abortion and infertility. Depending on the stage of pregnancy at the time of infection, Lepto may result in early embryonic death and reabsorption (in early pregnancy), abortion (mid-late pregnancy) or the production of stillborn or weak calves (late pregnancy). Therefore it may be that the presence of chronic Lepto in a herd only presents as poor fertility and an increase in calving intervals, where it can go undiagnosed despite its significant economical impact. Diagnosis of Lepto in the face of an outbreak/abortion is relatively easy. It is possible to isolate from the foetus or abortion material. Diagnosis can also be made by testing foetal blood for antibodies. Alternatively blood testing the dam at the time of abortion, along with several others in the same group will provide a diagnostic conclusion. In order to establish the status of an unvaccinated herd, youngstock bleeds should be carried out – 5 animals between 9 and 18 months of age in each individually managed group. This should provide a good indicator of the presence or absence of Lepto on the farm, and provide a starting point for the move towards eradication and control. Treatment of infected animals can be carried out using antibiotic therapy in order to prevent the progression of disease and to limit spread within the herd. Vaccination alone will not treat established disease, but can be combined in the face of an outbreak in order to prevent infection of healthy animals. Once infection has been treated, or in the case of naive herds, preventative control measures should be observed to try and restrict introduction of disease into a herd, including: Eliminating access of cattle to surface water or streams used by other livestock Vermin control, especially with regards to access to water troughs and feed storage bins Reducing contact between cattle and other livestock and wildlife as much as possible Cleaning, disinfecting, and drying barns, pens, and other confinement areas after use by infected cattle Vaccinating susceptible animals Prophylactic antibiotic treatment of bought in animals of unknown Lepto history whilst in quarantine In summary, investigation into the Lepto status of your beef herd is well worthwhile from an economic standpoint. Herds that are accredited free should take all precautions in order to avoid introduction of the disease into their herd, and herds with endemic Lepto would be advised to vaccinate all susceptible animals. For more information on investigating and eradicating Lepto in your herd, speak to your vet. Connor Sheedy BVSc MRCVS 16 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 SHEEP Photo credit: NADIS Footrot Not all lame sheep have footrot Footrot is a well documented disease of sheep but only recently we have been lucky enough to have further research covering prevention as well as a tried and tested regime to stop the spread of this problem disease. Unfortunately farmers sometimes excuse a hobbling sheep and other “priority” jobs prevent animals being quickly identified which leads to further spread. Imagine a sheep with footrot having red paint on her hoof, every step she takes puts another blob of footrot “paint” onto the pasture. A sheep will walk around a field looking for food, water or her lambs and left unchecked, she could spread the bacteria very quickly over 24hr period. Daily checks should include catching and turning any lame ewe even if she is only a score 1 lame (lameness is scored 0-5; 0 being sound, 5 being on 3 legs or immobile). Lesion identification is important as not all lame sheep have footrot. Knowing what to look for and what treatment will work is necessary (see table). Although trimming was historically thought to allow air to the footrot bugs, we now know the bacteria are too deep in the foot tissue for this to be successful. Trimming can delay healing and increase lameness, spreading the bacteria on knives and causing hoof deformities. If you do not have a footrot issue, it is easy to bring it into a flock without proper quarantine procedures. When buying in sheep, a quarantine field or shed should be used for at least 4 weeks monitoring and treatment of lame animals. It must be left empty for a minimum of 14 days following use to allow the bacteria to die. Disease Treatment course Scald/Strip/interdigital dermatitis – red, swollen, inflamed in between hooves Lambs - spray lesion with oxytetracycline spray and monitor Ewes/rams – inject with long acting oxytetracycline Footrot – infection starts in between hooves, smelly, grey and very painful Inject animal with long acting oxytetracycline and spray lesion Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD) – starts at coronary band Inject with amoxicillin and contact vet for further advice Strawberry footrot - caused by over trimming Spray with oxytetracycline and bandage, give anti-inflammatory and only use injectable antibiotic if infected White line disease - split between hoof wall at sole, not infectious cause If lame, trim lose hoof and spray with oxytetracycline Those less fortunate with an on-going problem may use vaccination as an adjunct to early treatment. A vaccine against the 19 strains of the bug that causes footrot is currently available. This can be given 6 monthly or yearly depending on how prevalent the disease is and when the high risk periods are. As well as medicinal involvement, some sheep are more resilient and there is documented evidence that they can have natural immunity to footrot. Ideally these animals should be bred from to increase that population. Conversely sheep that have footrot 3 times or more should be culled from the flock and their offspring not kept for replacement. Footrot can be eliminated and lameness reduced significantly with proactive work and appropriate management. If you have further questions or would like to find out about a preventative flock health plan please call your local practice to speak to a vet. Becky Adamczyk BVetMed MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 17 Looking At Lambing It’s come round quickly, but lambing 2015 is now upon some of us. Those who have been unlucky enough to experience it will know that once an abortion outbreak is underway, salvage efforts are sometimes a case of closing the door after the horse has bolted. Hopefully 2015 will be a smooth and successful season for you, but if it goes wrong there are some things to consider to ensure a better season for 2016. The economic loss from abortions in a sheep flock can be hard to quantify, but is often quoted as being double the abortion rate as a percentage of the gross margin. For example, a flock with an abortion rate of 10% would have a reduction in gross margin of 20% (SRUC, 2011). Abortion can occur due to a number of infectious and non-infectious causes, and when abortions affect more than 2% of the flock the cause should be investigated. Vets will consider the following possibilities when helping you investigate an outbreak: Infectious causes Enzootic Abortion g vaccination is possible, potential for transmission to humans Toxoplasmosis g vaccination is possible, potential for transmission to humans Campylobacter g potential for transmission to humans Border Disease Q Fever g potential for transmission to humans Salmonella g potential for transmission to humans Other infections including Listeria, Leptospirosis, E.coli, Tickborne Fever, Neospora and Brucellosis Non-infectious causes These usually result in abortion or weak, non-viable lambs by causing metabolic stress in the ewe and poor development of the foetus Pregnancy Toxaemia (Twin Lamb) Hypocalcaemia Hypomagnesaemia (Staggers) Copper deficiency Selenium deficiency In general, the best thing to do if you suspect an abortion problem is starting, is bag some aborted foetuses and placentas as fresh as possible and ring the vet to discuss further action. Keep each foetus and placenta set separate from the others. This means your vet can collect and send the relevant samples for testing, or submit the entire bag if required. Preventative Measures 1. Isolate aborting ewes from those that haven’t lambed yet, if possible, and clean out pens which have held aborting ewes; disinfect them and remove all of the products of abortion. 2. Treat sick ewes according to advice from your vet, and mark all ewes affected. 3. Avoid fostering on lambs to the aborted ewes, due to the risk of enzootic abortion. 4. Protect yourself from the zoonotic causes by wearing gloves and washing hands regularly. Never allow pregnant women to come into contact with the sheep, even with clothing worn by people around the animals. Cecilia Corbett BVet Med MRCVS (Hons) Isolate aborting ewes from those that haven’t lambed yet 18 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 Watery Mouth Watery Mouth is a common problem seen during the lambing season. The incidence can vary greatly, but if not kept under control an outbreak can result in high lamb mortality. What exactly is Watery Mouth? E. coli is the main pathogen involved. These bacteria thrive in a warm, moist environment in the presence of organic material such as faeces or cleansing. Neonatal lambs can easily become infected if they are born in a heavily contaminated pen. Lambs may appear lethargic, continuously lie down, refuse to suckle and may not pass their meconium (first faeces) due to decreased motility of the intestines. Other symptoms may be a wet muzzle because of excess salivation, a distended belly giving the appearance of a well fed lamb and scours may be present. Lambs may eventually go into a coma and may die if left untreated. How to avoid and control an outbreak of Watery Mouth? Hygiene is the main factor in controlling Watery Mouth. Pens should be dry, clean and disinfected at the start of lambing and this should be maintained all through the season. Remove faeces and cleansing where possible and clip areas of wool stained with faeces before the ewes are moved into the lambing pens. Due to the build up of bacteria in the environment, Watery Mouth is most often seen later on during the lambing season. The quantity and quality of colostrum given to lambs shortly after birth will drastically affect their chances of survival when exposed to pathogens such as E. coli. Twins and triplets, sharing colostrum from one ewe, are more likely to be affected. Similarly, ewes with a low body condition score and/ or inadequate colostrum are more prone to losing their lambs to Watery Mouth. In the case of an outbreak, consult your veterinarian on how best to tackle the problem. Lambs with severe symptoms may require injectable antibiotics and should receive electrolytes multiple times a day to avoid dehydration. Constipated lambs with heavily distended bellies may require an enema to relieve them of their discomfort. Lisette Smeele MRCVS Sheep scab – correct diagnosis and quarantine importance Sheep scab has been a recognised problem in the UK since the Tudor monarchy (Henry VIII). Its prevalence since then increased so much that the UK’s government had to implement different strategies in order to try to stop it. One of the most effective strategies appeared soon after WWII, when organo-chlorines based products were introduced. These miracle products had a tremendous effect on sheep scab prevalence, turning the UK into a sheep scab free country for more than 20 years. However, this idyllic scenery ended around the mid 1970s when the first sheep scab case in 20 years was recorded, due to infested imported sheep which possibly weren’t quarantined correctly. Unfortunately nowadays, sheep scab is a common condition with major welfare and economic implications. This easily made mistake emphasises the importance of quarantining when bringing any new animal into your land/flock, even those animals that you share with other farmers. Quarantine will not only prevent sheep scab from entering your farm, but will also help you to avoid all the devastating effects of sheep scab spreading through your flock. Infestations can be very serious and uncomfortable; causing uncontrollable itching that can lead to secondary infections due to biting, scratching or rubbing against fence posts. This itching is due to an allergic dermatitis caused by the faeces of the sheep scab mite (Psoroptes ovis). The wool in the infested areas becomes loose and sheds quite easily and the inflamed areas can be open, very red and may bleed. Other undesirable effects of sheep scab will include weight loss, reduced lamb’s growth rate and cause damage to wool. This mite is only viable outside its host for 15 days, although it can live up to 3 weeks under optimum conditions, such as high humidity and cool temperature. Being a more winter prevalent disease due to the optimum conditions for mites’ development, sheep scab can spread quite easily through your flock at housing and with the initial form of sheep scab being so similar to a lice infestation, a correct diagnosis is essential. Transmission usually happens from direct contact with the mite: infested sheep, market, lorries, fence posts, contaminated shearing cutters, or people carrying mites on contaminated clothing. Correct diagnosis can be made through looking at a flock’s history, clinical signs and more adequately, skin scrapes taken by your vet and seen under the microscope (Fig1). Other diseases that you might need to consider are scrapie (animals above 2 years of age), keds or ringworm (usually there is no itching). Fig 1 – Psorotes ovis under the microscope (middle) Marcocyclic lactones (clear dewormers), such as ivermectin, doramectin or moxidectin are used most frequently for sheep scab control and treatment. Plunge dipping can be a very effective way to control and treat sheep scab (make sure that sheep are immersed in the dipping fluid for at least 1 minute). Treated sheep should not return to the same pasture or pen. Please ask your vet to advise you what would be the best option to use on your farm. Andre Baptista MVetMed MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 19 Wasting Weaners! Some pig farms are still wasting weaner pigs... through wasting disease! The loss of these growers becomes accepted as a regrettable but unrectifiable norm on some units. However more often than not, it is not simply “one of those things” or just bad luck, and the cause can be identified and strategies for prevention put in place. A number of different vaccines are now available including both a piglet and a sow vaccine. Different circumstances call for different tactics, and this should be discussed on an individual basis. Speak to your local Westpoint vet today. Ian Roper BVetMed MRCVS Even when a seemingly small number are affected, this should be discussed with your vet. Visible wasting disease is likely to be the tip of the iceberg, with the growth and performance of many other pigs affected too. True wasting syndrome is usually apparent with endemic Porcine Circovirus (PCv), and additional infections such as PRRS virus combining to give the notable effect. When there are no further infections PCv still remains a problem causing a reduction in weight gain and generalised immunosuppression. This subclinical syndrome has become more common than the classic wasting picture. So there are often few outward signs of disease and often it is not considered as a production issue. It can really be difficult to notice that the pigs are not achieving full potential. Even an experienced eye cannot substitute for regular weigh-ins, cross-referenced with target values. PCv is an exceptionally common virus, with around 80% of commercial herds in the UK regularly vaccinating. It has also been implicated in respiratory disease and the kidney and skin condition PDNS. Because of the range of clinical and sub-clinical syndromes, they are now known collectively as Porcine Circovirus Disease (PCvD). Overall, farms investing in Circovirus vaccine have seen reductions in post-weaning mortality of approximately 50% and improvements in weaning-slaughter growth rates of 50g/d. Depending on time spent on unit and current prices, that might be worth between £5-10 per pig in improved weight gain alone, and would vastly outweigh the costs of vaccination. Diagnosis of wasting is best achieved by post-mortem, but blood testing can be used to confirm exposure to PCv, and discussion of other options may also be worthwhile. 20 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 PCv is an exceptionally common virus, with around 80% of commercial herds in the UK regularly vaccinating PIGS Vaccination Planning In recent times, the porcine pharmaceutical industry have proved their worth, making available a multitude of effective vaccinations against a wide range of diseases, including new and emerging threats. Though there are challenges when considering implementing effective vaccine regimes. Each product has guidance as to which pigs should be jabbed, usually advising that other products should not be administered simultaneously. When we have a number of different products, how do we know what is the best protocol? First, we need to understand the implications of going outside the guidance. How is it that some products cover against multiple pathogens (what we call multivalent vaccines), and some are advised only in isolation? We must consider the possibility that when the pig’s immune system is asked to develop immunity to multiple agents, the response to each may be sub-optimal. In some cases the adjuvants, included to stimulate the immune system, need to be fairly aggressive, and if combined could be a bit too much. However, this does not mean that a pig in good health cannot handle more than one vaccination, but when the combination is untested, we should be wary of making assumptions about the protection afforded. It is sometimes a question of weighing up these risks, and the risk of not getting the cover into them in time, or at all! Not all vaccines work in the same way, so some combinations may be more problematic than others, but this conversation must be had with your vet. In fact some products exist where combining with another product from the same manufacturer has been tested and licensed. This means they have undergone safety and efficacy testing, to prove they are effective under this regime. The vet can also advise on where suitable multivalent vaccines exist, which might enable one product to aid in the control of more than one disease. Other ways round it might include vaccinating the sows to protect the piglets via colostrum (in some cases where advised), or conversely vaccinating piglets directly. Sometimes products appear which can be given as a single jab, rather than a two dose start up. It is sensible to discuss with your vet creating a written protocol, to include all vaccinations, as an aide memoir to ensure the right vaccines are administered to the right pigs at the right time. With this in place it also becomes easier to amend, when products come off, or onto the market. Vaccinations exist against a range of diseases including: PCv; PRRS; Influenza; Enzootic pneumonia; Illeitis; Clostridia; E coli; Erysipelas; Parvovirus; and Glasser’s disease. So if you don’t know your herd to be clear of all these - vaccination may be appropriate and discussion with your vet needed. Routine diagnostic testing can be valuable in determining which agents are currently involved. Creating a herd health plan together may be a good place to start, as healthy animals are likely to respond better to vaccinations too, so everything else needs to be right. Ian Roper BVetMed MRCVS Not all vaccines work in the same way, some combinations may be more problematic than others, but this conversation must be had with your vet www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 21 Biosecurity for Smallholders and Alpaca Owners When you’re thinking about biosecurity it’s best to start on the right hoof, claw or trotter! Purchasing Animals If you are intending to purchase animals, ensure that you buy from herds that are accredited free of disease. Selecting animals that are in good condition, have no history of disease and that will suit your needs is an excellent place to start. Table showing pre-purchase disease testing Animal Accredited Free/Low risk from Sheep and Goats MV (Maedi Visna) EAE (Enzootic Abortion of Ewes) Scrapie CLA (Caeseous Lymphadentitis) Cattle IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis) Leptospirosis BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea) Johne’s TB Neospora Alpaca Johne’s TB Make sure that documentation can be provided. Accreditation schemes or vets will be happy to provide certificates to show that animals have been tested and are free of disease. If you are purchasing young animals, ask for health certificates from the dam (mother) +/- the sire (father). Quarantine - what’s the point? The purpose of quarantine is to protect your current stock from the potential importation of new disease, and also to protect new animals from endemic disease within your herds or flocks. It is advisable to: Quarantine for 4 weeks Isolate animals inside on a (straw) bedded concrete floor in a separate air space Look for any signs of skin disease, lameness problems, respiratory disease, diarrhoea or other abnormalities and discuss these issues with your vet Administer any vaccinations necessary for entry into your flock or herd 22 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 Treat for worms, external parasites and if necessary for fluke. You can ask your vet for advice on which products to use Turn out onto dirty grazing (pasture that has recently been used by your own stock) SMALLHOLDERS If you are intending to purchase animals, ensure that you buy from herds that are accredited free of disease Health Planning There are some basic guidelines that should be followed when making a health plan for your farm: It is good practice to ask your vet to compose a health plan that is tailored to your stock. This should include details about routine vaccinations, worming and FEC (Faecal egg counting), protocols to reduce worm resistance on your land and a cleaning and disinfection plan During lambing, calving, kidding and unpacking ensure that pens are disinfected with an approved product between periods of use and that all cleansing materials or afterbirth are disposed of promptly Do not allow cats and dogs to eat products of abortion or parturition (birth) as this can spread diseases such as Toxoplasmosis in sheep and goats or Neospora in cattle Notify your vet if any abortions take place within your stock. It is a legal requirement to notify DEFRA of cattle abortions (defined as <270 days) as stated by the Zoonoses Order 1989 Dispose of fallen stock promptly, through the legal routes i.e. a knackerman. If there is a delay in collection, store the carcass in a sealed container or bag Ensure that fencing is well maintained. There is nothing worse than maintaining an excellent group of animals that is free from disease when the neighbour’s bull manages to invite himself round for tea! Ensure that vermin and birds are kept away from feed stores and housed areas. They are a source of disease and contamination If your stock is handled by guests, visitors or the public, they should be made aware of the risk of zoonotic disease such as Orf, Ringworm, Salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter. They should also wear appropriate clothing followed by full disinfection. Disinfection of boots and hands beforehand is also recommended, to protect your stock from any diseases they might be carrying Ask your vet to sit down with you to write a comprehensive health plan which incorporates these points. This can be a useful document to refer to in future and an excellent opportunity to raise any queries that you might have. Jessica Swiestowska MA VetMB MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 23 Coccidiosis in Poultry Where birds are present, be it backyard poultry, game birds or wild birds, coccidia are almost universally present and therefore something that we should be aware of. This widespread distribution makes them difficult to eradicate and so monitoring and rapid treatment is vital to prevent widespread losses. Coccidia are host specific and the main species that affect chickens are Eimeria necatrix and Eimeria tenella. Birds are infected by ingestion of relatively large numbers of oocysts. Oocysts are shed in the faeces from clinically infected and recovered birds and contaminate the environment. However, they may also be transmitted by other routes for such as on equipment, clothing and other animals. Oocysts take 1-2 days with a warm temperature, adequate moisture and oxygen to become infective and then may survive for long periods. They are resistant to some disinfectants but are usually killed by freezing or high environmental temperatures. Clinical signs The signs range from decreased growth rate and poor productivity to an outbreak of sick birds with severe (and sometimes bloody) diarrhoea, dehydration and high mortality. Subclinical infections may also predispose the birds to secondary infections, particularly Clostridia. Where birds are present, be it backyard poultry, game birds or wild birds, coccidia are almost universally present Diagnosis The lesions are limited to the intestinal tract and have a distinctive location and appearance, meaning that it can often be diagnosed by post mortem examination. Infection can be confirmed using a microscope by taking faecal samples or from intestinal scrapings (during post mortem) to look for oocysts. However, determining severity is based upon clinical signs as there is usually no correlation between number of oocysts present and severity of disease. Suspected coccidiosis should always be investigated in case of clinical outbreaks. Subclinical levels may be the cause of poor performance but other flock disorders may be implicated and so these should also be investigated. Coccidiosis is often linked to concurrent disease and as such, further investigation may be necessary. Treatment There are 3 main aspects to treatment to protect affected birds, although not all may be needed depending on the severity of the outbreak: Anticoccidial drugs, for example Baycox given in the drinking water Antibiotics, for secondary infections TLC The anticoccidial drugs are needed to prevent further spread and reduce the load in the affected birds. However, due to the fact that the clinical signs in the birds are due to damage in the gut then they may need antibiotics and lots of supportive care to aid their recovery. 24 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 Supportive care includes lots of fluids and food as well as keeping the birds in a warm and dry environment. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss coccidiosis further then please speak to your vet. Emily Craven VetMB BA MRCVS Bovine Tuberculosis Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is considered, by many farmers and vets alike, to be the disease currently present in the UK with the biggest potential impact on the sustainability of farming businesses. Ensure fences are adequate to keep your stock in and others out This is as true for smallholders as it is for professional farmers, as the effect of losing significant numbers of your herd can be devastating. But what can you do about it? Many cattle owners think they are powerless to influence whether they are affected by bTB but that is not the case. As a disease bTB can be quite complex in its spread – if it wasn’t I’m sure we would have a much better control over the disease – but you can increase your protection by following a few simple rules: Try to minimise the need to bring stock in from other farms. Where you do need to buy stock in, make sure you ask the right questions. This is true for many diseases but if stock can be sourced from low risk herds, such as those in bTB free areas, the risk of buying in disease will be much reduced If stock is brought in, insist on a pre-movement TB test even if they come from a low risk area. Isolate them on arrival and ensure they are kept isolated until they pass a post movement test at least 60 days after the pre-movement test If you are in an endemic area, or an edge area, try to limit the interactions between your stock and wildlife or neighbouring cows. Ensure fences are adequate to keep your stock in and others out! Ensure feed is kept tidied away, in sealed feed stores as otherwise it will attract wildlife, and often the less healthy wildlife – those more likely to be excreting bTB. You are legally allowed to fence your cattle away from badger latrines and setts but are not allowed to restrict normal badger movements On a different tack, it is important to ensure handling facilities are up to scratch for TB testing. Often a small amount of investment and some planning can dramatically improve not only the speed of TB testing but also the safety of it. Remember, your cows are used to being handled by you, but not used to having their necks clipped, measured and injected and this can make them more fractious than usual. Phil Elkins BVM&S MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 25 Strategic Control of Clostridial Disease Clostridial disease is caused by several different species of bacteria which can cause numerous forms of disease. These different types of disease can infect livestock animals, including those that are commonly found on our Great British small holdings such as sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and camelids. The bacteria that cause clostridial disease are ubiquitous in the environment and often live in the soil. This environmental source of bacteria is impossible to eradicate and therefore vaccination to prevent the different types of disease is recommended. The most common presentation of animals affected with clostridial disease is sudden death. Therefore the diagnosis of the disease is usually made through examination of the carcass and collection of samples for further diagnostic testing during post-mortem. Therefore it is important to take these risk factors into consideration and to make sure that high risk pastures are avoided and that all feed and forage is correctly stored. In contrast, tetanus presents with muscle rigidity, extended or locked joints and dysphoria. Infection can occur via a contaminated wound and carries a very poor prognosis and the outcome of these cases is often euthanasia on welfare grounds. This highlights the importance of vaccination prior to routine surgical procedures as part of your health plan. “Black’s Disease” also known as infectious necrotic hepatitis is an important clostridial disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium novyi. The disease is synergistic and occurs during the migratory phase of liver fluke infection. In the presence of immature flukes invading the liver and causing liver damage and anaerobic conditions the organism, Clostridium novyi releases toxins in the liver that result in an acute and highly fatal disease that can affect both sheep and cattle. A strategic fluke control plan and vaccination programme for clostridial disease will help to prevent the occurrence of Black’s disease. Due to the nature of disease transmission, it is important that livestock are provided with immunity through vaccination throughout their lifetime. There are several different types of vaccine that are licensed for the common livestock species. Your vet may recommend the use of these vaccines under the cascade where there is no licensed product available for a particular species. Timing is crucial to ensure the passive transfer of immunity in colostrum, so it is important to booster breeding females prior to parturition. A further, two forms of this disease are tetanus and botulism. They are caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani and Clostridium botulinum respectively. Botulism presents as a progressive paralysis of skeletal muscles and there are no treatment options available. Risk factors include contamination of the environment from poultry litter and contamination of foodstuffs. It is important to take a proactive approach and contact your veterinary surgeon to discuss a vaccination programme as part of your annual health review. Lucy Bright BVM BVS MRCVS Piglet with tetanus Photo credit: NADIS 26 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 The Future of Beef from the Dairy Herd – is integration a system that will work? Westpoint Director Rob Drysdale is in the middle of his Nuffield Farming Scholarship year. Rob is one of 20 UK scholars awarded in 2014. Viewpoint asked him why he was undertaking this farming based scholarship and what he hoped to learn from his global travels? We all know world population is set to reach 9 billion and demand for food will rise. What we maybe fail to realise is the growth at the same time in the middle class (from 1.4 to 4.2 billion by 2050) and what this will mean for meat and dairy demand. I have been lucky to be sponsored by The Trehane Trust, with funding from the dairy industry, yet my project is based on efficient beef production. To understand why this trust is sponsoring me, you need to understand where much of our UK beef comes from. PEOPLE British beef is changing. Traditional, single suckled cow numbers have declined as a combination of reduced returns and the CAP yet demand remains high. The dairy industry contributes over 50% of beef now eaten in the UK, rising year on year, whilst mince makes up the majority of these sales. Over the last 20 years of farming, market demand and expectations have changed. Looking at pig and poultry integration has helped link farming to the quality and consistency consumers expect, whilst processor and retailer have a steady supply. Dairy beef is still dominated by black and whites but in recent years beef cross calves such as Angus and Hereford have increased in value and number. Genetics have allowed farmers to utilise high value beef bulls that fit within retailer driven schemes – easy calving, consistent finishing, quality carcasses and meat at best value to the end consumer. Dairy beef is said to be: 1. Sustainable: where there are dairy cows there are calves, so a low carbon footprint, compared to single suckle beef as a by-product from another industry. 2. Healthy: can be low fat and an excellent source of protein. 3. Welfare friendly: using the calves from the dairy industry and seeing a production system that can be managed from calving to processing. However, calf rearing and beef production that is both efficient and profitable has been a real challenge to British farmers, but what about the rest of the world? In my travels I have already visited the USA (dairy beef can be up to 40% in some areas) and Canada (suckled beef is still the norm) meeting dairy farmers, beef finishers, processors and end users. My next trip in spring 2015 is to New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and Japan followed by South America (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile) in early summer. I also plan to investigate other models of integration such as the pig and poultry Industry. Who knows where all this will take us for the future – but one thing I know is that my Nuffield should benefit the farmers, both dairy and beef, that work with Westpoint. Rob Drysdale BVM&S MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 27 Few reality television shows seem to have caught the imagination last year like Bear Grylls’ The Island. 13 men aged 21 to 70 were marooned upon a desert island for four weeks with nothing but a few hours of survival training and a day’s supply of water. The idea was to find out how ‘modern man’ could cope with a back to basics existence. Derbyshire farmer Joe Birch was one of the youngest men chosen for the show and his duties included lighting the first fire on the island, and dispatching the majority of the animals caught for food, including a Caiman crocodile. Westpoint’s Sally Dixon caught up with her client to discuss the experience. How did you hear about the show? It was advertised on the Young Farmers Facebook page and website. They obviously needed someone that knew a little bit about doing the sort of things we were going to have to do. After I applied I heard back straight away, then went through various interview stages narrowing 20,000 people down to 13 of us. How much preparation were you given before you went out? We were given 90 minutes training from Bear. But we weren’t actually able to do anything, or even talk to each other. 28 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 What was the island really like? Before I went, I had in my head a picture of what a tropical island would look like: White sandy beaches, fruit trees, and you’d just be able to go and pick some fruit to quench your thirst and hunger. But we were dropped in the middle of a mangrove swamp. The mangrove swamp was unforgiving and an extreme eye opener into what the next 28 days were going to be like.....And it was hell, absolute hell! What made it hell?! There was no single thing, it was an amalgamation of a lot of bad dreams that turned into your worst nightmare. I underestimated the effect of heat, I’ve been on holiday in 35 degrees before and it’s a breeze, but you are just sitting on a sunbed with whatever you want to eat and drink available all day long. We were in 35 degrees for 6 hours a day and 99% humidity in the jungle for 28 days back to back; and we were burning thousands of calories every day but only taking in about 400. I didn’t find the food a problem, we didn’t eat much but what we did eat was interesting. The water was fine really, a lot of people found it undrinkable, but it was ok. The social aspect was the other really hard bit, not having contact with my family for 28 days and instead spending the time with 12 strangers. Joe Birch How do you think your farming background helped you with being on the island, especially with food? I wasn’t picky about food! A lot of people screwed their nose up about things that didn’t taste very nice. The way we were foraging for food on the floor and the fact that it might not be what you’d pick up in a supermarket, people weren’t willing to eat it. When it came down to the animals and things like that, people were unsure about killing an animal, but taking that one animal’s life kept 13 men alive. When it came down to the Caiman it was done well, properly, quickly and cleanly and it was no trauma. We didn’t hurt the animal which was a big thing, as some of the lads on the island found it difficult to watch, but I was pleased with how it was done and that’s my background; that’s something that I’ve been brought up with, and I was pleased that we did it right. So what did you eat? Apart from the Caiman, mainly Pelicans and Cormorants, they’re disgusting! They eat fish in salt water and they have livers bigger than their stomachs to get rid of all the salt. The meat tasted really salty! But the best thing was when Ryan & I sourced some honey. Still to this day I’ve never had anything that tastes like that; the bees must have farmed it from the lemon and lime trees so it was citrus honey. I know we hadn’t had anything like it in such a long time but still, it was an amazing flavour. That was the best moment on the island, that taste of honey, it was really mind blowing. What did you learn? I learned a lot of life skills, social skills as much as anything and I did find out how mollycoddled and nurtured I’ve been brought up living in the countryside. Living in a little village in the countryside you don’t get to see much and I learned a lot from those guys who lived in towns and urban areas. There was some good, but some bad as well. I came out feeling lucky, knowing that I am quite glad about where we live. We can be cut off from time to time, but it’s definitely better being brought up in the countryside. How has it changed your ideas for the future and what you want out of life? It’s a dream to go travelling now. It’d be good to do something else in the future along a similar line and a similar programme and bring farming into it a bit more. Perhaps a spin-off following the production line from lambing; from a year on the farm to how they’re finished. You’ve already done a good bit of PR for the farming community, showing that we don’t all talk the same and wear tweed jackets. Yes, though channel 4 wanted me to. I said “No!” Sally Dixon MRCVS, Ashbourne Practice Manager www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 29 Keep up with winter footbathing Tips to prevent digital dermatitis getting the upper hand this winter Whilst digital dermatitis (DD) is a perennial problem on most dairy farms, it can often become worse over the winter, when cows are housed 24/7; especially in situations where cows are densely stocked or where the yards and passageways are small or difficult to scrape. The tendency towards warmer, wetter winters is also not helping! This quick guide raises a few points regarding footbathing, but it is crucial that DD control is part of a complete approach to both treating and preventing disease and your local Westpoint vet will be happy to work with you to put a plan together for this. A high incidence of DD will not only lead to more lame cows but also to more of the severe, often incurable lesions, which involve DD infecting deeper tissue, such as toe necrosis. These cases cause chronic, debilitating lameness resulting in reduced yield, poor fertility and a higher risk of culling. The Bath The footbath must be correctly designed and positioned in order to be effective and there a few golden rules that will help in this regard: Do – Make the bath easy to fill and clean out as easy jobs get done. Do – Ensure the dimensions are correct for the number of cows and quantity of solution required. You require 1 Litre per cow passage, so I always advise people to build a bath which holds at least 1.25L for every cow milking to allow for fluctuations and herd expansion. Don’t – Use baths with big ridges in the bottom. There is no need to “splay the claws”, they do not help grip and cows absolutely hate them meaning more faeces is dropped in the bath. Don’t – Estimate the size of the bath. A survey carried out in the practice last year found that 42% of farmers questioned were under-dosing their chemical and the key reason for this was that they didn’t know the true volume of liquid in their footbaths. Do – Seek advice before building a new bath. We have a helpful guide on design and siting of footbaths which we can share with you. The Protocol Do – Footbath all susceptible stock, including heifers and dry cows. This is a key point as heifers that have DD before calving will be much more severely affected when they enter the herd and dry cows act as a reservoir for infection, and can undo all the good work done by footbathing the milkers. The protocol used for footbathing will vary from farm to farm depending on a variety of factors, but the simple rule of thumb is – the dirtier the cows, the more frequently they need doing. Please consult with us on this and allow us to help you choose the best chemical and bathing protocol based on the conditions on your farm. Do - Place the bath in the normal flow of the cows, regardless of whether it is in use or not. James Dixon BVetMed Cert CHP MRCVS Footbathing requires planning and management to get the best results 30 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 PARAPROFESSIONAL Footbathing & The Benefits Although footbathing as a preventative measure has long been used by farmers, it is only relatively recently that it has started to be seen as a valued and effective tool in both the prevention and control of infectious foot diseases. Problems such as digital dermatitis can pose particular problems to the welfare and productivity of cattle today. Despite most experts and farmers recognising the benefits of regular bathing, it does require a degree of both planning and management to get the very best out of whichever product is used; both in terms of effective treatment and value for money. If a farm is looking to build a new footbath there has to be some thought put into it by the farmer, alongside constructive input from their vet, as to its best position. It would ideally need to be incorporated into the cows’ daily routine, thus meaning they soon get used to walking through it regardless as to it being empty or full. However it does need to be a sufficient distance away from the milking parlour in order to avoid impeding cow flow, or potentially overcoming whoever is milking with any fumes. Top Tips 1. Know it’s exact size and depth so the right amount of chemical is then used! All too often farmers underestimate this and end up not putting enough in. It is important to try to position it so both dry cows and heifers can easily be put through regularly, as these tend to be the animals most forgotten. Just because they might not be working doesn’t mean they don’t need footbathing! Poor routines including the wrong treatments, incorrect dilution rates and baths not being regularly cleaned out between sessions can actually be instrumental in the spreading of infectious diseases and in some cases increase the amount of lameness in the herd! The introduction of automatic baths into the market place have, in some cases, revolutionised footbathing. Although the initial financial outlay may seem costly, the savings that can be made in terms of the daily labour requirement needed to both empty and re-fill a standard bath and the chemical saved by a machine automatically dispensing the right amount of product, means that over time all this helps to pay for it. There are a wide and varied range of chemicals and products readily available that can be used, but it always best to consult your vet to help gauge the potential effectiveness of the product you may be thinking of using. Each one has both advantages and disadvantages and what suits one farm may well not suit another; a lot may depend on the specific foot problems your farm may have. To conclude, a correctly positioned and well maintained footbath using the right product as per it`s instructions, accompanied with a structured foot trimming routine, should have nothing but beneficial effects on the foot health of your herd. Chris Hulbert, Paraprofessional Services Manager 2. Making a bath easy to change will make it far less of a chore for whoever has to do it. 3. Find the best and most effective product to use and not just the cheapest one on the market. Photo credit: NADIS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 31 Introduction to the farm support team at Westpoint Veterinary Group At Westpoint we take pride in the range and level of services offered to our clients and the farming community as a whole. Since 2008 our foot trimming and mobility services have grown from one, to a team of five full time trimmers supported by a further three members of staff, both in the office and on farm. All our trimmers have access to specialised hydraulic foot crushes and are National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers Category 1 qualified, offering a full service on farms from Cornwall to Kent and Scotland. The trimmers are all checked on an annual basis by an independent NACFT assessor and are overseen by a team of vets with further qualifications in lameness and mobility management. Our mobility management services are available to any dairy or beef farmer. Working closely alongside the farm`s own vet, we see a team approach as vital to getting the best from the investment made in mobility and foot health on farm. We can make the service tailor made for the farm with trimming available on an ad-hoc (per head) rate, through to an annual contract where herd mobility through mobility scoring and foot trimming, can be overseen. A team of five paraprofessionals provide a wide range of other on-farm services: from udder flaming, calf management and freeze branding, through to a range designed to help smallholders and other farms. These trained farm staff work to support both Westpoint and external vets in the provision of added healthcare services, which include foot trimming, worming, vaccinating and general management for the small farmer or camelid keeper. We also operate a full cleansing and disinfection service using our own tailor made kit for milking parlours and farm buildings to help maintain the best facilities for the farm. To support the best level of service for our farmers, we provide a range of products designed to improve animal health and farm performance. These include milking liners and rubberware from Milk-Rite, Ecolab teat dips and dairy chemicals, Healthy Hooves foot bathing solutions and various other cow and foot products. The benefits of good foot health and mobility management What are the benefits of regular foot trimming? Lame cows cost time and more importantly money. The average case of lameness costs farmers £180+ from lost milk sales, treatment costs and fertility impacts. Looking beyond simple lameness to solar 32 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 ulcer and white line damage, the losses can be considerably more, often resulting in premature culling. Research from DairyCo, comparing the best and worst herds for mobility, shows several pence per litre of production can be both saved or lost due to the causes of lameness. Regular foot trimming, in conjunction with mobility scoring, has been shown to considerably reduce the incidence of lameness in a dairy herd. Sound cows are mobile cows – meaning they are more likely to walk to eat and drink, show better fertility signs and should produce more milk more efficiently. Sound cows should mean a sound herd, with the target of less than 10% of any herd showing lameness. This can be a positive step for staff and a happier team on farm. What are the benefits of mobility scoring? Mobility scoring is an essential part of lameness control and herd health planning and it provides an important means of recognising lameness and catching it early on. Daily observation by competent farm staff, particularly between routine scoring sessions, is still vital in maintaining a sound and healthy herd. Looking for early signs of lameness though can prove important for prompt selection of trimming before true lameness and problems can occur. Whether lameness is noticed by the farm staff or by an experienced mobility scorer, it is essential that prompt attention is given to any lame cow. Early detection, recognition and treatment of a problem should mean a healthier herd overall – with fewer culls for lameness also a measure of welfare used by many of the retailers to show a higher level of cow care. Having an independent mobility score undertaken on a herd on a quarterly basis can show dividends in managing losses due to lameness. Many researchers now recommend scoring at least once each month and the best herds look to undertake this process at least every 14 days. The impact of buildings, environment and foot health management can be evaluated by regular mobility scoring. For more information please call our head office on 01306 628086. Chris Hulbert, Paraprofessional Services Manager To support the best level of service for our farmers, we provide a range of products designed to improve animal health and farm performance. These include milking liners and rubberware from Milk-Rite, Ecolab teat dips and dairy chemicals, Healthy Hooves foot bathing solutions and various other cow and foot products. The Paraprofessional team Mobility scoring is an essential part of lameness control and herd health planning Lame cows cost time and more importantly money www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 33 Westpoint Award Winning Research Finishes ‘On Top’ whilst ‘Down Under’! Westpoint Veterinary Group (WVG) was proud to be represented by Alex Walters, Michael Reynolds and Ian Nanjiani at the recent 28th World Buiatrics Congress, biennial conference, hosted in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Recognised as the “Olympic Games of conferences” this international event was held between 27th July and 1st August 2014, predominantly attracting research scientists and veterinarians amongst other leading global cattle professionals. A highly informative presentation delivered by Cumbria based Regional Director Michael Reynolds, was well received. Michael summarised the latest clinical findings from UK based research into pathogens and risk factors associated with neonatal enteritis in calves, and the motivations driving their treatment and control. Head of WVG clinical research, Ian Nanjiani, seamlessly provided a snapshot for delegates of a 3 year grazing study on the early detection of anthelmintic resistance in cattle in England. The presentation emphasized the important limitations of diagnostic tools in practice. Finally, Kent based Practice Principle Alex Walters displayed data gathered by the Westpoint Bull Fertility Testing team from over 850 pre breeding and pre purchase examinations. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in pass rate with increasing age of breeding bulls. Alex was further honoured to receive the World Buiatrics Congress Innovation and Research Award for Young Scientists sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim. The research was judged for evidence of innovation, scientific rigour and relevance to industry. Westpoint Veterinary Group remains committed to “Taking Research into Practice” with the delivery of cutting edge veterinary services as a key influence on the future of livestock farming. This has become a reality through the work of the clinical teams represented by Alex, Michael and Ian. Well done to all involved and see you in Dublin for WBC 2016! Alex Walters BVSc MBIAC Cert AVP (CHP) MRCVS Beef Expo 2015 – A York Affair! The National Beef Association’s annual showcase event ‘Beef Expo’ returns in 2015, descending upon York Auction Centre, North Yorkshire on Thursday 21st May 2015. Beef Expo offers a unique opportunity to identify and explore the latest innovations, developments and technology specifically within the British beef sector. The 2015 event is set to boast some of the finest British commercial and pedigree cattle as part of its Spring Spectacular Show. The array of scheduled industry seminars will also provide the opportunity for knowledge transfer, typically embracing hot topics or current affairs in beef cattle health and production. So, if you only attend one agricultural event in 2015, make Beef Expo the priority - furthermore let us escort you! Westpoint is pleased to announce that we will be playing ‘tour operators’ once again offering a one night package encompassing transport to and from the event, admission to 34 Westpoint I Viewpoint Magazine Issue 3 both Beef Expo and NBA Pre-Expo Farm Tours, complete with a traditional Westpoint Beef Club Dinner – as ever, it promises to be a trip to remember! If you would like any further information regarding Beef Expo 2015 please contact Layla Rae, Knowledge Transfer Team on (01306) 628086 or email [email protected]. See you there! Alex Walters BVSc MBIAC Cert AVP MRCVS Farm Health Plans as Part of Farm Assurance WESTPOINT On 1st October 2014, new guidelines were published by Red Tractor Farm Assurance with regard to exactly what is required to satisfy the ‘Animal Health’ part of farm assurance. The requirements are different for beef/sheep and dairy. Beef and Sheep That livestock plans are written in conjunction with a vet. Recommended That an annual livestock health and performance review is undertaken by a vet, allowing them to make recommendations regarding any issues that are raised. Dairy Recommended That a vet is involved in all aspects of health planning. Required An annual review of health and performance is undertaken by a vet. Incidence of the following problems is recorded and reviewed: Lameness Required Records should be kept regarding the following, and should be reviewed on an annual basis: Culling and mortality, including reasons for both Abattoir feedback (where relevant) Medicine records The idea of health planning is moving away from a tick box exercise to prove that records have been kept. This is a much more proactive ‘look-forward’ approach, requiring farmers to include outlines of the procedures and protocols that they plan to implement as a strategy to improve health and welfare. Westpoint has always been very keen on health planning. We feel that it is an excellent opportunity to properly assess the performance of a farm, to identify areas for improvement and to implement changes that will assist with increasing profit margins and animal welfare. Mastitis Culling rate Reasons for culling Involuntary culling and death Calf mortality (0-24hrs and 24hrs-42days) Westpoint is pleased to offer flock/herd health planning at a flat rate of £300+VAT. Please contact us well in advance of the time when your health plan is required, as we’ll need to collate relevant records and spend time putting together a useful set of recommendations for your farm. Please use this opportunity to really get to grips with what is happening on your farm and how it might be improved. With the new Red Tractor guidelines, this is now a requirement - so we look forward to really engaging with you on this subject, rather than just signing in the box at the end of the year! Jessica Swiestowska VetMB BA MRCVS www.westpointfarmvets.co.uk I Westpoint 35 Want to buy all your farm medicines from one trusted place? Safe, easy online ordering Full and clear pricing including POM-V Trusted by over 5000 farmers and 230 veterinary practices Special offers and big savings on bulk orders The widest choice of veterinary medicines and consumables At Farmacy you can order using at www.farmacy.co.uk/VP1 or Tel: 01306 628215