Helen Rowe
After nearly thirty years, Helen Rowe is to retire from the practice in January. After such a long period dedicated to the veterinary care of horses, pet and farm animals in South Gloucestershire and beyond she will be greatly missed. We all wish her well for the future.
Respiratory Disease.
With winter fast approaching now is the time to consider protecting your calves against pneumonia.
The predisposing factors involved in respiratory disease outbreaks are many -overcrowding and poor ventilation being the more obvious.
Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial causes of pneumonia. As most pneumonia outbreaks will include viral causes, vaccination is worth serious consideration. There are a number of vaccines available and the exact program will depend on past history within the herd and also the results of any laboratory tests.
Bovine Virus Diarrhoea - BVD
BVD is a very widespread disease with more than 95% of dairy and 63% of beef herds exposed. The effects of BVD within a herd are multiple
- Reduced fertility and increased returns to service
- Increased abortions and reduced calf viability
- Reduced growth rate in affected calves.
- Increased susceptibility to other diseases.
- Deaths due to mucosal disease.
Depending on the level of infection within a herd, losses are estimated at around £35 - £90 per dairy cow and £46 per cow in suckler herds.
There are several methods of controlling the level of BVD within a herd but without doubt the most successful method is vaccination.
All breeding stock in the herd should be vaccinated. The initial course consists of two injections 3 weeks apart followed by a single annual booster. BVD continues to be economically viable with the initial course costing £3.64 per cow and boosters £1.82
Novartis Animal Health sponsor a free herd screening test for dairy and beef suckler herds. This requires the submission of a bulk milk sample for dairy herds or 5 blood sample from the beef suckler herd. The results give a guide to the level of infection within the herd.
