In this issue
- Changes to TB reactor testing - rolling out the PCR test for skin test reactors
- The downer ewe at lambing time - twin lamb disease and low calcium
- Heptavac-P Plus - don't forget early protection for lambs
- The newborn recovery position
- Vet Tech support at HFV
- Bovigen Scour - an update
- Calf Colostrum Replacer - SCCL in stock
Changes to TB reactor testing - rolling out the PCR test for skin test reactors
From mid-February, any reactors from a skin test will now be tested using the PCR test rather than the conventional culture at post-mortem. The PCR test will also be used on IR's when they go are culled.
The PCR test was first introduced in 2022 and has been used on "slaughter house" cases of suspect TB. The turnaround time for the PCR test is much faster than the culture; cultures will still be done by APHA but only to check local spread and map the "type" of bovine TB in a particular area, or for the very few PCR tests that come back inconclusive.
As always, if you have any questions or queries about TB - get in touch with Paula, Tom or Katie.
The downer ewe at lambing time - twin lamb disease and low calcium
With lambing time either in full flow or rapidly approaching, here's a reminder to be on the lookout for twin lamb disease and low blood calcium.
Twin lamb disease and low blood calcium are common problems in ewes around lambing and distinguishing between the two can be difficult; ewes suffering from one are likely to be at risk of suffering from the other.
1. Twin Lamb Disease:
Twin lamb or pregnancy toxaemia is most common in older ewes carrying multiple lambs. It is caused by the ewe not being able to eat enough during late pregnancy as the growing lambs take up more and more room in her abdomen and limit how much food she can get in her rumen. To compensate, she ends up using her body fats as an energy source which creates toxic by-products called ketones. We can test for ketones on the farm using a small blood sample and our ketone meters.
What to look out for:
- Isolating herself from the rest of the flock
- Off feed and not eating
- Dull and depressed
- Blindness and head up "star gazing"
- Tremors, weakness and lying down
- Death
Treatment:
Treatment should include drenching with an energy source such as “Ewe-Go” and importantly an anti-inflammatory injection. If signs are severe, IV glucose or aborting the lambs may be required to save the ewe.
Prevention:
Prevention involves making sure ewes are fed appropriately for the number of lambs they are carrying; body condition scoring, ensuring sufficient trough space, good quality forages and avoiding rapid diet changes can all help.
2. Low blood calcium: "hypocalcaemia"
Unlike cattle this is more likely to occur during late pregnancy in ewes rather than just after lambing. Like cows, older ewes are more at risk, and carrying twins or triplets also increases her risk. It can also be triggered by stressful events such as moving/housing or a change in diet.
What to look out for:
- Dull, weak and lying down (same as Twin Lamb) but will progress differently…
- Her rumen stops contracting and they bloat and regurgitate – you see green fluid running from the nose/mouth
- Coma and death within 24-48 hours
Treatment:
Treatment involves giving 60-80ml WARMED calcium under the skin over several sites (the response to IV calcium is much more rapid but needs to be done carefully and should be carried out by a vet). Oral calcium supplements such as “Ewe-Go” can also work well.
Often twin lamb and hypocalcaemia can be hard to distinguish so if you're not sure, treat for both conditions.
Ewe-Go Drench
Ewe-Go Drench contains both an energy precursor (glycerol and propylene glycol) and calcium, some of which is in the form of calcium chloride which is rapidly absorbed from the gut. It comes as a 1 litre flexi pack so you can attach your normal dosing gun for easy administration - each affected ewe will need 100ml by mouth.
Calcibel
Blue Calciject had been widely used to treat low blood calcium in sheep around lambing but has been out of production now for a couple of years.
Calcibel is our alternative for treating low calcium in sheep so get in touch if you need to get stocked up for lambing time.
Heptavac P - don't forget early protection for lambs
Ewes on a full Heptavac-P Plus program will be protected against 12 different types of Clostridia as well as Pasteurella, and if they have their annual booster 4-6 weeks before lambing they will pass that protection on to their lambs via colostrum for the first few weeks of life.
The colostrum protection against Pasteurella covers for the first 3 weeks of the lambs life but then starts to wane and this is when the lambs will need to start their own vaccine program.
Heptavac-P Plus Program:
This is a comprehensive Clostridia and Pasteurella vaccine and is ideally suited to breeding ewes and ewe lambs intended for breeding. Lambs should be vaccinated at 3 weeks old and 4-6 weeks later, then boosted every 12 months or 4-6 weeks before lambing if being bred that year.
Dose: 2ml under the skin in the neck behind the ear
Ovivac-P Plus Program:
Ovivac-P Plus is another Clostridia and Pasteurella vaccine, but doesn't have quite as wide a range of Clostridia protection - these are essential for newborn lambs so this vaccine is better suited for fattening lambs rather than breeding stock. Again, fattening lambs should be vaccinated at 3 weeks old, with a second dose 4-6 weeks later.
Dose: 2ml under the skin in the neck behind the ear
We have plenty of stock of both Heptavac-P Plus and Ovivac-P Plus in - but it's best to get your orders in so we can guarantee supply for the whole season. Heptavac-P Plus has been tricky to get hold of for the last few years!
THE NEWBORN RECOVERY POSITION
Sometimes calvings and lambings don't go to plan; if you've had to assist, the calf or lamb may be a bit compromised, but there are things you can do to maximise their survival once they are out.
The newborn recovery position is shown below - putting a calf or lamb into this upright chest position, supported by both its back legs, as soon as it's born means both lungs are able to inflate easier than when they lie flat out on their side. Getting breathing initiated faster means the brain is oxygenated quicker and you get a more responsive calf or lamb that is more likely to get up and suckle.
If the calf or lamb had a tricky birth and is struggling to get their breathing into a normal rhythm, it can mean that carbon dioxide has built up in their bloodstream during the birth process - this results in their blood becoming a bit acidic which really reduces their suckling reflex. Rehydion gel can be used neat as an oral drench in these cases straight after birth to help neutralise the pH of the blood and get the suckle reflex back quicker.
These compromised calves and lambs might also benefit from a low dose of anti-inflammatory too - get in touch if you want to know more about which is best to use and what dose.
If you have had to assist with a calving or a lambing, don't forget the mum too - a couple of buckets of warm water to drink (fresh cow drinks are perfect for cows that have just calved), fresh food next to the calf or lamb and an anti-inflammatory are simple ways to help her transition safely.
Vet Tech support at HFV
Time and staff can be in short supply on farm - if you are needing an extra pair of hands to help with numbers at a TB test, get vaccinations done, need help with numbers at a TB test, get tails or backs clipped out, catch up with disbuds or complete your ROMS mobility score, then get in touch - either Rhianon or Emma can help.
SCCL Calf Colostrum Replacer - in stock
Calf’s Choice Total® is a natural cow colostrum powder that is high in colostral fat, a critical early source of energy for newborn calves. It provides a balance of both immunity and energy to meet the needs of most calves. Calf’s Choice Total® may be used to supplement or completely replace maternal colostrum and is made only from natural, guarenteed quality bovine colostrum.
Key Benefits:
- SCCL is freeze dried cow colostrum – not a manufactured formula based on whey or eggs
- Sourced in Scotland – EBL free, TB free
- High in Colostral Fat – important energy source required by calves immediately after birth
- Safe and Effective – free of disease-causing organisms, tested for safety and efficacy
- Convenient – Easily mixes in under 15 seconds
- 3-year shelf life for reliable and long-lasting use
High quality colostrum, collected cleanly from your cows straight after calving, is always going to be the best option for calves on your farm. But if you need a top up, or you've run out of stored colostrum, or need a back up option at 2am - SCCL colostrum will provide good levels of immunity, safely and conveniently.
Get in touch
Paula: 07764 747855 paula@haywoodfarmvets.com
Tom: 07837 291097 tom@haywoodfarmvets.com
Katie: 07507 656747 katie@haywoodfarmvets.com
Open hours: M-F | 8:30 - 16:00
Out of Hours: 01630 810016