In this issue
- Changes to TB approved disinfectants - HFV now using and stocking Virophor
- FETF 2024 grants - the next round of grants are now open
- Sensiblex - useful to have in stock for calvings & lambings
- Joint ill in lambs - what are the risks and what can we do to prevent it?
- Preparing ahead for the fly season - could parasitic wasps help?
- Schmallenberg - a reminder about free testing
- Johne's disease survey - can you spare 5 mins?
Changes to approved TB disinfectants - HFV now using and stocking Virophor
From 16th February FAM30 and a number of other disinfectants have been suspended from the list of approved disinfectants for bovine TB (bTB). The reasons for this suspension can be due to a failed spot check, a change in formulation or a failure of the company to pay administrative fees...
This means we have had to change the disinfectant that we're using scrubbing onto and off-farm from FAM30 and will also impact any of you currently shut down with TB; you'll need to make sure you're using an approved disinfectant to disinfect after reactor removal and make sure you're putting the right product on your BT05 Cleaning & Disinfection forms submitted to APHA.
VIROPHOR:
HFV are now using and stocking Virophor as our approved bTB disinfectant - this comes in 5 litre or 25 litre tubs. Get in touch if you need any for disinfecting after reactor removal, or for using in foot dips at entry to your farm, sheds and calf pens.
Virophor Dilution Rate: 1:14
= 71ml Virophor in 1 litre water
= 357ml Virophor in 5 litres water
= 710ml Virophor in 10 litres water
It is anticipated that FAM30 will be returned to the approved disinfectant list for TB purposes within the next few months.
Don't forget not all disinfectants cover all diseases - if you struggle with Cocci or Crypto in your calves, it is vital you use a disinfectant that can crack the eggs open - we stock "Cyclex" as our Cocci/Crypto specific disinfectant.
Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) 2024 grants - the next round of grants are now open
For those of you that have been waiting - the next round of FETF grant funding is now open for applications.
This time there will be three separate "themes": Productivity, Slurry management and Animal health & welfare. The grants are now open to applications for productivity and slurry, with items for animal health & welfare opening later in March. The window for productivity and slurry will run until midday on 17th April 2024.
Each item will have a published number of "points" which will then be multiplied by how many of each item you apply for. This total will then be divided by the overall grant funding for these items to give you your "overall points".
As your vets we can increase your "overall points" by 20% by giving evidence that we've discussed the items with you and that they are needed and would be beneficial so make sure you get in touch if you're thinking of applying.
Have a look at the links below to see what items are available on each theme:
Sensiblex - useful to have in stock for calvings and lambings
Sensiblex is a tissue relaxant for heifers and cows at calving - once the calf is lined up in the birth canal Sensiblex relaxes the cervix and soft tissues which can:
- Reduce injuries to the cow/heifer
- Shorten the duration of calving
- Reduce the risk of held cleansing
- Reduce the risk of whites
- Help the birth process for the calf which meant treated heifers had 6 more live calves born per 100 compared to control groups.
Dose: 10ml IM at calving - available in 10ml or 50ml bottles
Withholds: Milk & Meat 1 day
Obviously Sensiblex won't solve an over-large calf, a twisted uterus, or a milk fever calving but can help if the calf is lined up correctly, especially in heifers.
What about using Sensiblex in sheep at lambing?
Sensiblex can help to relax the cervix if you get a case of ringwomb at lambing - make sure you get in touch and speak to one of us for advice on dose and withholds.
Joint ill in lambs - what are the risks and what can we do to prevent it?
The most common cause of joint ill in lambs is a bacteria called Strep dysgalactiae - a bug that lives in the birth canal of the ewe and is easily spread to lambs.
Joint-ill is a common disease of young lambs, up to one month old, in sheep flocks across the UK. The disease often impacts between 1 – 2% of lambs in a flock.
One of the most common risk factors is helping with a lambing without using gloves and then touching another lamb and spreading the infection on your hands. The infection can get in through newborn lambs mouths, via tag or castration/tail wounds or via the navel so hand hygiene, using gloves, clean bands, good colostrum uptake and 10% strong iodine on navels are absolutely crucial.
Lambs will typically go lame with joint ill, but sometimes the bacteria can settle out in joints of the spine and you can see weakness and paralysis.
Antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are crucial early on in the disease for any chance of cure.
Make sure the iodine you are using on navels is 10% BP and includes alcohol to help dry the navel as fast as possible.
Preparing ahead for the fly season - could parasitic wasps help?
Spring is now on it’s way, and it is time to start thinking about fly control for the coming summer months.
You will be familiar with the traditional methods of controlling flies - pour-on treatments, fly sprays in the parlour and so on. But there is a natural alternative that can help to reduce total fly numbers without the need to depend so much on chemical insecticides.
BIOLOGICAL FLY CONTROL:
Biological fly controls are widely used on pig and poultry units, but are relatively new to the cattle industry. This method makes use of natural mini-wasps to reduce the adult breeding population and therefore reduce the total numbers of flies present on a farm throughout the year.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Mini-wasp eggs are delivered to your farm every 2 weeks through the fly breeding season and we distribute them into fly breeding hot spots. The mini-wasp eggs hatch over the next few days and go on the hunt for developing fly eggs. The tiny wasp burrows into the fly egg, eats the developing fly and lays her own egg in there. This means instead of a fly, you get a new mini-wasp hatching and increasing numbers of mini-wasps on farm; each female mini-wasp kills 100 fly eggs in her lifetime.
The parasitic wasps that we use only target nuisance flies and will never target beneficial species such as Honey Bees. The species that we release do exist naturally in the UK, but are not present in large enough numbers to have an impact on the large fly populations that exist around livestock units.
Starting to release the parasites right at the beginning of the fly breeding season (mid to late April depending on the weather) will allow them to have the maximum impact on the overall fly population, with regular top-ups throughout the season keeping on top of the problem. Putting the brakes on the nuisance fly population allows reduced use of insecticide products over time and can help to reduce antimicrobial usage by making diseases such as summer mastitis less likely.
Get in touch if you want any more information on how these parasitic wasps could fit into your fly strategy for 2024.
Schmallenberg - a reminder about free testing
Schmallenberg has been affecting lambing flocks across our area - we've been seeing a sharp rise in cases of abnormal lambs being born with fixed/fused/abnormal legs and twisted necks.
Cattle can also be affected by Schmallenberg. Infected midges that bite and infect cows between 60-180 days of pregnancy either means the cow aborts, or the calf could be deformed at birth. If calves were infected in the uterus in late 2023, it is likely to be April/May time onwards we see deformed calves being born so bear this in mind.
APHA Free Testing for Schmallenberg Virus
APHA will continue to offer free of charge testing in 2024 on samples from lambs, kids, and calves born with abnormal/fixed/fused legs or other deformities. We will need a fresh brain sample from the affected lamb or calf - make sure you get in touch if you have any suspect cases.
APHA are also offering 6 free blood tests for Schmallenberg which can be a useful window into immunity status on farm.
Johne's Disease Survey - can you spare 5 mins?
Some of you will know Lauren Butter - she is in her final year at Harper Adams doing an Agriculture with Animal Science degree and is asking for some help with her final year project on Johne's Disease.
Hello, I am a final year BSc (Hons) Agriculture with Animal Science student at Harper Adam’s University.
The purpose of this study is to seek information about how Johne’s disease impacts small-scale dairy farms in the UK. This study will investigate the health of the animals as well as the economic impact of Johne’s disease on smaller farms. There will be questions to add your Johne’s data, which will be analysed to understand the overall Johne’s status in small dairy farms in the UK.
What are the possible benefits?
Your participation will help us improve the conceptual understanding of Johne’s management and status in small dairy farms in the UK.
Please click on the link below to complete the survey:
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