Livestock MATTERS. Calf Rearing. Inside this issue:

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1 WINTER EDITION 2012 Livestock WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE Inside this issue: 3.25 MATTERS SUCKLER HERD FERTILITY We look at how herd fertility has a major impact on the profitability of suckler herds. Calf Rearing We review the importance of preparation in successful calf rearing.

2 EXCELLENCE IN PRACTICE XLVets - We Excel The members of XLVets have worked hard to create what they see as a model of how practices can work together, sharing the latest ideas and passing on savings and joint expertise to clients. Invest in Health Don t pay for Disease The group comprises of a number of the foremost farm practices in Ireland. With many years of combined experience, it is able to give expert advice on all areas of farm livestock, health and production. XLVets member practices are dedicated to providing a high quality, cost effective service to their clients, to support long-term growth and future prosperity within the Irish livestock industry. Adare Veterinary Surgery Adare, Co.Limerick Telephone: Donal Lynch Veterinary Tullamore, Co.Offaly Telephone: Killenaule Vets Thurles, Co.Tipperary Telephone: Ormonde Veterinary Kilkenny, Co.Kilkenny Telephone: All Creatures Veterinary Clinic Roscommon Town, Co.Roscommon Telephone: Glen Veterinary Clinics Tipperary Town, Co.Tipperary Telephone: Mulcair Veterinary Clinics Cappamore, Co.Limerick Telephone: Riverview Veterinary Group Bandon, Co.Cork Telephone: Avondale Veterinary Clinics Arklow, Co.Wicklow Telephone: Glenbower Veterinary Group Killeagh, Co.Cork Telephone: O Connor Julian Vets Cashel, Co.Tipperary Telephone: Sliabh Luachra Veterinary Centre Rathmore, Co.Kerry Telephone: Clerkin Vets Cootehill, Co.Cavan Telephone: Gortlandroe Veterinary Clinic Nenagh, Co.Tipperary Telephone: Old Church Veterinary Hospital Ballyshannon, Co.Donegal Telephone: Southview Veterinary Hospital Clonmel, Co.Tipperary Telephone: Comeragh Veterinary Kilmacthomas, Co.Waterford Telephone: The future of agriculture needs a healthy industry, which needs healthy animals. XLVets is committed to being a part of this healthy future. The Veterinary Hospital Gorey, Co.Wexford Telephone:

3 CONTENTS WINTER EDITION XLVets is a novel and exciting initiative conceived from within the veterinary profession. We are all independently owned, progressive veterinary practices located throughout Ireland committed to working together for the benefit of our clients. XLVets Ireland Member Practices Adare Veterinary Surgery Station Road, Adare, Co.Limerick All Creatures Veterinary Clinic Lanesboro Street, Roscommon Town, Co.Roscommon Avondale Veterinary Clinics Ferrybank, Arklow, Co.Wicklow Clerkin Vets 90 Bridge Street, Cootehill, Co.Cavan Comeragh Veterinary Main Street, Kilmacthomas, Co.Waterford Donal Lynch Veterinary Killurin Cross, Killeagh, Tullamore Co.Offaly Glen Veterinary Clinics Blind Street, Tipperary Town, Co.Tipperary Glenbower Veterinary Group Clashdermot East, Killeagh, Co.Cork Gortlandroe Veterinary Clinic 6 Church Street, Nenagh, Co.Tipperary Killenaule Vets Killenaule, Thurles, Co.Tipperary Mulcair Veterinary Clinics Dromsally, Cappamore, Co.Limerick O Connor Julian Vets 67 Main Street, Cashel, Co.Tipperary Old Church Veterinary Hospital The Mall, Ballyshannon, Co.Donegal Ormonde Veterinary 14 Barrack Street, Kilkenny, Co.Kilkenny Riverview Veterinary Group Distillery Road, Bandon, Co.Cork Sliabh Luachra Veterinary Centre West End, Rathmore, Co.Kerry Southview Veterinary Hospital Irishtown, Clonmel, Co.Tipperary The Veterinary Hospital Arklow Road, Gorey, Co.Wexford CONTENTS HERD HEALTH 03 The farm dog and cat: Do they have a role in the transmission of internal parasitic disease? The concluding part of this article. Eimear Fitzgerald, All Creatures Veterinary Clinic looks at how Cryptosporidium spp., Toxocara spp. and Giardia spp. can also be transmitted to livestock by farm dogs and cats. 05 Calf rearing: Jerry Crowley, Glenbower Veterinary Group reviews the importance of preparation for successful calf rearing and profitability of farming enterprises. 07 Herd health - parasite control: Shane McGuckin, The Veterinary Hospital reports from a recent farm walk on a farm that is part of the Better Farm Programme initiating a herd health plan to increase health and productivity. Practical, farm based training, delivered by vets to improve your livestock and business performance... WINTER FEATURE 09 Suckler herd fertility: Nick Garvey, Old Church Veterinary Hospital reviews how herd fertility has a major impact on the profitability of suckler herds. Contact XLVets: and office@xlvets.ie XLVet Ireland Ltd Registered Office at: Dromsally Cappamore County Limerick Tel: XLVet Ireland No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher. Disclaimer: XLVets does not necessarily share the views of contributors. No responsibility can be accepted for opinions expressed by contributors, or claims made by advertisers within this publication. Training is a vital part of the jigsaw that makes up modern farm business success. But finding the training that s right for you needn t be a puzzle. XLVets FarmSkills courses are designed to put the farmer first; finding out what you know now and what you d like to know to improve your business. Courses are available across Ireland and are open to everyone. Topics catered for include cattle lameness, mastitis and cell count, calf rearing and fertility management. XLVets Skillnet is funded by member companies and the Training Networks Programme, an initiative of Skillnets Ltd. funded from the National Training Fund through the Department of Education and Skills.

4 FARM DOG AND CAT The farm dog and cat: PART2 OF A TWO PART SERIES Do they have a role in the transmission of internal parasitic disease? In the Autumn issue of Livestock Matters we looked at the effects of infection with Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma spp. Here we will look at how Cryptosporidia spp., Toxocara spp. and Giardia spp. can also be transmitted to livestock by farm dogs and cats. EIMEAR FITZGERALD MVB Having a healthy, mature, well controlled population of dogs and cats on the farm should minimise the threat of internal parasitic diseases. Toxocara spp. Most puppies are born heavily infected with this parasite. Kittens can also become infected at a very young age. While puppies and kittens can become quite sick (with vomiting, diarrhoea and even death in severe cases), adult dogs and cats can become infected and not show any clinical signs. Control As previously mentioned hygiene is vital in breaking the lifecycle of this parasite, i.e. hand washing, gloves etc. Educating children about handling the family pet and not playing in areas where the pet has defaecated. Veterinary Surgeon Eimear Fitzgerald XLVets Practice All Creatures Veterinary Clinic, Roscommon Town How does infection occur? Infection usually occurs when one animal accidentally ingests eggs passed in the faeces of another animal. Health risks to humans occur when a person accidentally ingests an infective egg. This happens more easily than you would think; when you touch the soil or ground that contains the egg and then touch your mouth. What is the result of infection? The ingested egg hatches in the small intestine and can travel to different parts of the body and invade tissues e.g. the liver. It then damages this tissue and can cause clinical disease. One of the greatest risks to humans is the possibility of developing a condition known as 'visceral larva migrans'. This occurs where the hatched larva invades certain organs most notably the eye and can cause blindness (which is usually reversible). It could be argued that there is a higher risk of this occurring on the farm, as farm dogs and cats have free roaming access and farm workers are more at risk of handling areas where these animals have been. Children are probably most at risk (whether on a farm or not) as they tend to play in areas where dogs or cats have been. Remove dog and cat faeces from areas where children or farm workers may directly come into contact with it. This is very effective as the eggs do not become infective for a few weeks after being passed. If possible train the dog at a very young age to defaecate in only specified areas. Most dogs are surprisingly amenable to this training and it is worth the investment of time. Control rodents as they can ingest eggs, the larvae then travel to their tissues and they can then be eaten by and infect the dog. Puppies and kittens should be wormed from a young age and kept in a controlled part of the farm for the first few months of their life. Speak to your vet in relation to a good worming programme for your puppy or kitten. Nursing queens and bitches should be wormed with the puppies and kittens. All adult dogs and cats should be wormed regularly. 3 LIVESTOCK MATTERS WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...

5 FARM DOG AND CAT Cryptosporidia spp. This parasite has gained a lot of publicity in the media in recent years. It causes most problems in calves but can infect humans and occasionally dogs and cats. How does infection occur? It is highly unlikely that the farm dog or cat will create an outbreak of Cryptosporidia on a farm. However, it is possible for the dog or cat to become infected from the calves and therefore, potentially pass the disease to humans, or increase the likelihood of contaminating water supplies. It is immediately infective when excreted and remains infective in the environment for several months. Infection often occurs as a result of ingesting contaminated water. What is the result of infection? Clinical signs in kittens and puppies are diarrhoea, vomiting, temperature. Adult animals may be infected but not have clinical signs. As with dogs and cats, in humans it is immunocompromised, very young, and very old individuals who are at most risk. There is no treatment but the disease is self limiting. Prevention and control are essential. Control Do not allow dogs or cats to have access to calf houses especially if there is any case of calf scour. Kittens and puppies, elderly and sick dogs and cats should have restricted access to the farm. Hygiene and educating children about handling the pets and hand washing. Isolate dogs and cats that show any clinical signs of the disease as mentioned above. Keep dogs and cats away from water sources on the farm. Giardia spp. Giardia intestinalis infects dogs and cats and can infect humans. It is not of as great a concern as the other internal parasites of dogs and cats but deserves a mention. Humans usually pass this disease from one person to the other, either directly or in contaminated water or food, but it is possible that dogs or cats infected with this parasite can contaminate water sources also. The clinical signs are similar to those caused by Cryptosporidia and the control mechanisms are the same. However, unlike Cryptosporidia, standard de-worming doses for dogs will treat this disease. Therefore, regular worm dosing (being used for Toxocara spp. as mentioned above) will keep this parasite under control. Conclusion It is true the farm dog or cat has the potential to create or exacerbate the problem of internal parasites on the farm. This can pose a health risk to both farm animals and humans working or living on the farm. However, knowledge of the presence of these parasites and how they can infect individuals gives us ammunition to put simple control mechanisms in place. Hygiene: The notion of creating a barrier between the farm and the family is an old idea but still relevant. This involves strict hygiene and breaks the lifecycle of many parasites (and other infectious agents). This involves rigorous hand washing, wearing gloves on the farm, wearing boots and protective clothing that do not go indoors etc. This is particularly important in protecting the health of pregnant women, children, elderly or sick individuals within the household. Educating children in relation to hand washing and care when handling pets and being careful when playing in areas of the farm that may be contaminated by dog or cat faeces is also essential. Limit access of dogs and cats to certain areas of the farm. Prevent them from entering lambing and calving pens, meal bins, water supplies, areas where fruit and vegetables are grown and calf houses. Hay barns: It can be difficult to limit access to these but hay should be monitored for cat faeces in particular before being fed to pregnant ewes. Kittens and puppies should be restricted to an enclosed area until a full course of de-worming therapy has been administered. Trays of cat litter should be left at allocated areas around the farm to encourage cats to defaecate in these specific areas which can then be safely cleaned regularly. Dogs should be trained from a young age to defaecate in specific, safe areas of the farm from which faeces can be removed. Dogs are generally amenable to this training and it is well worth the investment of time. Remove cat and dog faeces from areas where children are playing or people are working. Treat adult dogs and cats with suitable de-worming therapy four times per year. Ask your vet for advice on an appropriate treatment. Kittens and puppies need de-worming treatment more frequently and from a very young age. Speak to your vet to discuss a suitable programme. Fence off areas of stagnant water and keep drinkers high off the ground. Try to prevent dogs and cats from soiling grazing pasture. Feed only cooked meat to dogs and cats. Monitor areas of the farm where there is public access or where hunts pass through, especially near grazing pastures. Keep farm dogs and cats in a good state of health, well fed and vaccinated. Discourage stray dogs or cats from entering the farm. Rodent control is essential. Remove afterbirth and destroy it. Avoid it being left to be eaten by the farm cat or dog or wild canids. These simple measures will reduce the opportunity of the parasite from being passed from the farm dog or cat to other farm animals or indeed humans on the farm. They are less drastic and more successful than eliminating the dog or cat. Remember once the dog or cat become infected with Neospora and Toxoplasma respectively, they will only shed for a number of days and will then become immune once they themselves are in good health. Having a healthy, mature, well controlled population of dogs and cats on the farm should minimise the threat of these animals being a source of internal parasitic disease of humans or other farm animals. WINTER 2012 ISSUE LIVESTOCK MATTERS 4

6 CALF REARING Calf rearing Successful calf rearing starts long before the calf is born and plays a vital role in the profitability of both dairy and suckler farming enterprises. The old saying failing to prepare is preparing to fail is very true when it comes to good calf rearing. Key components of preparing for successful calf rearing include: 1. Good dry cow management. 2. Well grown first calvers. 1. Dry cow management The birth of a healthy calf is dependent on the management of its mother. Ensuring that pregnant cows are in good order is critical to optimising calf survivability and subsequent health. Cow comfort, diet, mineral supplementation, disease control, and effective parasite control programmes all play important roles towards the birth of a healthy, viable calf. 3. Adequate calving facilities. 4. Excellent colostrum management. 5. Fit for purpose calf housing. Veterinary Surgeon Jerry Crowley XLVets Practice Glenbower Veterinary Group, Co.Cork COW COMFORT Avoid overcrowding/mixing groups especially those close to calving. Ensure adequate feed space. Reduce risk of injury. DIET Calve cows fit not fat, maintain cows in a good body condition score (BCS), (dairy cow and suckler cows ). Over-fat cows may suffer calving difficulty and other health issues such as milk fever, retained afterbirth, mastitis and abomasal displacement. Thin cows may give birth to weak calves and have poorer quality colostrum. TIP: Monitoring BCS of cows, and batching cows in the far off dry period according to BCS and feeding accordingly are very useful management tools on farm. MINERAL SUPPLEMENTATION Deficiencies in trace elements such as Iodine and Selenium may result in protracted calvings, weak calves and poor immune defences. Deficiencies/ imbalance in the major minerals Calcium and Magnesium will place your herd at greater risk of milk fever again leading to protracted calving and the birth of weak calves. TIP: Forage analysis for feeding value and mineral status allows you to supplement as necessary and feed as required for optimal dry cow management and calf health. DISEASE CONTROL Practise good biosecurity. This needs to be done on an individual herd basis with emphasis on managing known farm disease risks (e.g. Salmonella vaccination) and minimising the risk of introducing new disease challenges to your pregnant stock (e.g. quarantine bought in animal(s)/sick cows to isolation unit). PARASITE CONTROL Feeding parasites is more expensive than treating them, and if neglected will impact negatively on cow health, colostrum quality and calf survivability. The dry period is also the best time to deal with parasite burdens on dairy farms. TIP: Don`t forget lice. 2. Well grown first calvers The younger the heifer calves the more she minimises the cost of rearing her. As a rule of thumb heifers should be 60-65% of mature bodyweight at first service and 85% of their mature bodyweight after calving. Small heifers are more prone to calving difficulty, have fewer reserves for milk production and are less likely to go back in calf. TIP: Heifers reach puberty at approximately 50% of their mature body weight and start to have oestrus cycles. Fertility will increase with each early cycle, such that heifers that have cycled 2 or 3 times are more likely to become pregnant than heifers served to their first cycle. 5 LIVESTOCK MATTERS WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...

7 CALF REARING 3. Calving facilities Success or failure at the point of calving is often predetermined by the system and facilities. You need to consider whether you are giving yourself the best chance of success. JERRY CROWLEY MVB The first hour after calving is sometimes referred to as the golden hour and is arguably the most important period in the new born animal's life. The question is not whether you can cope on a good day, but how well your system works under pressure? The first hour after calving is sometimes referred to as the golden hour and is arguably the most important period in the new born animal's life. The viability of the calf, risk of infection or inadequate passive transfer of immunity (colostrum feeding) are all determined at this time and play a huge role in the long term health and productivity of each calf. Don`t forget human safety at this time. Around calving cows can become aggressive so ensure that you have good restraining gates, an escape route and do not turn your back to the cow. Wear disposable arm length gloves when assisting a calving to reduce your risk of contracting zoonotic diseases (passed from animal to man). PRIORITIES WHEN ASSESSING YOUR CALVING FACILITIES: Is the environment suitable for a calf? Will the calf be clean? Will the calf be at risk of injury? Is there a risk of mis-mothering or cross suckling? Is it quiet? Comfortable? Will it deliver the best chance of a low stress calving? Are the facilities adequate to safely restrain a cow for investigation or assistance? How accessible is your calving equipment and how well is it maintained? 4. Colostrum management Colostrum or Biestings is the first milk produced by a freshly calved cow. Colostrum is rich in energy, vitamins and minerals, it stimulates gut motion, supplies warmth and proteins called antibodies and is essentially the entire basis for the calf`s early immune system. In effect it is a ready-made survival food for the new born calf. Antibodies do not pass from cow to calf in the womb hence calves are born without a functional immune system. Passive transfer of immunity is what happens in the calf`s gut when they get colostrum on time. Antibodies are relatively large in size and when a calf is born these large protein molecules are able to cross freely from the gut into the blood. This is sometimes referred to as the gut being open. This window of opportunity is narrow with the ability of antibodies to enter the blood from the gut dropping rapidly from birth to less than 5% at 24 hours. Colostrum quality, which equates to the amount of antibodies it contains, can vary. Antibody content can vary from 15-90g/litre of colostrum. 50g/litre is the minimum threshold for good quality colostrum. A calf requires a minimum of 100g of antibodies for adequate passive transfer of immunity. Remember the calf will be challenged by bugs as soon as it enters the birth canal so the sooner it gets colostrum the better! Many of the cow factors affecting colostrum quality were discussed earlier, nutrition, poor mineral status, and parasitism. Other cow factors such as high yielders and first calvers reduce colostrum quality. Short dry periods, or a cow that leaks milk before calving reduces colostrum quality. Cows calving down with mastitis or suffering other illnesses also produce poorer colostrum. Bacterial contamination of colostrum by dung or dirty buckets etc also reduces the availability of antibodies. IMPORTANT: Due to the risk of transmission of Johnes disease pooling of colostrum is not recommended. For more information on Johnes disease see The 4 Q`s to colostrum management Q 1. Quality Colostrum quality can vary enormously and depends on a number of factors: Health of the cow. Breed/age of the cow. Length of the dry period. Milk yield. Hygiene. Q 2. Quantity Feed a minimum of three litres. Twenty minutes of continuous suckling needed to consume 3 L. If necessary divide into feeds. Q 3. Quickly The bugs don`t wait. Feed as soon as possible after birth. At worst within six hours of birth. Q 4. Quietly Stress will reduce a calf`s ability to absorb antibodies. The All-Island disease survey carried out by the Regional Vet. Labs and their northern equivalent, revealed that over 66% or two of every three calves that came to their attention had not received sufficient colostrum in Calf housing Essential requirements include. Comfort - dry, good bedding, warm with no draughts at calf level. Minimal disease challenge - rear calves in small groups and keep groups consistent i.e. all in and all out system. Hygiene - reduce the disease challenge, proper cleaning and disinfection between groups. Remember calf dung is higher in fat and hot washing, air dry and disinfection works best. Overcrowding, mixing different ages of calves, poor ventilation, poor drainage, and inconsistent feeding regimes will all impact negatively on calf performance. WINTER 2012 ISSUE LIVESTOCK MATTERS 6

8 HERD HEALTH SHANE McGUCKIN MVB Parasite control has to be looked at over an extended period such as 12 months using all the history and information available as well as taking the weather conditions into account. Herd health - parasite control R ecently I was asked to speak at a Teagasc farm walk on the farm of a client of mine, Cathal Crean. This farm is part of the Better Farm Programme which is a joint initiative between Teagasc and the Irish Farmers Journal which is supported by industry sponsors. Its aim is to improve beef performance and profitability at farm level. Part of the programme is to draw up a herd health plan which will help increase productivity especially involving vaccination programmes, parasite control and fertility. Veterinary Surgeon Shane McGuckin XLVets Practice The Veterinary Hospital, Co.Wexford Cathal farms 97ha just outside Gorey in North Wexford of which 23ha is in spring barley. The land is a mix of good land and heavy ground with what is known locally as macamore soil (which one local vet once described as the home of fluke ). Under the programme he has increased his cow numbers from 68 to 95. He finishes all the cattle as fat heifers and bull beef. The part of my talk that generated the most interest and questions was the parasite control programme. Parasite control has to be looked at over an extended period such as 12 months using all the history and information available as well as taking the weather conditions into account. On Cathal's farm the cows were dosed with a combined fluke and worm oral dose (albendazole) approximately 7 weeks after housing last winter. The weanlings and the fattening cattle were dosed with an injectable combined fluke and worm dose (ivermectin and clorsulon) 3 weeks after housing - we felt 7 LIVESTOCK MATTERS WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...

9 HERD HEALTH an oral dose would have been too difficult to administer especially to the fattening bulls. During the grazing season the young cattle were dosed every 5 weeks or so with an ivermectin injection unless they were getting close to slaughter. The farm walk was on September 21st so 10 days beforehand we took faecal samples from the weanlings, the bulls and the cows. Faecal samples are very useful when devising a parasite control programme. We can mix faeces from 3 animals in the same batch to get a better result and we only need 30ml of faeces in total. Analysis is cheap and the results come back quickly. The taking of samples around housing helps to decide what dosing to do at that time. Samples can also be taken after the winter dose or in mid-winter to see if your dose has been adequate. Feedback from factories is also very useful especially for the two types of fluke. Pilot schemes are being developed in some factories where this information will automatically be sent back with the cheque. Factory data was not available for Cathal's farm at the time of the walk. The results on Cathal's farm were the same for the three groups. There were no worm eggs or liver fluke eggs present which showed that our dosing programme to date was working. The three groups were however positive for rumen fluke eggs. I discussed these results with Cathal and warned him that dung samples taken on September 10th might be too early to pick up fluke eggs. We also had to take the wet summer on wet land into account. I also explained to him that liver fluke will reduce thrive and weight gain much more than rumen fluke especially where there were no clinical signs e.g. diarrhoea due to the rumen fluke. We decided to dose for liver fluke first at housing along the same lines as last winter. Then when the cattle are in for 8 weeks we are going to dose them orally with oxyclosanide which will treat rumen fluke and any mature liver fluke that are present. Interestingly Cathal's gross margin went from 645/ha in 2008 down to 500 in 2009 due to his investment and poor cattle prices and then rose to 1027/ha in The veterinary costs including vaccination programmes, dosing and laboratory testing rose from 46/ha to 84/ha. The biggest increase in costs was in fertiliser from 102/ha to 211. He now enters a second three year programme where he will try to maintain this level of efficiency and build on it. As Cathal says himself The story on this farm is in no way finished. WINTER 2012 ISSUE LIVESTOCK MATTERS 8

10 SUCKLER HERD FERTILITY NICK GARVEY MVB Difficult calving is one of the most common reasons delaying the cow going back in calf quickly. Managing cow condition (BCS) is an important factor in reducing calving difficulties. Suckler herd fertility Herd fertility has a major impact on the profitability of suckler herds. Any cow which does not produce a calf in a 12 month period reduces herd profit, and increases costs. ICBF figures reveal that the average calving interval of suckler cows in Ireland is over 400 days, and the average calves per cow per year is This indicates that the average suckler cow only produces 4 calves every 5 years. Increasing the number of calves produced means improving fertility. There are many factors that delay cows returning to cycling and subsequently conceiving. Given that the average pregnancy is around 288 days this leaves 78 days or 11 weeks to get the cow back in calf again. Cows should calve down 'fit not fat' (BCS 3.0), lose a little condition in the few weeks post calving then regain condition slowly over the summer at grass. Autumn calvers will continue to lose condition for longer, and should calve in slightly better body condition to allow for this. Avoiding a prolonged negative energy balance in calved cows will ensure cows start to cycle quicker. Veterinary Surgeon Nick Garvey XLVets Practice Old Church Veterinary Hospital, Co.Donegal 9 LIVESTOCK MATTERS WORKING TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...

11 SUCKLER HERD FERTILITY calf. This practice is common in dairy herds and should also be employed in suckler farms to improve efficiency and increase calving rates. Avoiding cows empty at weaning time will reduce culling rates for infertility. In herds where a bull is used his fertility must be adequate to ensure good conception rates. It is estimated that 1 in 4 stock bulls are either infertile or subfertile. Subfertile bulls will produce a lower conception rate, especially in busy periods or in herds that aim for a compact calving season. Bulls should be fertility tested at least 8 weeks prior to the breeding season to ensure adequate fertility and semen quality to maximise conception rates. They should be in fit condition, in good health and have good feet. Care should be taken with young bulls in particular, avoid putting them under pressure with too many cows. Carefully monitor bulls throughout the breeding season. Lameness for example could reduce the bull's mobility and willingness to serve cows, or a temperature spike could reduce sperm quality for a number of weeks. Maximising Fertility Targets Difficult calving is one of the most common reasons delaying the cow going back in calf quickly. Oversized calves, immature heifers, over fat cows, and over muscled cows are common reasons for difficult calvings. Choosing an appropriate bull for cows, and managing cow condition (BCS) are important factors in reducing calving difficulties. A strategy frequently overlooked in suckler herds is early scanning of cows to identify problem cows quickly, and allow for prompt treatment to get those individual cows back in Herd health; e.g. BVD Lepto, IBR, Liver and Rumen fluke, Worms. Body Condition Score; Correct condition especially at calving. Avoid difficult calvings, oversized calves, and small dams. Genetics; replacements from productive cows. 365 day calving interval. 12 week calving period. 80% of cows calved in 2 months calf/cow/year. <2.5% calf mortality at birth. Calf/cow/year = No. live calves/no. of breeding females over 22 months Modern calf houses are easier to clean and disinfect WINTER 2012 ISSUE LIVESTOCK MATTERS 10

12 Welcome to the Winter XLVets readers competition. WINTER 2012 YOUR CHANCE TO WIN... We have an XLVets fleece to give away to the first correct entry drawn at random after the competition closes. ENTER TODAY To enter, simply answer the three questions below and complete your details on the entry form. All the answers can be found in the articles in this issue of the magazine. Details of where to send your entry can be found below. GOOD LUCK... A winner will be chosen from all the correct entries received before the closing date, Friday 25th January Winners will be revealed in the next issue of XLVets Ireland Livestock Matters. one... What is the recommended BCS of suckler cows at calving? My details Name Address Daytime Telephone Number two... three... What is the minimum volume of colostrum recommended to be consumed by newborn calves? List two diseases that can be transmitted to livestock by dogs and cats 1 2 XLVets Practice Name Fleece size (please circle) S M L XL I would like to receive further information from XLVets by I do not wish to receive further information from XLVets Send your completed entry to: Farm Competition No.9 XLVets Ireland, Dromsally, Cappamore, Co.Limerick The editor s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The actual fleece supplied may differ slightly from the one pictured. Autumn 2012 Livestock Matters competition winner: Thomas Steele, Knockane, Castlemartyr, Co. Cork (client of Glenbower Veterinary Group, Killeagh, Co. Cork). XLVets Ireland Our primary aims are 4 fold: 1. To be a primary source of on-farm advice and the central co-ordinating consultant for other farm services for our clients. 2. To be committed to the sharing of current best practice advice to our clients through direct XLVets newsletters and client training, associated with our own high levels of Continuing Professional Development (CPD). 3. To be highly competitive in the health and medicines market with not just prescription only medicines but also re-establishing the vet as a primary source for other on-farm medicinal and consumable products supported by impartial professional advice. 4. To improve our own efficiencies and reduce our costs by economies of scale over a wide range of practice needs and requirements.