Abiqua Animal Clinic Mixed animal practice in Silverton Purchased in 2009 Dr Dietrich s agrarian interests include dairying, sheep farming, forage and pasture management. Dr Varney s veterinary interests include cattle and small ruminants, in addition to small animals.
Beef Breeds
Dairy Breeds
Dual-purpose Breeds
Restraint
Restraint
Handling Equipment
Handling Techniques
A G I N C A T T L E
Nutrition Roughage Concentrates Water Vitamins Minerals
Roughages Forages Cool season grasses PRG, ARG, TF, OG, Timothy, RCG Warm season grasses Sorghum-sudan grass, forage corn, Bermuda grass, pearl millet, teff Legumes Alfalfa, clovers, trefoils, medics, beans Forbs Broadleaf weeds Toxic plants Tansy, poison hemlock, bracken fern, etc.
Pasture management Rotational grazing Keep forage in growing phase Minimum 4 inch stubble Noxious weed control
Roughages Hay Alfalfa Grass Grass/legume Grain Straw Grass Grain Silage/haylage Test, TEST, TEST!
Grains Whole grains Processed grains Rolled/Flaked/Steamed Cracked/Ground Pelleted Mixes By-products Grass seed screenings Cannery waste
Water Clean and abundant Sources Man-made Natural Parasite risk Algae
Vitamins Fat-soluble A, D, E, K Water-soluble B vitamins, C
Minerals Calcium M a c r o Phosphorus Potassium Magnesium Sulfur 2:1 Cobalt M i c r o Copper Manganese Molybdenum Zinc Iodine Iron Selenium
Balancing a Ration Assess the main components Determine needs based on: Age Gender Use Balance first for protein and energy, then vitamins and minerals
Balancing a Ration Diet will consist of: Local grass hay 12% livestock grain Feeding a 1200 lb cow Mid-gestation Non-lactating
Balancing a Ration
Balancing a Ration Balancing ration to achieve 18 lbs of a 7.5% protein diet Local grass hay: 6% protein based on feed test Livestock grain: 12% protein based on label
Pearson Square Local grass hay 6% 4.5 parts 7.5 Livestock grain 12% (1.5 /6) x 100 = 25% grain (4.5 /6) x 100 = 75% hay 18 lb x 25% = 4.5 lb grain 18 lb x 75% = 13.5 lb hay 1.5 parts 6 parts total
Choke Blockage of esophagus Usually able to breathe Results in bloat Risk of inhaling saliva and feed material, leading to pneumonia Object must be removed Up Down Common culprits Apples Pears Beets Onions Potatoes Cauliflower Pineapples Et cetera
Bloat Frothy bloat Legumes Treat with surfactant +/- trocar Free-gas bloat Choke Grain overload Nerve dysfunction Relieve with tube +/- trocar
Acidosis Due to: Grain overload Lack of dietary fiber Decreased gut motility Evidenced by: Inappetance Lethargy Bloat Sequelae: Lameness Liver abscesses Prevention Change diet slowly Ensure adequate fiber Provide sodium bicarb? Treatment Call your vet who may give a neutralizing mixture via stomach tube
Grass Tetany Causes Low dietary magnesium Decreased magnesium absorption due to excessive potassium When? Often during spring pasture growth Signs Incoordination Inability to stand Irritability Death Treatment Calcium/magnesium IV infusion Call your vet! Prevention Provide magnesium blocks starting with spring grass growth Add dolomitic lime to pastures
Respiratory disease Causative agents IBR PI3 BVD Mannheimia hemolytica Contributing factors STRESS Transportation
Respiratory disease Prevention Vaccination (see program mentioned later) Space out stressful events Provide good nutrition Treatment Hydration/Electrolytes Antibiotics
Clostridial diseases Group of bacterial diseases caused by Clostridium spp. Require anaerobic environment Produce potent toxins Spores persist in the environment Examples: Black leg, red water, big head, enterotoxemia, tetanus, botulism Prevention: Vaccinate! Treatment: Largely ineffective
Reproductive diseases Abortion Toxic causes Bracken fern False hellebore Pine needle abortion Infectious causes Leptospirosis Vaccinate!! Brucellosis Bang s vaccine Trichomonas fetus BVD Neospora
Reproductive diseases Abortion Signs Usually late term May find fetus, placenta, or just dirty tail Determining cause is difficult Abortion testing Fetus and placenta Blood sample
Reproductive diseases Dystocia Signs Restless/Straining Vaginal fluid Placenta Types Leg back Head only Breech/backwards Call your vet! Within 1-2 hours if no progress
Reproductive diseases Uterine prolapse Due to continued straining following calving Risk factors include difficult calving, calcium deficiency, and selenium deficiency Keep uterus clean and call your vet
Reproductive diseases Milk fever Signs Severe weakness Head on flank Hypothermia (ears) Risk factors High milk production Older cows Inadequate or excessive dietary calcium during last trimester
Reproductive diseases Milk fever Sequelae Hind limb nerve damage Uterine prolapse Decreased gut motility Get them up ASAP! IV CMPK infusion Oral supplementation
Reproductive diseases Retained placenta Placenta should drop within 12 hours Treatment Wait 72 hrs If not out on its own, call the vet +/- Antibiotics Never pull on it!
Reproductive diseases Metritis Uterine infections Due to unsanitary calvings and uterine injuries Treatment includes antibiotics +/- hormone therapy Monitor closely following parturition
Reproductive diseases Mastitis Bacterial infection of one or more udder quarters Contracted from the udder environment or fecal contamination Risk factors Milking machines Dirty environment Teat trauma
Reproductive diseases Mastitis Treatment Culture first Strip quarter frequently Hot packing/topical ointments +/- Antibiotics
Other infectious diseases Johne s disease Contagious bacterial disease that causes diarrhea No treatment Tuberculosis Federally regulated Zoonotic BLV Viral disease that causes tumors
Toxin-induced disease Plant poisoning Bracken fern Tansy ragwort St John s wort Poison hemlock Lead poisoning Farm junk piles
Parasites Gastrointestinal worms Live in stomach, small intestine, and cecum Suck blood and protein from the host Cause anemia, decreased body condition, and scours
Parasites Gastrointestinal worms Life cycle Eggs deposited in feces Develop over days to weeks into infective larvae Climb grass and are ingested Develop into adults which produce eggs
Parasites Gastrointestinal worms Prevention Rotational grazing Multi-species grazing High tannin forages Genetic selection Parasitic fungi? Vaccines?
Parasites Gastrointestinal worms Treatment Treat based on fecal test! Dewormers Use 1 until it doesn t work For oral medications, fast for 24 to 48 hours For resistance, consider mixing classes Ensure adequate nutrition Diatomaceous earth? Herbal remedies?
Parasites Gastrointestinal Coccidia One-celled organism Life cycle takes ~3 weeks Replicates in small intestine cells Results in cell rupture Bloody diarrhea and weight loss Prevention Maintain sanitary environment Maintain nutrition level Rotational grazing Coccidiostat in feed or water Treatment Sulfa drugs Amprolium Must treat for 5 days to break life cycle
Parasites Gastrointestinal Cryptosporidium Causes diarrhea in calves Short life cycle Autoinfection Prevention Hygiene Treatment Time Supportive therapy Good nutrition Zoonotic!!
Parasites Liver Flukes Live in bile ducts of liver Cause liver failure Edema Jaundice Weight loss Death May predispose to clostridial disease 4 to 6 month life cycle requires snails
Parasites Liver Flukes Prevention Fence off water ways and low ground Tile fields Control snail populations Copper sulfate Slug bait Treatment Clorsulon Albendazole Kills mainly adults Treat in early fall
Parasites External Flies Irritating, blood-sucking Lead to stress and decreased production Some species have migrating larvae (warbles) Spread pinkeye Prevention/Treatment Ear tags Dust bags Air movement Topical insecticides
Parasites External Lice Two main varieties Blood sucking Skin chewing Cause hair loss, itching, anemia, decreased body condition Treatment Injectables (only work on blood-suckers) Pour-ons, powders, DE?
Skin disease Warts Caused by a virus Usually in young animals Unsightly, may bleed Treatment Neglect Autovaccination Commercial vaccine
Skin disease Ringworm Caused by several species of fungi Lives in soil and on equipment Causes dry skin and hair loss Can be zoonotic Treatment Neglect Sunlight Various topicals (FDA!)
Skin disease Photosensitization UV light causes reaction in unpigmented skin Skin dies and sloughs Secondary to plant toxins or liver disease St John s Wort Tansy Ragwort Liver flukes
Hardware disease Metal objects penetrate reticulum Cause pain and thoracic/ abdominal infection Manifested by hunched posture Prevention Magnets Treatment Abdominal surgery Antibiotics
Calf Management Colostrum Nutrition Hygiene Calf scours E. coli Rotavirus Coronavirus Salmonella Cryptosporidium
Calf Management Navel ill/joint ill Swollen joints and umbilicus Colostrum! Difficult to treat Pneumonia Snotty nose, coughing, labored breathing Early treatment important White muscle disease Prevention: Bo-Se
Castration Technique options vary with age, size and/or season Banding Easy to do, no blood Increased risk of tetanus Use appropriate band!! Cutting Fail-safe, bloody Increased risk of flies/infection Crimping Difficult to do right May be price docked at sale
Breeding Programs Natural service vs artificial insemination Heat detection and synchronization Purebred vs crossbred Seedstock vs commercial Flushing and embryo transfer
Production Benchmarks 90% of cows should calve every year Breed less than 83 days after calving (2-3 heat cycles) Breeding season should be 45-60 days long 90% of calves should survive to weaning Wean calves at 6-7 months old Calves should weigh 45-50% of cow weight at weaning Calves should gain 2.5-3 lb/day Breed heifers at 60-65% of mature weight (14 months)
Beef Herd Health Calves At Birth BoSe 1cc/25# (for white muscle) Vitamin A&D 1cc/75# Dip navels with 7% iodine; do not spray Make sure calf nurses cow within first 6 hours. If not, tube feed calf 2 quarts colostrum. Repeat in 4-6 hours. Intranasal IBR/PI 3 if calf pneumonia has been a problem
Herd Health Calves cont. One Month of Age Burn off horns with electric dehorner Castrate bulls Three Weeks Prior to Weaning IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV vaccination Haemophilus, if a problem 7-way or 8-way Clostridium (blackleg) vaccination Check for parasites lice and worms. Treat if indicated. Weaning Repeat IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV vaccination Haemophilus, if a problem 7-way or 8-way Clostridium (blackleg) vaccination
Herd Health Heifers Four to Twelve Months of Age Brucellosis vaccination for heifers (must be done by veterinarian) Heifers at Breeding Age IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV vaccination Haemophilus, if a problem Lepto 5-way vaccination MuSe 1cc per 125-150# Repeat Clostridium (blackleg) vaccination Vaccinate for Vibriosis (if bull breeding) Deworm use injectable or oral dewormers (not pour-on)
Herd Health Cows Every 4-6 Months Lepto 5-way vaccination Annually (prior to breeding) Killed IBR, BVD, PI 3, BRSV vaccination Haemophilus (optional) Vibriosis vaccination (if bull breeding) At the End of Breeding Season Rectal examination for pregnancy Check teeth, teats, etc., and cull any open or problem cows Three to Four Weeks Before Calving Deworm use injectable or oral dewormers (not pour-on) MuSe 1cc per 125-150# Check udders Vaccinate for E. coli, Rota and Corona virus, if scours caused by these organisms have been a problem in calves
Herd Health Bulls Annually (prior to breeding) Killed IBR, BVD, PI 3, BRSV vaccination Haemophilus (optional) Vibriosis vaccination Lepto 5-way vaccination
Marketing Options Direct marketing More personal interaction Limited customer base Niche marketing Able to set the price Customized product Auctions Easy, available, convenient No price control On-line marketing Huge customer base Minimum quantities
Harvesting Options Federal law requires that products to be sold be processed in a USDAinspected facility Products for home use are exempt USDA mobile slaughter vs slaughterhouse Beef share program