Beef Cattle Herd Health Workshop # 10 Barry Whitworth, DVM Area Food/Animal Quality and Health Specialist for Eastern Oklahoma Herd health management and preventive medicine programs are designed to minimize potential adverse effects of predictable problems and to protect against unexpected ones. Smith MC, Sherman DM: Goat Medicine, Philadelphia, 1994, Lea&Febiger Herd Health Goals Records Nutrition Reproduction Facilities Management Biosecurity Parasite Control Vaccination 1
Goals Someone has said that if you aim at nothing you will hit it every time. Goals Short term and Long term Personal Financial Production Examples 12 month calving interval 60 day calving season Reduce feed cost Improve carcass qualities Personal teach children responsibility Records Records are essential in managing any successful business. Computer or Hand written 2
Records Inventory records Veterinary Drug Orders Treatment Protocols Treatment Records Production Records Vaccination Records Financial Records Pregnancy Records Treatment Record Nutrition A balanced and cost effective nutrition program is essential to the success of any beef cattle operation. David Lalman and Chris Richards 3
Nutrition Forage management Supplementation Minerals Vitamins Water NUTRITION Reproduction Breeding Soundness Examination Pregnancy Diagnosis Abortions Calving problems Calving every 12 months 4
Facilities Management Fencing Shelter Working pens Feeders Waters Equipment: sterile, proper function EQUIPEMENT 5
Biosecurity Programs for preventing the introduction of pathogens considered potentially harmful to the health and well-being of the herd. Beef Cattle Manuel It is the cheapest, most effective means of disease control. BQA Biosecurity Maintain a closed herd if possible Purchase animals from reputable seed stock producers Quarantine all new animals for 30 to 60 days Isolate sick animals Test new animals for diseases (BVD, Trich, Johnes, Leukosis) Minimize visitors Sanitations Parasite Control Internal and External Parasite 6
Vaccination Programs Vaccination programs are like insurance, they need to be custom designed for your operations. Your local veterinarian should be your partner in designing a program that s effective but efficient. HERD HEALTH PROGRAM Example Pre-calving Evaluate facilities Evaluate equipment Treatment protocol Quality frozen colostrum 7
Treatment Protocol Plan Disorder: Dystocia (problems calving) Indications for treatment(symptoms): Failure to calf in a timely manner (Stage 2: Cows 30 minutes, Heifers 60 minutes), breech birth (head back, foot back, butt first, etc.) Primary Treatment Examine to try to figure why parturition is not progressing. If problem is discovered attempt to correct. If calf is too large or you are not comfortable manipulating calf call veterinarian 000-123-4567 Calf Removed Treat Cow with LA 200 Dose: 4.5cc/100lbs Route: 10cc per spot SQ in neck, Duration: Once, Withdrawal: 28 day Comments: Check for signs of uterine infections (purulent discharge, not eating, depression, etc.) Secondary Treatment Prevention Pelvic measurements and Sire selection Calving Colostrum ID Records (Dystocia) Dip Navel Castrate and Dehorn Calves 2 to 4 months of age (Branding) Castrate Dehorn 7- or 8-way Clostridial Brucellosis? Viral Respiratory Disease (IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV)? Lepto? Pinkeye? Implant Parasite Control 8
Weaning 7- or 8-way Clostridial Viral Respiratory Vaccine Bacterial Respiratory Vaccine? Brucellosis? Lepto? Pinkeye? Parasite Control Precondition Programs may have specific requirements Replacement Heifers Viral Respiratory Diseases Vibrio Lepto 7- or 8-way Clostridial? Parasite Control BVD-PI Test? Bovine Leukosis Test? COWS IBR, BVD Optional PI3, BRSV Vibrio Lepto Anaplasmosis? Trich? Parasite Control 9
Pregnancy Testing Cull Open Cows Cull Cows with bad eyes, udder, feet, disposition Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Trichomoniasis Test? BVD PI Test? IBR, BVD Optional PI3, BRSV Vibrio Lepto Anaplasmosis? Parasite Control 60 Days Precalving If scours has been a problem, may vaccinate with a scour vaccine 10
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