Ruminant Herd Health Dr. Lauren Lyzenga Abbotsford Veterinary Clinic
Goals: Biosecurity! Prevent disease - Nutrition - Housing - Vaccinations - Parasite control By Jacquie Wingate from Recovery, usa - Flickr, CC BY-SA 1.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3474660 Identify and treat sick animals early
Farm Biosecurity Sanitize boots, hands, and wear clean clothes Between farms; between healthy and sick animals Visitors Wear gloves/sleeves when handling sick or birthing animal Healthy animals first, sick animals last Single use needles Sanitize equipment between animals
Nutrition Forages Salt and minerals Supplemental protein and energy https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1308/9569/products/bluegrass_2048_102 4x1024.jpg?v=1480482448 https://cdn-prod.countrysidenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/salt-lick-blocke1475249717764.jpg https://www.flickr.com/photos/baalands/56698 58083/in/photostream/
Forages Cattle: 1.5 2.5% of body weight per day (dry matter) Small ruminant: 1.5 3.5% body weight Pasture: grass vs legumes? maturity? Hay Grass hays: good maintenance diet Legume hays (alfalfa, clover): high protein and calcium Silage/balelage/ haylage Nutritious; spoilage problems
Pastures Overstocking pastures and poor maintenance leads to: compaction and damage to pastures lack of adequate nutrition manure management and run-off issues Parasite overload Dry lot or indoor areas Confine animals when too wet, too dry, or pasture eaten down
https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahukewj1solyi87yahud1gmkhyuodmwqjrwibw&url=https%3a%2f%2fmeridianjacobs.wordpress.com%2ftag%2fpasture%2fpage%2f4%2f&psig=aovvaw056pcmlk3sksal5wfyymvt&ust=1515697559856430 Pasture rotation
Dry lots and indoor housing https://www.flickr.com/photos/baalands/968726496/
Feed to Body Condition! Look and Feel Dairy breeds vs meat breeds
Supplemental Protein and Energy Who? Breeding, late pregnancy and lactating animals Growing animals Low body condition (BCS <2.5-3) What? Grains, pellets or tex mix Check label for species! Cattle feed should not be given to sheep and goats
Salt, Minerals, Vitamins Blocks or loose minerals Check label for species Sheep are sensitive to copper Selenium! http://www.ranch-way.com/products/horse-feed/ranch-way-easy-feed-organic-12-10- all-stock-mineral cattle, horses, goats and pigs
Salts, Vitamins, Minerals Protein licks with minerals and vitamins Injectable vitamin supplements: Only if inadequate in diet (poor forage, winter, no other supplements) Vitamins A & D Mu-Se (Vitamin E and Selenium) Pre-breeding, mid late pregnancy, weanlings
Vaccinations Small ruminants (sheep, goats, camelids) CDT vaccine: Tetanus and Clostridium perfringens type C & D Cattle Respiratory combination vaccine (Express) Clostridial combination vaccine (Covexin Plus) Additional: intranasal vaccines for viral and bacterial pneumonias, scour prevention vaccines
Internal Parasites Routine deworming Pasture management Animal assessment FAMACHA (anemia) Body condition Fecal consistency (diarrhea) Bottle jaw Hair coat Fecal sample monitoring http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmv7vmkhmd4/t2a_bgtij- I/AAAAAAAAAAU/XWwXy_7iKqE/s1600/barberpoleworm.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/i5rcuvvg56q/maxresdefault.jpg
Organic dewormers Diatomaceous earth not for internal use! Copper Oxide wire boluses (Copasure is one brand) 2 gram boluses in adult goat/sheep, 1 gram in lambs Concentrated Tannins found in plants Big and birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin, sulla, and sericea lespedeza (legumes) Fresh plants or dried Likely needs to be a high portion of diet
Lice and mites: Oh my! Sunlight, stocking density Diatomaceous earth on animals/environment Pyrethin (from Chrysanthemum plant) No synthetic carriers (piperonyl butoxide) Powder or spray Sulfur + Hydrated lime (hot lime sulfur dip) Mineral oil, vegetable oils Enzymatic soaps
Fly Control Manure disposal Fly parasites (wasps) Chickens, ducks eat fly larva Fly tape and traps Insecticidals Pyrethrin Repellant sprays: Essential oils: Neem, peppermint, lemon, citronella, eucalyptus, clove, bitter orange, tea tree Apple cider vinegar or Witch hazel Mineral or olive oil Dish soap
Foot health Trimming: 1 2 times per year for most Lameness: examine and treat promptly Foot rot: swollen foot, stinky and raw between toes. Trim and clean feet, systemic antibiotics, topical treatment Digital dermatitis: warts on the heel of cattle, apply activated copper and zinc chelate gel (Hoof- Sol) and wrap for 2 days. Repeat Hoof abscess: carve out with hoof knife, block opposite toe requires training
Hygiene Birthing management Bedding, wash vulva and wear sleeves if assisting, dip naval in 7% Iodine Colostrum Anti-inflammatory after difficult births both mom and baby! Metacam good choice Not Banamine (flunixin)
Retained Placenta >24 hours after parturition Do not attempt to remove Trim to prevent dragging Keep mother in clean area Immune support: Vit A & D and Vit C Monitor temperature for fever Antibiotics http://www2.luresext.edu/photos/afterbirth300.jpg
Hydration!! Scours Electrolytes 1-2 times per day (bottle, tube feed, bucket feed) Access to fresh water Pain management Metacam Severe cases: intravenous fluids & antibiotics Prevention: cleanliness, separation of older and younger animals, colostrum intake, scour vaccinations
Pneumonia Signs: Fever Breathing fast or with effort Cough, snotty nose Treatment Antibiotics! Anti-inflammatories Prevention: Ventilation/housing Biosecurity Colostrum Vaccines (cattle) http://extension.wsu.edu/wam/wp-content/uploads/sites/49/2017/02/pic1.jpg
Indigestion Signs: decreased appetite, abnormal manure (dry, loose, stinky), decreased manure, decreased ruminations, mild bloat Common Pump with fluids, probiotics, alfalfa meal Ginger, cayenne pepper stimulate motility
Wounds: Suturing should be done within 12 hours if needed Flush with water and dilute iodine Dress with Golden Yellow Wound Ointment or unpasteurized honey Anti-bacterial Herbs Yarrow, Plantain
Musculoskeletal and nerve injuries If animal is unable to stand and walk, need to be assessed by a veterinarian promptly Treatments: Acupuncture, chiropractic medicine Laser therapy Herbs Corydalis yanhusuo, Comfrey Anti-inflammatories (Metacam, Anafen, Dexmethasone, Pre-Def 2X)
Urinary Stones Castrated male sheep and goats Prevention At least 1 month old before castration Encourage water intake High salt diet Calcium:Phosphorous ratio >2:1 in diet Avoid feeding grain (high phosphorous) Feed calcium alfalfa, limestone Ammonium chloride for high risk
Urinary Stones Signs of urinary blockage Straining and repeated attempts to urinate, dribbling urine, blood tinged urine, vocalizing, painful, not eating Edema, Down, weak, bloated Emergency! Treatment? https://image.slidesharecdn.com/mavet-overviewdiseases-160519033622/95/on-overview-of-disease-conditions-in-small-ruminants-17-638.jpg?cb=1463628996
Mastitis Abnormal milk, swollen quarter, pain Milk out quarter frequently Oxytocin if needed Massage quarter with peppermint udder ointment Mastotreet after milking twice daily in quarter Amplimune immune stimulant, organic certified Fever, depression, dehydration Fluid support Intravenous Banamine Antibiotics http://cahsspvd.pvamu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/mastitis_2.jpg
Metritis Watery, brown, stinky discharge from uterus, straining Infuse 50% dextrose or Utresept Immune support: Vit A & D and Vit C Fever, depression: Antibiotics: Penicillin for 5 days or ceftiofur (Excede, Excenel) Anti-inflammatory