Level II Agricultural Business Operations

To recognise animal signs of good and ill

health

To know how to prevent and treat calf scours

and pneumonia

To identify on-farm biosecurity measures

Shiny coat

Bright eyes

Clear warm nose

Pricked ears

Normal faeces

Steady breathing

Body temperature

Normal behaviour

Feed intake

Thrive

Dull coat

Sunken eyes

Runny nose

Droopy ears

Diarrhoea

Laboured

breathing

High/Low temp

On its own

Off feed

Hunched

Loss of production Welfare issues Loss of health status Antibiotic use / resistance Financial losses Sickness/death Consumer perception

There are moral, ethical and economic reasons for taking animal welfare seriously

Animal WelfareAnimal Welfare

Freedom from hunger and thirst

Freedom from discomfort

Freedom from pain, injury or disease

Freedom from fear or distress

Freedom to express normal behaviour

Welfare – 5 FreedomsWelfare – 5 Freedoms

Welfare Codes of PracticeWelfare Codes of Practice

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health-and-welfare/animal-welfare/farmed-animal-welfare.htm

Biosecurity is the prevention of disease causing agents entering or leaving any place where they can pose a risk to farm animals, other animals, humans, or the safety and quality of a food product.

The same principles apply within the farm, preventing disease spreading between animals and groups

BiosecurityBiosecurity

Water

Stock

Animals

Weather

Feed

People

Vehicles

A neighbour to borrow your bull

Visitors, without disinfection

Meal to be stored uncovered

A neighbour to use your cattle trailer

A dead lorry near your cattle

Cattle to drink downstream from another

herd

Would you allow?Would you allow?

Guidance on BiosecurityGuidance on Biosecurity

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/index/animal-health-and-welfare/disease-control-prevention/biosecurity.htm

Safeguard the herd against disease reducing

stress on animals and farmer

Safeguard human health

Improve production efficiency by reducing the

spread of disease within farm

Stops the spread of disease to other farms

Protects export markets

Why Bother with Biosecurity?Why Bother with Biosecurity?

Maintain a closed herd

Pre-test and isolate purchased animals

Restrict visitor access

Provide boot washing/disinfection facilities

Use common sense when moving around farm

Restrict access to water courses/neighbouring

stock

What Can You Do?What Can You Do?

Important points: Buy from as few sources as possible Buy from reliable source (know health history if

possible) Quarantine bought-in animals for at least 2 weeks

Screening: Ideally, test for main diseases (e.g. BVD) before mixing with the rest of your herd

Treatments: Vaccinations, Dose for fluke/worms

Buying in CattleBuying in Cattle

Common Diseases on Beef FarmsCommon Diseases on Beef Farms

Name some common diseases on beef farms

The diseases looked at will provide a general guide to animal health

Starting with neonatal (new born) calf

HOST

ENVIRONMENT

AGENT/ PATHOGE

N

Principles of DiseasePrinciples of Disease

Disease is multifactorial

Calf Scour (Neonatal calf Calf Scour (Neonatal calf diarrhoea)diarrhoea) Accounts for ~50% of deaths in calves < 1 month

oldSymptoms

Diarrhoea Temperature (fever) Dull Weak Reluctant to eat or drink Dehydration

o Sunken eyeo Skin elasticity

Nutritional Calf ScourNutritional Calf Scour

If calves are bucket fed ensure: Regular feeding times

Milk substitute is fed at correct strength & temperature

Correct positioning of feed buckets

Buckets are thoroughly cleaned after use

Feeding through a teat can help

Infectious Causes of Calf ScourInfectious Causes of Calf Scour

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How Infectious Agents Cause Calf How Infectious Agents Cause Calf ScourScour

1. Agents attacks gut wall.

2. Gut cannot absorb milk

3. Scour

4. Dehydration

5. Collapse / prolonged recovery

Early Diagnosis is ImportantEarly Diagnosis is Important Take a dung sample

o So appropriate treatment can be started and losses saved

o Cause has often disappeared by the time you go to look for it, although damage is done and symptoms remain

Treatment of Calf ScoursTreatment of Calf Scours1. Rehydration

Manage milk intake Alternate electrolyte and milk feeds (4 per

day) Intravenous fluids if very weak

2. Antibacterials etc to combat agentsConsult Vet

3. Isolate, dry bedding & heat lamp

Host FactorsHost Factors1. Age – younger calves more susceptible

2. Nutrition – high milk intake, milk replacer, erratic feeding, overfeeding, poor hygiene

3. Immunity – inadequate colostrum

4. Mixing of calves – less risk after 8 weeks provided enough fibre is offered.

ColostrumColostrum

First milk produced by dam after giving birth

Immunoglobulin (antibody) rich

Essential source of antibodies for newborn

calves

Newborn calves have no immunity

Absorbed during first 6 hours

Lines gut and protects it

1. Quantity

2. Quality

3. Quickly

The 3 Q’s of Colostrum FeedingThe 3 Q’s of Colostrum Feeding

2 litres within 6 hours

In total 10 % of calf’s birth weight with 12 hours

Generally 3 to 6 litres

20 min suckling = 3 litres intake!!

Colostrum QuantityColostrum Quantity

To ensure optimum colostrum quality...

Cow Body Condition Score of 2.5 - 3 prior to

calving

Minimum 5 weeks dry cow period

Cows exposed to pathogens on farm

Dry cow minerals fed prior to calving

Vaccination against specific causes

Quality – Cow ManagementQuality – Cow Management

Antibody absorption decreases after birth and

stops by 24hrs

Colostrum QuicklyColostrum Quickly

Antibody Absorption

Suckle the dam (quantity?)

Suckle from teat on bucket

Stomach tube

Source from dairy herd (Biosecurity)

Commercial substitutes

Colostrum OptionsColostrum Options

Colostrum StorageColostrum Storage

Freeze soon after collection

Freeze in quantities used ie 3 – 6 litres for

calves

Thaw slowly in warm water

Pour & store sealable bags/pouches are ideal as

easily thawed

Don’t microwave

Prevention is Cheaper than Prevention is Cheaper than TreatmentTreatment

Avoids treatment costs, loss of growth & labour

Vaccination too late when outbreak occurs

Vaccines available for Rotavirus, coronavirus &

E.coli

Vaccinate within 12 and 3 weeks before calving

Needs good colostrum management

PneumoniaPneumonia Lung inflammation

Highly infectious

Can be difficult to treat – multi-factorial disease

Loss in animal performance greatest cost

Causes of PneumoniaCauses of Pneumonia

Viruses eg IBR

Bacteria eg Pasteurella

Parasites eg lungworm

Most often: primary agent = virus secondary agent = bacteria

Clinical Signs of Pneumonia ?Clinical Signs of Pneumonia ?

Clinical Signs of PneumoniaClinical Signs of Pneumonia Reduced appetite

Temperature / Fever

Depression

Dullness

Rapid, shallow breathing

Coughing

Nasal discharge

Discharge from eyes

Salivation

Diagnosis and TreatmentDiagnosis and TreatmentDiagnosis Clinical signs Involve the vet early on

Treatment Antibiotics (ineffective against viruses) Anti-inflammatories Anthelmintics

Pneumonia – Risk FactorsPneumonia – Risk Factors

Animal Health Ireland

Prevention of PneumoniaPrevention of Pneumonia Adequate colostrum in newborn calves

Reduce Stresso Introduce concentrate prior to weaningo Avoid dehorning or castration around weaningo After weaning - calves in same place for 1 wk

Prevention of PneumoniaPrevention of Pneumonia Suitable housing

o Dust & noxious gases irritate respiratory tract

o Warm , humid conditions favour agents

o Enough air space & ventilation reduces illness

o Avoid draughts

o Air inlets should be above animal height

o Dry, comfortable bed, “knee test”

o Avoid mixed ages esp. Calves & adults

Ventilation of Cattle HousingVentilation of Cattle Housing

The Stack EffectThe Stack Effect

Heat from livestock warms the air which rises, to be replaced by fresh air coming in at a lower level through the eaves.

Maximising the Stack Effect

Roof Pitch between 1 in 4 and 1 in 3

Ridge Width 5cm for every 3m of building width

Inlet area 2 times to 4 times the outlet area

Ventilation of Cattle HousingVentilation of Cattle Housing

Ventilation of Cattle HousingVentilation of Cattle Housing

VaccinationVaccination Discuss options with your vet

Cover the most likely pathogens

Get immunity in place before the challenge

Vaccinate all in same air space - less disease & virus

Overwhelming challenge still leads to disease

Reduced immune response – purchased & stressed

Prevention is better than cure

Maintain farm biosecurity

Ensure good colostrum intakes

Good housing design will reduce the

incidence of pneumonia