Vet viewpoint: Sheep tapeworm can reach six metres long

A regional monthly round-up of key veterinary issues from members of the XL Vets group.

Aonghus Lane, Parklands Vet Clinic, County Tyrone

Routine monitoring is a vital component of adequate parasite control in sheep and we are used to seeing stomach worms and liver fluke. This September we encountered an unusual suspect with levels of 4,500-6,500 eggs/g of faeces. The culprit, a sheep tapeworm called Monezia expansa, uses a harvest mite to complete its lifecycle and at 1-6m long, looks like it fills the intestine. However, as they only attach at one point in the gut, they do little damage to the sheep. We were able to advise our client and save the time and expense of unnecessary treatment.

Of greater concern for sheep are the immature form of dog (or fox) tapeworms such as Taenia ovis, as these can lead to cysts in the lungs, liver and muscles. This can result in lambs being condemned at slaughter. Control means regular worming of dogs and not allowing dogs to scavenge sheep carcasses.

James Frayne, Millcroft Vet Group, Cumbria

Calf scour is an issue on some dairy units all year round and this summer has been no different with farmers reporting several losses and many calves requiring treatment. Testing should be carried out to identify the pathogen responsible for an outbreak as specific preventative measures are available for certain causes. However, some general principles always apply:

• Ensure adequate colostrum intakes. It is not sufficient to assume that calves will suckle sufficient colostrum – to achieve the recommended three litres in the first six hours would require 20 minutes of continuous suckling. Stomach tubing all calves with colostrum regardless of whether they have suckled is advised. Colostrum intakes can be easily monitored with a blood test.
• Maximise hygiene in calving boxes and calf pens, ensuring the bedding is clean and dry minimises challenge from scour pathogens.
• Prepare milk replacer carefully according the instructions as incorrect temperature or concentration will cause nutritional scour.

Matt Hylands, Lambert, Leonard and May, Lancashire

With early analyses of first cut silage showing some poorer quality examples with less than optimal energy levels and having seen numerous “colicky cows” in the past few weeks, it has become ever more important to pay attention to the presentation of your ration.

To maximise intakes, a feed space width of 70cm a cow is advised and all efforts should be made to avoid any bullying. Dead-end passages should be avoided and feed passages should be wide enough to allow two cows to pass behind the feeding cows. Water trough space is vitally important with 10cm a cow recommended.

Feed space width becomes irrelevant if the diet isn’t palatable. Pay careful attention to keeping the silage fresh and the clamp face sharp to avoid unwanted spoilage. It may be worth feeding poorer quality first cut silage to lower priority stock and keeping the best ration for the high yielders.

Rupert Kirkwood, Penbode Vets, Devon

It’s been a fantastic year down here in south-west England, both in terms of weather and grass growth. When the weather’s good, all animals are healthy and there is no work to do, farm vets sit around and worry about the future of their business. My father was a farm vet before me and he said exactly the same.

But there’s something wrong this year. We barely have time for a single cup of tea. The doughnuts remain untouched.

We have had an endless succession of sick cows. Mostly after calving and mostly displaced abomasums (DA) and it is very evident when we open them up that there is excess fat in the abdomen.

It would seem that the summer has been “too” kind to these cows and they are laying down too much fat, which is kicking off the DAs as well as other complications relating to fatty livers.