Vet Watch

Paul Rodgers, Allen and Partners

The Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions (WLBP) health planning scheme finished in summer 2008. When a questionnaire had been completed before my visit, I was able to help farmers more than when my time was used to gather information.

Although complying with farm assurance is part of planning, I believe vet time is best focused on identifying existing problems, developing a plan to reduce these problems and preventing the introduction of new disease.

Access to production figures is an essential part of this process. WLBP is now developing an online herd/flock health tool.

This information can be analysed with your vet to help reduce disease costs. Savings can be made by focusing vet time on the important issues greater savings will be made by reducing disease and increasing production.

Steve Borsberry, 608 Vet Group

Mineral imbalance can cause problems in all classes of livestock. Young and rapidly growing cattle require adequate calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio (2:1 is the normal recommendation).

Rations which provide excess phosphorus can result in brittle bones leading to spontaneous leg fractures. One early sign of such an imbalance can be enlargement of the fetlocks and hocks. If you have any suspicions, ask your nutritionist to check the diet.

Computer programs are excellent at data analysis, but we often forget the basic requirements of cows. Enough food and water may seem obvious, but, at times, can be overlooked, such as when feed fence design limits feed intake. Spending time observing cow behaviour will pay dividends.

 David Feneley, Wensum Valley Vet Surgeons

Bluetongue remains a significant threat to UK susceptible livestock. Just because we did not see clinical disease last summer does not mean the threat has subsided. It is thought rolling out bluetongue vaccination via the protection zones was primarily responsible for keeping us clear of disease.

With bluetongue serotypes one, six and eight all circulating on the near continent wind spread of infected midges to the UK is not unlikely this summer.

Susceptible stock must, therefore, be vaccinated again this year. In the UK, we still only have vaccination against serotype eight, so we can only guard against other serotypes by maintaining vigilance for clinical signs of disease and being sensible when importing stock from abroad.

Richard Morris, Fenwold Vet Centre, Spilsby, Lincolnshire

With the lambing season upon us, some common problems to look out for will be abortion storms, pregnancy toxaemia and watery mouth/rattle belly. These can have a devastating effect on flock profitability, but with vigilance and attention to detail their effect on the flock can be minimised.

Any abortion outbreaks should be investigated to identify the cause and prevent the spread of the common infectious agents chlamydia (enzootic abortion) or toxoplasma. The aborted lamb and a piece of placenta should be brought to the surgery so samples can be sent away for investigation.

When several ewes have aborted, blood samples should be taken. Investigation of abortion outbreaks will identify which infectious agents are present and allow prevention with vaccination regimes, as part of the flock health plan.

All contributing vets are members of XLVets, a group of vet practices which work together, alongside commercial research and manufacturing companies. They aim to share best practice on advice and disease prevention initiatives.