Coughing cow

Identify upper and lower critical temperatures for calves (new born and 4 weeks)

new born calf:

• LCT 10C

• UCT 25C

4 week old calf:

• LCT 0C

• UCT 23C

explain how calf jackets can be used.

• when can it be used?

• how?

• why?

• Calf jackets can be used on calves for the first three weeks of life once temperatures drop below 10°C

• Can be applied to the calf once clean and dry from birth

• help regulate its body temperature without the calf needing to dip into its body energy reserves

Thermoneutral zone definition

• the temperature range in which no additional energy in maintaining its core body temperature

 

State the appropriate stocking density for calves in an indoor barn.

In groups

• 1.5 square metres for each calf up to 150 kg

• 2 square metres for each calf between 150 kg and 200 kg

• 3 square metres for each calf weighing 200 kg or more.

State the appropriate stocking density for calves housed individually

• 1.5m long x 0.75m wide up to 4 weeks

• 1.8m long x 1.0m wide up to 8 weeks

suggest strategies that can be used to reduce stocking density.

• Ship cattle to another location

• Sell cattle

• More pens, splitting up the groups

List the commonly used individual and group housing options for young calves

• group or induvidual hutches

• group or induvidual igloos

• purpose-built mono pitch

• General purpose building

pros and cons of igloo housing

pros

• good ventilation

• easy to clean

• social contact

cons

• high initial cost

• high labour costs

pros and cons of hutches

pros

• good ventilation

• easy to clean

• social contact

cons

• high labour costs

• hard to feed moving between hutches

• can be more exposed to weather

pros and cons of general purpose housing

pros

• low initial and maintenance cost

• can be used for other purposes

• may promote stack effect - roof angle

cons

• ventilation may need improving

• poor drainage - flat floor

• increased risk of cold stress in steel or concrete structures

Benefits of group housing

Reduced stress

social conditioning

increased solid food intake

The law around housing cows together?

must have visual and tactile contact with other calves

Outline considerations for sustainable cattle production.

using sexed semen

graze on pasture unsuitable for farming

Cattle which are able to calf without help. less manual labour at breeding times

improving genetics, less inclined to disease

Explain the reasons for the need to move towards a sustainable ruminant production.

any 3

• Ruminants produce a lot of methane and ammonia - greenhouse gas contributing to global warming

• protects ecosystem

• Sensible and sustainable use of antibiotics within ruminants will reduce resistance for future generations.  

• Using land that can't be used for crops, makes use of land whilst maintaining biodiversity, for ruminants to feed on.

• Increase demand for meat/diary as human population grows

outline the requirements of the newborn calf. Colostrum intake

• four litres of good quality colostrum within two hours from birth or equivalent to 10% of body weight.

• A second feed should follow of similar size within 12 hours of birth.

• Quality, quantity, quickly

• Must be from a clean source and healthy cow

outline the requirements of the newborn calf. naval care

• During birth the umbilical cord ruptures - pathogens can access

• Applying iodine or disinfectant to ensure the drying and healing of the umbilical cord

Summarise nutritional requirements of calves up to weaning age.

• Colostrum

• Milk feeding

• Concentrates

• Forage

• Water

why are concentrates for calves important?

• Important for the development of the calf's rumen, and contains important fibers and vitamins that are vital for the calf's growth.

why is forage important for calves

development of the calf's rumen

growth rate

what are some milk replacement feeding systems (methods of delivery and frequency)

frequency

• once a day, twice a day, ad lib and automatic feeding.

methods of delivery

• bucket, individual or multi teat feeder.

Frequency and volume of milk needed for calves 3-6 days and 6-8 weeks

• Twice a day

• 2-2.5 litres after 3 day to 6 days old

• 4 litres, 6-8 weeks old

replacer vs whole milk

• whole milk is a great source of nutrition, high energy. can increase disease spread (johnes and BVD)

• Replacer reduces risk of disease transfer (johnes and BVD). It is consistent when mixed correctly, if not it can cause nutritional deficiencies.

Define growth rates of beef and dairy cattle.

700-800g per day

why is ingestion of colostrum is important in calves

born without any antibodies or immunoglobulins to protect against disease meaning

they require passive transfer to gain protection until their own active immunity works.

 how to assess whether colostrum intake is adequate.

• outline steps

• Total proteins test

  • Blood is taken into capillary tube

  • Spun down

  • Serum is read on a refractometer

• zinc sulfate turbidity test

  • sent to lab

Identify the main type of immunoglobulin found in colostrum.

The main immunoglobulin in colostrum is immunoglobulin G, making up 85-95%

Outline the components of the innate immune system within the calves upper respiratory tract which help protect against respiratory tract infections.

• first line of defense

• Lined with mucosa epithelium

• The mucocillary elevator removes inhaled particles which includes any unwanted pathogens.

• bacterial lysosomes

Explain the role of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in the development of immunity to respiratory tract infections.

initiates immune responses to specific antigens encountered along all mucosal surfaces.

• source of memory B and T cells

Explain the effects of stress on the immune response.

short term stress is seen to positively impact the immune response.

chronic stress leads to build up of cortisol (glucocorticoids)

this leads to immunosuppression, reducing lymphocyte levels (white blood cell).

How does immune suppression occur?

Stress causes adrenal cortex in the pituitary to release cortisol which causes immune suppression

 why is there likely to be a difference in the cause of an outbreak of coughing in older heifers compared to young calves.

young calves

• have an immature immune system, making them more vulnerable to certain infectious agents.

• not exposed to as many pathogens

• sensitive to environmental stressors

• age groups may be managed differently

What parasite causes lung worm in cows?

dictyocaulis viviparous

How can vaccination be used to prevent calf pneumonia?

prevention of calf pneumonia + give herd immunity

Describe the gross appearance of lungs with bronchopneumonia

• Dark red discolouration

• Consolidation / dense / firm lung tissue

• Caudal dorsal distribution of changes

why the pathological changes of bronchopneumonic lungs result in disturbances of gas exchange.

• Disturbance of gas exchange due to the constriction of the airway and the production of fluid in the lung

State the current price of a dairy calf

£60

describe the economic effects of calf respiratory disease.

• Labour costs

• vet bills

• reduced growth rate

• milk yield reduced

• mortality

 Discuss how you would communicate your findings and recommendations to a farmer

Talk colloquially

Avoid pinning the blame on the farmer as this can lead to guilt and a bad feeling towards you as a vet

Think solutions not just problems - Instead of purely critiquing the farms layout, help the farmer come up with plans to improve it

challenges that are faced when implementing changes on farms. (cost implications)

cost implications

time taken to implement

practicalities

Explain your responsibilities regarding client confidentiality

a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse shouldn’t disclose to any third party information about a client or their animal

discuss ways in which confidentially may be breached unintentionally

• Sharing confidential information with friends or family

• Speaking about confidential information in a public place where it can be overheard

• Accidently sending emails to the wrong client

• Leaving information that can be seen on an unprotected computer or electronic device

how to how to avoid breaching information

• Make sure electronics are password protected and have a suitable virus protection software

• Don’t talk about any of the clients information to anyone, unless there are concerns about welfare, safety or criminal offences.

 how to assess the adequacy of ventilation in a housing system

visually

• cobwebs

• smell of ammonia or high humidity

• Space cows have. need 35 square feet

smoke bomb

state why adequate ventilation is important.

 

• maintains air quality

• reduce the risk of airborne diseases and infection

Describe the stack effect

The stack effect is when heat generated by the calves rises and escapes through the top of the building

which then draws fresh air in lower down

stack effect, effects on ventilation

if warm air has no where to escape it will build up

outline strategies that could be used to improve ventilation in a barn.

• fans

• air inlets

• Yorkshire boarding, knocking more planks out

Explain the clinical utility of a bovine respiratory disease scoring system. (what 6 clinical signs)

based on 6 clinical signs

• spontaneous cough

• nasal discharge

• ocular discharge

• rectal temp

• rapid / difficult breathing

• ear droop or head tilt

Outline what a Herd Health Plan is

A herd health plan outlines how health problems are to be monitored, treated and prevented on a farm.

What should be included in a herd health plan?

• The disease status of the farm

• challenges and areas of risk.

disease prevention strategies, such as

• vaccination

• how existing issues are to be tackled and measured

• monitors animal health and productivity.

• biosecurity measures

What are the 3Qs of colostrum

• QUALITY: clean source, no bacteria. contain IgG antibodies. declines after 6 hours

• Quantity: 2 or 3 litres first feed. 4 litres total

• QUICKLY: 1st feed within 2h

which stage of lung worm is infective?

L3 on fungi in grass

which stage of lung worm do we detect?

L1 larvae in dung

life cycle of lung worm

1. l3 infective larvae ingested and migrate to lungs

2. adults develop in lungs, eggs produced

3. eggs hatch and l1 larvae are coughed up and re swallowed

4. l1 passed in feaces

5. develop into l3 in pat

6. infective l3 larvae spread to herbage

Reasons for choice of milk replacement systems.

 the system chosen depends on what suits the farmers given the number of calves, the type of housing, the amount of milk to be fed and the availability of labour – ad lib (including computerised) allows calves to determine their own intake which improves performance but twice a day feeding allows the farmer to check the calves. Once a day is least labour intensive.