Beef Youngstock Rearing: Pneumonia & Scour Management
Beef Youngstock Rearing: Pneumonia Management We would like to acknowledge and thank Robert Anderson MRCVS for his We would like to acknowledge and thank Robert Anderson MRCVS for his contribution to the content of this presentation.
Agenda Impact of pneumonia on productivity Minimising infectious challenge Maximising i i calf resistance
Agenda Impact of pneumonia on productivity Minimising infectious challenge Maximising i i calf resistance
Impact of Pneumonia Major cause of financial loss in beef industry Cost to industry 50 million (AHDB, 2013) Cost per sick calf 82.10 (Andrews, 2000) Where do these costs come from?
Impact of Pneumonia Reduced growth rates: Hidden cost Impact on profit margin (Andrews, 2000)
Effect of pneumonia on the productivity of beef cattle
1. Impact of pneumonia on growth rates Healthy lung Healthy lung
1. Reduction of up to 6kg per month of live weight gain UK abattoir study 48% of 645 beef animals had lung damage Up to 202g reduction per day from birth to slaughter - Equates to 1.4kg/week or 6kg/month Reduction in DLWG per day (g) Williams, P & Green, L (2007)
2. Impact on Finishing times
2. Sick and in-contact animals finished 33-59 days later 71 French finishingi units, 1167 beef bulls Average finishing time in pneumonia-free groups 291 days Barielle, S. et al (2008)
What is the cost on your farm? Do you know what pneumonia is costing on your farm? What information can we use to work it out? Deaths Daily Live Weight Gain Antibiotic use Abattoir feedback
Record Keeping Weights Weaning, housing, turnout Individual performance Age/weight at weaning, growth rates Treatments t Reason for treatment and response Identification and monitoring Deaths Reason, post mortem results
Agenda Impact of pneumonia on productivity Minimising infectious challenge Maximising i i calf resistance
Infectious Challenge Pneumonia is a multifactorial t i l disease Environmental and animal factors impact on whether pathogens cause disease, and how severe it is
Pathogens Main pneumonia pathogens Bacteria Mannheimia haemolytica Histophilus somni Pasteurella multocida Mycoplasma bovis Parasites Lungworm Viruses RSV PI3 IBR (BVD) Mixed infections are common!
UK Pneumonia Pathogens VIDA data 2011-2013, < 12 months
What Pathogens are present on your farm? Every farm is different! Do you know your enemies? Diagnostics Useful for appropriate treatment Plan effective prevention programmes Swabs, lung washes, blood samples, post mortem samples Pathogens can change You can buy in new enemies!
Pneumonia Risk Factors ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERIAL
Ventilation Fresh Air Constant flow of Fresh Air is vitally important replaces dirty air Dirty air contains: Moisture Gases Dust Bacteria/Viruses Fresh air helps to reduce infectious pressure 15% alive 85% bugs alive Cox, 1987
Ventilation Air Speed Inlets - walls Allow fresh air in Avoid excessive air speed (draughts) Outlets roof Allow dirty air out Warm air rises Minimisei i rain entry
Ventilation The Stack Effect When the wind speed is low or zero Warm stale air rises and is drawn out through the roof This creates negative pressure which draws fresh air in through the inlets Requires: Sufficient animal heat Sufficient inlet + outlet
Ventilation rules of thumb Outlet area requirements - roof Calf @100kg needs 0.04m 2 Adult /growing animal needs 0.1m 2 Inlet areas should be minimum twice the calculated outlet t areas Doors are not good inlets cannot control air speed
Are your buildings well ventilated? Calculate inlets and outlets using rules of thumb Smoke Test Demonstrates fresh air movement and draughts See how air is being shared between pens Anenometers Measure air speed
Options to improve ventilation Ican t afford to build a new shed! Inlets Open up walls, change materials, increase spaces between boarding, allow outdoor access Outlets t Widen ridges, breathing roof, allow outdoor access Draughts Wind breaks, keep doors closed
Management Factors Mixing i of age groups Youngest group always most at risk Consider wind direction Stocking density The more animals in an air space, the more efficient i air flow must be to remove dirty air Moisture Drainage, maintenance of gutters, downpipes, roof
Management Factors Early detection of clinical signs Prompt and accurate treatmentt t Isolation of sick animals Worming and pasture management Lungworm
Summary: Minimising Infectious Challenge Identify the pathogens on your farm Be aware they can change Assess the environment and improve where possible: Maximise i fresh air Minimise draughts Assess management factors Stocking density, mixing of groups, buying habits, pasture management
Agenda Impact of pneumonia on productivity Minimising infectious challenge Maximising i i calf resistance
Calf Resistance - Colostrum Good intake is vital to promote calf health in the first few months Maternal antibodies help to protect the calf against pathogens until its own immature immune system becomes functional Provides protection against pathogens on your farm
Prevent Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) Occurs when a calf fails to absorb an adequate quantity of antibodies. FPT is not a disease, but a condition that predisposes the young calf to the development of disease E.g. Scour, navel ill, joint ill, meningitis, pneumonia Observe natural suckling If in doubt, supplement
Calf Resistance - Stress Stress impacts on the calf s ability to resist disease due to immunosuppression Weaning is a major stressful eventent for every beef calf Avoid combining stressful events e.g. Transport + mixing groups + change of diet Separate major stressful events E.g. Weaning + housing
Calf Resistance - BVD BVD is an immunosuppressive disease Impacts on the calf s ability to resist other diseases Eliminating i BVD from your herd can lead to a significant reduction in calf disease E.g. Pneumonia, scour
Calf Resistance - Vaccination Vaccination can be used to maximise resistance prior to stressful events Vaccines available to control: Bacteria M. haemolytica, H. somnus Viruses RSV, PI3, IBR, BVD Parasites Lungworm
Bovilis Bovipast RSP The only combined vaccine to help protect against the key bacterial and viral causes of pneumonia in calves: Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica RSV Respiratory Syncytial Virus PI3 Parainfluenza3Virus
How to use Bovilis Bovipast RSP Simple and convenient vaccination programme Two 5 ml subcutaneous doses (under the skin) Approx. four weeks apart Even in calves as young as two weeks of age Ready to use: No mixing required V i ti h ld Vaccination programmes should be tailored to your farm
Recent research: Reduced antibiotic usage Calves vaccinated with Bovilis Bovipast RSP required significantly fewer antibiotics during the first 190 days of the rearing period. Animals needed 15% fewer antibiotics that those that were not vaccinated
Husk Lungworm (Husk) is a serious disease of cattle and in the worst cases, valuable animals die or have to be culled. Recently, lungworm outbreaks have started to rise again due to a combination of: increased reliance on long-acting wormers in calves and changes in the UK weather patterns.
The only lungworm vaccine on the market The only way to ensure your herd gets the controlled challenge it needs to build up immunity from lungworm
Calf Resistance - Vaccination Vaccination programmes should be tailored to your farm Use diagnostics to identify pathogens Identify risk periods for different groups of cattle on your farm Stressful events Increased infectious pressure e.g. housing, mixing of groups Some diseases best controlled within the adult herd e.g. BVD, (IBR)
Summary: Maximising Calf Resistance Ensure good colostrum intake Supplement if required Reduce stress Plan management events accordingly Be aware of immunosuppression Control BVD Vaccinate to boost immunity prior to stressful events ents
Pneumonia Control on your farm Analysing records Unless you measure you can t manage Where are we now? Mortality rate Amount of antibiotic used Number of animals treated Vaccination programme DLWG of different groups
Pneumonia Control on your farm Youngstock Health Planning Where do we want to be? Work in conjunction with your vet to set realistic targets How are we going to get there? Simple, written action plan Ensure everyone on farm is aware Set a date to review progress
Any questions?
Legal Information
Always Use Medicines Responsibly. Please see: www.noah.co.uk/responsible for more information. Bovilis Bovipast RSP is only available from a veterinary surgeon, from whom advice should be sought. Bovilis Bovipast RSP contains inactivated Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (strain EV908), Parainfluenza 3 virus (strain SF-4-Reisinger) and inactivated Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica (serotype A1) for the active immunisation of cattle against BRSV, Pi3 virus and M. haemolytica. Withdrawal period: Zero days. Bovilis IBR Marker Live contains BHV-1 strain GK/D (ge-). Legal categories: POM-V. Bovilis is a trademarks of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and are protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright 2014 Intervet International B.V., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA. All rights reserved. Bovilis Huskvac is for animal treatment only and must be prescribed by your veterinary surgeon whose advice should be sought. Bovilis Huskvac is an oral vaccine comprising an aqueous suspension of at least 1000 partially inactivated L3 Dictyocaulus viviparus larvae. Legal category: POM-V Bovilis Huskvac is the property of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and is protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright 2009 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved. Further information, including side effects, precautions, warnings and contra indication, can be found on the SPC, datasheet and package leaflet. Further information is available from MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ Tel: 01908 685 685 Email: vet-support.uk@merck.com www.msd-animal-health.co.uk
Beef Youngstock Rearing: Scour Management We would like to acknowledge and thank Robert Anderson MRCVS for his We would like to acknowledge and thank Robert Anderson MRCVS for his contribution to the content of this presentation.
Cost of calf scour Immediate impact Death Treatment costs Labour costs Long term impact Reduced growth rates Lower weaning weights Delayed bulling Delayed finishing Reduced Life*me Performance
Cost of Scour Cost per cow in herd Reduced average 31 growth rate 4% calf mortality 19.44 Treatment of scour 7.50 Cost of scour 57.94 outbreak 193.13 is the calculated average cost per scour affected calf ADAS Study, 2013 Based on 100 cow suckler herd with 90 calves reared per 100 cows. 30 calves treated from group
Record Keeping Weights Weaning, housing, turnout Individual performance Can you pick out affected animals? Treatments Reason for treatment and response Identification and monitoring Deaths Reason, post mortem results
Scour Pathogens cause gut damage Good surface area = good absorption Reduced surface area = scours
UK Scour Pathogens 18% 33% Rotavirus Coronavirus E. coli K99 Crypto 38% Coccidiosis 4% 7% Vida report 2012 Total samples = 2859
What Pathogens are present on your farm? Every farm is different! Do you know your enemies? Diagnostics Scour samples Calf-side test (rapid) Laboratory Mixed infections common Pathogens can change You can buy in new enemies!
Infectious Challenge - Hygiene Mixed infections are common, but they all come from one source: Faeces from adult animals and calves A build up of faeces leads to a build up of pathogens Some pathogens can survive a long time in the environment eg Cryptosporidium Calves pick up infection by mouth
Controlling Exposure Environmental Hygiene Calving pens and cow/calf housing Bedding, Mucking out, Cleaning, Disinfection As often as possible Calving pens should be top priority Some pathogens very resistant to most disinfectants eg Crypto
Efficacy of cleaning procedures: the importance of fdisinfection i Bacteria/cm2 Add straw Muck out Clean Disinfect Kaske & Kunz (2003)
Controlling Exposure Cow cleanliness Supplementing colostrum Fresh colostrum provides a perfect medium for bacterial growth Bacterial numbers can double every 20 minutes Do you ever milk colostrum? Ensure clean udder and technique Tube or bottle feeding Ensure clean feeding equipment and technique
Controlling Exposure: Crypto Oocysts (eggs) are shed in the dung of infected animal At peak shedding, millions of oocysts are shed for days Only 5 oocysts are needed to cause infecl on A single calf has a huge potential to infect other calves.
No transmission of antibodies
Colostrum Passive Transfer Colostrum contains maternal antibodies Antibodies from colostrum can be absorbed across the small intestine of the calf, during the first 24 hours after birth
Colostrum Passive Transfer This process is called Passive Transfer Helps protect the calf against common disease organisms until its own immature immune system becomes functional
Colostrum - Quickly Dam - Antibodies concentrated in colostrum at calving Calf - Ability to absorb antibodies through gut decreases with time Completely closed at approximately 24 hours
Colostrum - Quantity Greater volume of colostrum intake = Greater number of antibodies Guideline amount 10% of calf s body weight within 6 hours E.g. 40kg calf = 4 litres colostrum Another similar size feed within 12 hours of birth
Colostrum - Quality High quality colostrum has high levels of antibodies Colostrometer measures specific gravity Simple and quick test to assess antibody level Can be used to identify good quality colostrum for storage
What Factors can affect Passive Transfer? Dam factors: Calf factors: Calving ease Mothering ability Udder conformation Age Nutrition Health Ease of calving Speed of standing Finding teat t Suckling vigour Competition (twins)
Successful Passive Transfer Observation points What do you look for? Intervention points When do you supplement? Measure success of passive transfer on your farm Blood sample calves 1-7 days old Assess totalt protein levell Increase your confidence of maximising calf resistance
Improving Passive Transfer Be alert for problems which affect suckling If in doubt, supplement Sooner rather than later Tube or bottle feed? Colostrum Dam Stored Powdered
Significantly increases the level of antibodies in the colostrum Mean levels of antibodies in colostrum in unvaccinated and vaccinated beef cows Recca et al., Veterinary Record 2003
Broad window of vaccination
Cryptosporidiosis The only licensed product for the prevention and treatment of cryptosporidiosis Preventative use reduces the shedding of infective oocysts and contamination of the environment Treatment minimises the effect of calf scour due to Cryptosporidium parvum Dose orally after feeding for 7 consecutive days Accurate dosing is essential
Scour Control on your farm Analysing records Unless you measure you can t manage Where are we now? Mortality rate DLWG of different groups Treatments used Vaccination programme
Any questions?
Always Use Medicines Responsibly. Please see: www.noah.co.uk/responsible for more information. Rotavec Corona contains inactivated Rotavirus and Coronavirus and E. coli K99 antigens. Legal category: POM-VPS Withdrawal period: Zero days. Rotavec Corona is available from your veterinary advisor from whom advice should be sought. For information regarding side effects, precautions, warnings and contra- indications please refer to the datasheet at www.noahcompendium.co.uk. Rotavec Corona is the property of Intervet International B.V. or affiliated companies or licensors and is protected by copyrights, trademark and other intellectual property laws. Copyright 2014 Intervet International B.V. All rights reserved. Halocur contains 0.5 mg/ml halofuginone lactate in an aqueous excipient. Do not use on an empty stomach. Do not use in cases of diarrhoea established for more than 24 hours and in weak animals. For the treatment of anorexic calves, the product should be administered in half a litre of an electrolyte solution by stomach tube. Toxicity may occur at 2 times the therapeutic dose, accurate dosage is essential. Wear protective gloves while handling the product, avoid contact with skin and eyes and wash hands after use. Withdrawal Period: Meat and offal 13 days Halocur may only be prescribed by your veterinary surgeon from whom advice should be sought. Halocur is a registered trademark. Legal category POM-V Further information, including side effects, precautions, warnings and contra indication, can be found on the SPC, datasheet and package leaflet. Further information is available from MSD Animal Health, Walton Manor, Walton, Milton Keynes MK7 7AJ Tel: 01908 685 685 Email: vet-support.uk@merck.com www.msd-animal-health.co.uk