In early January we dealt with a case which reinforced the benefits of vaccinating cattle for clostridial diseases, especially weaners.
The case involved 110 -130kg weaners which were grazing a chicory paddock. A dead weaner was noted and another was looking very sick and died shortly after. The next day when the manager was checking the mob, he noted another animal that seemed very slow and stiff in its hindquarters. This bull died over night and was brought into the clinic for a post mortem examination.
The post mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as black leg, a clostridial disease that most commonly causes a hind limb muscle necrosis (muscle death). The bacteria proliferates when muscle is bruised or damaged, and deaths are often seen
after cattle or sheep have been yarded. In this case the bulls were yarded for drenching 3 days previously.
These bulls had not been vaccinated. The manager was advised to quietly yard the bulls again and vaccinate with 10in1. A further 5 bulls were lost meaning a total of 8 bulls died. At $600 each, the losses amounted to $4800, the cost of vaccination was $120!!
It should also be noted that these bulls were grazing chicory. As reported in previous newsletters sudden deaths on high quality feeds such as chicory, plantain and new rye grass/clover pastures are a real risk, we recommend vaccination of cattle with 10in1 and lambs with 5in1 after weaning.