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Archive | Sheep and Beef
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Got enough Bulls
There are some reports of pretty low submission rates in dairy herds. If your herd falls into this category you may have to reassess your bull requirements for the end of AI as you may have more empty cows than anticipated when the bull goes out. The general recommendation is one bull to every 30 […]
Lamb deaths on high quality feeds
We have received some queries regarding the death of good lambs on high quality feeds such as clover dominant new grass, plantain or chicory. Where the sudden death of good lambs occur, pulpy kidney or on occasions other clostridial diseases, are a probable cause. Some of the deaths reported occurred in lambs where ewes were […]
Quarantine Drenching
As we have mentioned in previous newsletters we are beginning to see cases where worms appear to be resistant to the three drench families present in triple drenches (ivermectins, levamizole and white drench). While triple drenches may be adequate as a quarantine drench for the majority of lambs, there is a risk that in some […]
Red Water/Kale Anemia
At this time of the year we get lots of calls from farmers worried about the chances their flowering Brassica crops could cause red water poisoning. The points to note are Not all flowering brassica crops will be poisonous they must have high levels of the toxic smco. Smco contains sulphur and is much more […]
Lepto Infections
In the last month we have dealt with lepto infections in calves, cows, dogs, sheep and humans!! These infections caused: Sick Calves with red tinted urine. Abortions in cows and ewes. Very sick dogs with kidney problems. Humans that felt like dying!! Wet conditions really favour the survival of the lepto organism when it is […]
Taking on Weaner Cattle
Over the next 3 months many weaner cattle change hands. The following are little tips for a smooth transition. If calves have not been weaned off meal prior to delivery, feeding meal for a period after arrival will minimize stress on weaners and improve initial growth rates Be careful drenching calves with products containing “abamectin” […]
Calf Scours a big problem!
On dairy farms and with calf rearers, scours have been a major problem this year. Some farmers have seen it all before but for others it has been a whole new challenging experience!! A few points to note after the experiences so far, A wet spring everywhere with very muddy challenging conditions has meant more […]
Thinking about bulls
The breeding season is not far away. It is time to tick off a few management issues/questions; Have the breeding bulls wintered okay? Check for lame bulls or bulls that may have health issues. Do bulls need copper, selenium or both (these elements are important for good semen production and bull fertility). Do you need […]
Hygiene at docking/ calf marking
Tools used at this time of the year eg. elastrators, ear markers and taggers, have often been forgotten about since this time last year!! Take the time to give them a good clean up and disinfect them. Get your ear markers sharpened if necessary. Dirty gear will lead to infections at docking and calf marking. […]