01935 83682 www.synergyfarmhealth.com

United for strength, unique for service

April 2013

Newsletter

OOONNN FFFARMARMARM CCCASUALTYASUALTYASUALTY SSSLAUGHTERLAUGHTERLAUGHTER——— AAA REMINDERREMINDERREMINDER OFOFOF CRITERIACRITERIACRITERIA (E(E(EDDD PPPOWELLOWELLOWELL---JJJACKSONACKSONACKSON)))

We are fortunate in our area to have an efficient on farm slaughter and collection service offered by S.J.Norman’s abattoir in Bridport.

This scheme provides a useful route of disposal for otherwise healthy stock that have suffered a sudden and unforeseen accident. This is subject to the usual meat withhold periods, and passing ante mortem inspection (carried out by the Synergy vet on farm) and post mortem inspection (carried out by the abattoir vet at the slaughterhouse). These before and after death veterinary inspections are vital to maintain public health and meat quality. This is all the more important in light of recent food scandals!

Animals entering this scheme MUST from the outset satisfy the following strict requirements:

1 Suffered an accident: an unexpected and unforeseen event, for example a broken leg, or doing the splits on concrete whilst bulling

2 Emergency: happened within the last 24 hours 3 Healthy: the animal must be free of all signs of disease. Cows who are sick, or running a temperature for

whatever reason, do NOT fit the criteria. Long term conditions also rule out inclusion which prevents e.g. lame animals from being eligible for the scheme.

4 Free of medicines: as is normally the case all animals for slaughter must be clear of medicine withhold periods

We have had several cases recently where when the vet arrived on farm it became obvious that the animal did not fit the criteria for an on farm slaughter. For example a cow was knocked down in a collecting yard. She was weak and couldn’t get up. This was due to ongoing health problems caused by a severe mastitis at calving. Such an animal is NOT fit for human consumption - the cow’s high temperature meant that the carcase would not set in the hanging process and would be automatically condemned. In this case S.J.Norman’s had a wasted trip and the farmer had an unnecessary vet call out. He still ended up having to call Fromevale.

If in any doubt about the suitability of an animal for on farm casualty slaughter please telephone us first to discuss the case, and to make an informed decision. Please remember that unfortunately in some cases it is likely that the knackerman/fallen stock scheme may be the only option for disposal.

GGGRASSRASSRASS SSSTAGGERSTAGGERSTAGGERS——— WWWHENHENHEN SSSPRINGPRINGPRING FFFINALLYINALLYINALLY AAARRIVESRRIVESRRIVES! ! ! (C(C(CAROLINEAROLINEAROLINE PPPERRYERRYERRY)))

As the weather hopefully improves and we turn stock out, be aware for those signs of low magnesium causing grass staggers.

The signs can be difficult to spot until advanced, but muscle twitches, stiff gait and hyper excitability are usually seen before the animal collapses and paddles. If not treated rapidly, they can die.

Staggers is caused by low blood magnesium; usually in lactating cows due to magnesium being used up in milk production and a daily intake of magnesium is necessary. Staggers can occur on lush rapidly growing spring grass, soils that are naturally high in potassium or those fertilised with potash and nitrogen or green cereal crops. A cold and wet day when cattle may have reduced feeding can also lead to lower magnesium intakes.

Remember, for every case, there will be some cows sub-clinically affected, so supplementing magnesium may be necessary; in bolus form or added into the ration. For beef cattle, offering some high fibre forage to slow the rate of passage of food through the intestine may help with magnesium absorption from all that lush grass.

It is advisable to keep a bottle of Magniject and a flutter valve in the store cupboard for rapid

treatment (both available from our Dispensary) under the skin. If you have an

advanced case, call for a vet immediately and keep the animal

as quiet as possible.

Special

Offer on

Calciject

Range See inside

Rumbul Boluses Available from our Dispensary

Please speak to one of our Animal Health Advisors

£23 10 Pack

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At lambing time every year we see lots of prolapses. There are two types – vaginal and uterine. Prolapses can be a frustrating

problem even for the most experienced shepherd. Once identified, a prolapse of either type must be treated promptly.

Replacing vaginal prolapses:

The surface should be examined and cleaned with antiseptic solution. Replacement is made easier by use of lubricant, and if very

swollen, sugar can be sprinkled on the surface to draw fluid out of the swollen tissues and shrink the prolapse. Following

replacement, options for retaining vaginal prolapses include plastic devices fitted into the vagina and tied to the fleece around the

back end of the ewe – a “spoon”. Check if lambing has started as this can occur at the same time as a prolapse. Stitching of the

vulva under local anaesthetic is very effective at keeping the prolapse in, especially when combined with an epidural injection which

helps to reduce straining. Complications include entrapment of organs such as the bladder in the prolapse, infection/soiling with

dung, and difficulties at lambing. Ringwomb (incomplete opening of the cervix) is common once the birth process begins. Care must

be taken to observe for the start of lambing in order to remove any retention device ahead of delivery of the lambs. If the

incidence of vaginal prolapses in your flock is high, please contact the practice for help to reduce the risks.

Managing uterine prolapses: This is a veterinary emergency and advice should be sought immediately. An epidural injection should be given before trying to replace a uterine prolapse. This is a veterinary task. This injection reduces straining from the ewe and provides pain relief. The prolapse may be covered in straw and dung and must be thoroughly cleaned. Cleansing may need to be gently removed. Sometimes the prolapse may contain other organs (such as intestines) or is dry and friable. This is associated with a poor prognosis and makes putting it back in difficult. Excessive blood loss is not a good sign. Gentle pressure is needed to avoid damaging the uterus when replacing it. It is important that the organ is fully inverted. Anti-inflammatory pain relief should always used for either condition, along with antibiotic cover. No anti-inflammatories are licensed for sheep but Metacam (2.5ml per 100Kg given once under the skin) is available under the prescribing cascade.

A MA MA MESSAGEESSAGEESSAGE FFFROMROMROM UUUWEWEWE MMMUELLERUELLERUELLER, N, N, NOWOWOW BBBACKACKACK HHHOMEOMEOME INININ GGGERMANYERMANYERMANY After we left the UK in May last year we settled in very well back in my home area but we all really miss Dorset. Since July I have been working in my father's vet practice. As he is followed frequently by a TV documentary, the return of his son to step into the family business seemed to be a good story, so they wanted to show us together. You can see a clip (all in German!) of me showing my father around a large dairy using this internet link: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/100071940/MTD.mp4

The most interesting part of my job here is being the main vet for a 1000 cow dairy that is expanding rapidly. They are building new facilities from scratch for an additional 700 cows that will be milked in an automatic rotary parlour (the first commercial one in Europe). I am planning to give updates on twitter (@uwemuell ) on how we get along with the robots so everyone who is interested is welcome to follow. I also enjoy doing daily consultation hours in our small animal practice but I am more than happy to hand this over to my wife (also a vet) in the future to give me the option to focus on the bovine part of the practice. At the moment my wife is looking after our second son, Nicolas, who was born in August last year and is alive and kicking, especially at night. We are going to the UK in July for a holiday trip and are looking forward to catch up with some of you guys again. All the best to all the Synergy farmers and vets. Cheers, Uwe ROBOTIC ROTARY http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j_zBqUtJt6o

Type Vaginal Uterine

When From 1 month BEFORE lambing Alway POST lambing (up to 48 hours)

What Spherical pink (up to grapefruit sized) swelling bulging from vulva A bloody organ hanging from vulva

Why

Incidence is usually low and incompletely understood. Causes include: overfat ewes, breed disposition (esp Romney + Kerry), Poor quality forage, feeding roots in late pregnancy, multiple lambs, families, hypocalcaemia, older ewes. Usually recurs in following years so should be marked and culled.

Associated with difficult lambings and hypocalcaemia. Unlikely to recur following year

Complications Ringwomb, infection, abortion Shock, infection, re-prolapse, death

We would like to make you all aware that we have a new product in stock

for disinfection and Coccidiosis control. Bi-OO-cyst is a powerful DEFRA approved disinfectant, also effective against endoparsites especially oocysts. Its broad spectrum of activity is effective against viruses, bacteria, moulds

and yeasts. For more information contact the Dairy Hygiene Team — Sarah on 07795 574088—Rachel on 07867 330703—Mikey 07900 676328

SSSOMEOMEOME TTTHOUGHTSHOUGHTSHOUGHTS ONONON NNNURSINGURSINGURSING AAA DDDOWNEROWNEROWNER CCCOWOWOW Downer cow: A cow that is down for greater

than 24 hours and cannot rise.

Prices exclude VAT

Pour On

Up to £40 cashback on 5L and £20 on 2.5L packs

Ivomec Super Up to £40 cashback on

1000ml and £20 on 500ml Starting in April 2013

Full details available from the dispensary

Cashback

offers

GOOD Farmer is prepared to allocate sufficient nursing time (30 minutes twice daily) ‘Creepers’ Cow has an appetite/is drinking When rolled the cow has muscle tone and an appropriate leg position Cow has a withdrawal reflex upon stimulation with a needle Cow is able to initially stand when lifted, before falling

PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS

POOR Dog sitting, legs out at peculiar angles Markedly elevated urea, CK (blood tests performed by our lab) Dehydration Fast heart rate (>110 beats/min) Inability to turn themselves Inability to maintain sternal recumbency Swelling, abrasions on limbs, crepitus, lateral movement of stifle Deterioration An old Holstein with a high body condition score Heavily in calf History of dystocia, calving assistance Recumbent for > 30 minutes on concrete (muscle necrosis) A cow that has been stuck in a cubicle

Moving downer cows

Aim to move downer cows onto comfortable bedding such as straw. Moving cows can be a peril to both the cow and the operators.

Pulling a cow forward with a halter is an appropriate way to move a cow. A fertiliser bag can be used to help drag the cow.

Cows can be rolled into a bucket and moved. A Bagshaw hoist is most suited to lifting cows, not moving cows.

Once moved, downer cows should be left initially for 48 hours. They should be subsequently lifted twice daily to see if the cow can bear weight. Ideally the cow should initially be lifted with a vet present to assist in decision making. Flotation and inflatable devices were considered to be uneconomical for use in the UK, but have been tried in the US.

A downer cow should be milked regularly for the welfare of the cow. Some farmers let calves suckle on a downer cow. It is generally considered that after ten days a downer cow would have no further lactation.

We have recently reviewed our advice for worming at turnout. Replacements If using Huskvac: Use Autoworm bolus OR a periodic pour on product. Aim for an Ivermectin at 3, 8 and 13 weeks post turnout or Cydectin pour on at 8 week intervals. Alternatively if you wish to use a sustained release product (Cydectin LA or Panacur bolus) then the best advice is to delay administering Huskvac until before the second grazing season. If not using Huskvac: Use either Panacur bolus or Cydectin LA which will provide 120 or 150 days of protection. Or use pour on products at specified intervals.

For Beef animals The best value product is Cydectin LA which gives 150 day protection and needs injecting in the base of the ear. Other pour on products also work well as long as you have facilities to use them. The advantage of using periodic pour on it that it creates an opportunity to weigh the animals at the same time so you can monitor growth rates.

With all of the bolus or Cydectin LA products you need to be aware that their duration of activity is a maximum of 150 days. This means they often run out by the end of August. In the Autumn you need to monitor the animals growth rates for the first sign of parasite infection and be aware that Lungworm is still a threat. Pour on treatments may be needed.

Fluke is now also becoming a serious issue and can be seen from August onwards. You need to have a fluke control program drawn up by your individual vet who has knowledge of your farm.

WWWORMINGORMINGORMING AAADVICEDVICEDVICE FORFORFOR TTTURNOUTURNOUTURNOUT

Autoworm First Grazer—each £14.90 Cydectin Cattle Pour on 5 L £216.23

Cydectin 10% LA Inj 200ml £332.49 Cydectin Cattle Pour on 2.5L £115.49

Panacur Bolus—each £8.25

12 X 14g Needles 12 Gauze Swabs

150ml Surgical Spirit

When you purchase a box of 12 from the Calciject range

FREE

NOW

OPEN At Junction 24 At Junction 24 At Junction 24 inside

Bartletts Country Store

Full stock of competitively priced POM-VPS Products.

Collection point for pre-ordered POM-V Products

Student Review of a common problem - Rob Goss

EVERSHOT—01935 83682 www.synergyfarmhealth.com

United for strength, unique for service

DDDEVONEVONEVON NNNEWSEWSEWS The Ham Hill Dairy Farmers’ Discussion Group met at the Eagle Tavern on 5th March. Ed Powell-Jackson gave a talk bringing everyone up to speed on the latest thinking on Schmallenberg virus, including details of an outbreak in one of our client’s dairy herds in East Devon. Some lively discussion followed, with various farmers sharing their experiences of the disease to date, and their ideas as to what they could do about it moving forward. There were some useful points made relating to the use of anti-fly (midge) products, as well as the potential use of a Schmallenberg vaccine, when it becomes available.

This discussion group is run by the practice and is chaired by Synergy client David Bristol of Yarcombe. Meetings are on dairy farming related topics and aimed at farmers in the Chard and East Devon areas. We meet quarterly and have a summer farm walk hosted by one of the members of the group. All in the area are welcome to attend – please speak to Dave Bristol, Ed or Lucy in the office for further details.

SSSOMERSETOMERSETOMERSET NNNEWSEWSEWS———CCCREWKERNEREWKERNEREWKERNE FFFARMERSARMERSARMERS SSSKITTLEKITTLEKITTLE LLLEAGUEEAGUEEAGUE UUUPDATEPDATEPDATE The 2012-13 season is nearly complete. Paul Frampton has won the shield. The final of the John Frampton cup will be between Lloyd Curtis and Andrew Kempster on 2nd April at the Windwhistle Inn. The Captain’s Cup is being held at Winyard’s Gap on 4th April – silverware defended by Nigel Dowding. All are welcome to lend their captains some support! The top of the league is keenly contested between Paul Frampton, Nick Wakely and Roy French. The wooden spoon looks likely to be heading to a team from Hardington! The annual dinner and presentation is proceeding as normal at the Shrubbery Hotel, Ilminster on 18 th April. All players are reminded of the smart dress code please, and the need for a punctual arrival. Good luck in your final games!

DDDORSETORSETORSET NNNEWSEWSEWS (NEWS FROM TOM CLARKE ON HIS ROUNDS IN DORSET) Most farms visited this month are suffering from an acute lack of grass. With Maize clamps low and Grass clamps or baled silage running out fast we really need some spring warmth to kick start the grass. On a brighter note, not too many calving problems so far this spring, apart from the odd Schmallenberg deformity. A number of early lambers are reporting having very good lambing %, which given the tough winter they have just been through , is quite remarkable and likely reflects the extra effort made to flush ewes pre tupping. A mixed bag of other jobs this month has included a number of cases of “wire” diagnosed in live and dead animals. One poor cow had read the text book and presented at post mortem with a 3” piece of fencing wire poking from the reticulum (a compartment of the rumen that sits directly against the chest) in through the lung cavity and into the heart. After a brief milk drop she had been found dead in the cubicle. On this farm and on another in the area we are looking to put magnets in all cows in the herd – a job which our vet techs love to do! The BVD eradication plan for the Purbecks was unveiled in a meeting run by Richard Booth of the Royal Veterinary College and local vet practices including Synergy. You will be hearing more from us about this exciting adventure in the future.

MMMEETINGSEETINGSEETINGS

Understanding Data Planning for Fertility

identifying what high fertility herds look like

What do all the fertility figures mean

What can you change in order to improve

the fertility of your herd

Thursday 11th April

Bineham City Farm, Langport, TA10 9JF

Courtesy of Messrs D & P Coombes

For further information or to book your place

please contact Lucy Turner on 01935 83682

Monday 15th April

Lower Luxton Farm Honiton EX14 9PB

Courtesy of Mr G Tucker

CCCOURSESOURSESOURSES

For more information or to book your place please contact

Lucy Turner on 01935 83682

BOOKING NOW

Safe Use of Vet Medicines 24th April –11am—3pm At Evershot

£50 +VAT ** FULL **

Safe Use of Vet Medicines 12th June –11am—3pm At Evershot

£50 +VAT

AI Refresher Course 8th May

£120 +VAT