13 Health Management pt 2 Flashcards
What is failure of passive transfer?
Calf does not absorb enough immunoglobulins from the colostrum
What is scours?
Calves have diarrhea from E coli infection
Scours if a management disease, what is one of its management factors?
Making sure the calf has enough immunoglobulins (antibodies) in its bloodstream
Why do calves need antibodies from the colostrum
- bovine placental structure does not allow transfer of large molecules, including immunoglobulins, between dam and fetus
- circulating levels of self-produce antibodies do not reach significant levels until 16 to 32 days after birth (relies on passive immunity transferred from dam until then)
Colostrum management at the DRTC
Cow milked immediately after calving, colostrum is kept (frozen) then tested using refractometer
Good colostrum (BRIX >22) is kept
Thaw at room temperature when required
Post-calving administration of colostrum at the DRTC
2L colostrum given by bottle within 2 hours of birth, repeat every 4-6 hours until 24 hours of age
8L good quality colostrum consumed within first 24h
What do we do if the calf is not willingly taking colostrum within 30 mins
Esophageal feeder may be used
How do we test for failure of passive transfer
Collect blood sample from calf at 24-36 hours of age, isolate serum
Place serum on BRIX
BRIX value <8.4 indicates FPT
Common causes of scours in calves, which are zoonotic
Zoonotic: E. coli, Salmonella, Crypto
Non: clostridium, coccidia, rotavirus, coronavirus
Most common pathogens causing diarrhea in young calves
Cryptosporidium (37%)
then Rotavirus
Routine procedures in the lab for scours pathogen diagnostics
- microscopic exam of feces with special stain for bacteria
- culture of feces for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria
- Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin
- look for viruses/parasites
How to treat scours, why do we take these steps
Give fluids (scours causes dehydration)
Give electrolytes (loss of fluids = electrolyte imbalance)
Give antimicrobials
- scours may be caused by antimicrobial susceptible individual
- even if the scours pathogen is not susceptible to antimicrobials, give them because they are vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections
What do we assess when doing dehydration assessment in calves
Demeanor (normal, depressed, comatose)
Eyeball recession
Skin tent duration (<1s to >6s)
What is the DRTC calf vaccination SOP
On day 1, calves get:
- Inforce3 (2mL, intranasal)
- Once PMH (2mL, intranasal)
Day 70, calves get:
- Once PMH (2mL, SQ)
- Inforce 3 (2mL, intranasal)
Two days prior to shipping to heifer rearing facilitaty, they get:
- Covexin (clostridial vacc)
- DRAXXIN (anitbiotic)
- Vitamin A/D
What type of vaccine is Inforce 3? Provides protection against what?
Modified live virus
- Bovine Rhinotracheitis Virus
- Bovine Parainfluenza 3 Virus
- Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus
What kind of vaccine is Once PMH? Provides protection against what?
Avirulent live culture
- M. haemolytica
- P. multocida
What is covexin plus?
Clostridial bacterial toxoid vaccine
Protects against the toxins produced by clostridium bacteria
What is DRAXXIN
Treatment of bovine respiratory disease
Why do calves get Vitamin A and D before heifer rearing
Less nutrients in silage and hay
Important in winter bc Vitamin A may be depleted in forage, no Vit D from sunlight
How do we minimize stresses tot he calf to ensure maximal immune system function
- colostrum
- optimal calf housing and environment
- proper calf nutrition
- low stress handling
- herd parasite prevention program
How do we treat pneumonia, why do we do this
Give antimicrobials
- may be caused be susceptible organism
- may be caused by unsusceptible organism, but be vulnerable to secondary bacterial infections
Give anti-inflammatories (steroidal or nonsteroidal) (inflammation is major cause of the signs we see in a sick calf)
What injection do we give pneumonic calves
Flunixin (antibiotic and NSAID)
Why are cows vaccinated?
To protect themselves AND to pass the antibodies onto the calf in the form of colostrum
What does a cow with pneumonia look like
- open-mouthed breathing
- froth at muzzle
- anxious
- extended head and neck
- poor hair coat
- hunched back
