Bovine - Herd Health Flashcards
What is herd health?
Ensuring proper measures are in place to prevent dz outbreak.
managing a dz outbreak is much more costly than implementing a preventative health program - ensure colostrum intake (dairy, cow/calf), maintain recommended vx schedule, have antibiotic protocols in place - meat/milk withdrawal times
What is included in herd health?
castration, dehorning, weaning, parasite control, nutrition, biosecurity,
establish a yearly VCPR, vx and antibiotic protocols - beef herd and pregnancy detection, feedlot,dairy - intentional yearly site visit
What are the benefits of castration?
increased growth/weight gain, prevent unplanned mating, decreased aggression, increased price premiums/reduced price discounts
Who performs castration? At what age?
performed by an experienced person using a clean technique and well-maintained instruments
ideally as young as possible (<6 months) with an elastrator band
greater than 6mo MUST has analgesia (can be surgical or by burdizzo)
avoid castration during weaning/stressful events to prevent risk of infection
What are the benefits of dehorning?
reduce risk of injury to other cattle, increased safety for handlers, prevent financial loss from damaged carcasses
minimize space for feeding and transport
What is the difference btw disbudding and dehorning?
Disbudding at <3mo, horns not attached to skull yet, pain meds strongly recommended. Options are caustic paste but can run off and damage skin and eyes, can use electric disbudder
Dehorning >3mo, horns part of skull, pain meds required >3mo, options are lg bolt cutter/guillotine, giggli wire saw/hand saw, surgical ideal but rarely done bc moneyy
What block is used for a dehorning/disbudding procedure? How it is done?
Cornual nerve block: 3-10ml 2% lidocaine injected @ point approx 1/3 distance (~3cm) from the horn on line btw base of horn and lateral canthus of eye along lat temporal ridge of frontal bone
+/- sedative (ex alpha-2 agonist such as xylazine) will also = analgesia
metacam for postsx pain
What is weaning? Why do we do it? How can we do it?
Weaning is the process of separating a dam from their offspring
it ensures cows can recover body condition before winter and allow specialized feeding of calves
Done by abrupt separation, two-stage and fence-line weaning
What is abrupt weaning? Advantages? disadvantages?
Advan: calves handled once, less labor/equipment
disadvantages: high stress and lots of bawling, wandering, reduced longterm weight gain, increased risk of BRD
What is two stage weaning? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
Stage 1: nose-paddle or flap to prevent weaning but calf stays with cow
Stage 2: 4-7days later nose flap removed and calf separated from cow
Advantages: improved feed intake, lower BRD tx rates, reduction in pacing/bawling
Disaventages: nose-paddle costs, calves handled twice
What is a fenceline weaning? Advantages? disadvantages?
when calf is separated from the dam by a fence. Allowed to see them but not allowed to nurse
Advan: calves handled once, less stress on calves, better weight gain, lower BRD tx, reduction in bawling/pacing
Disadvant: extra fencing/land allotment
What parasites might affect cows?
flies, mosquitos, midges, ticks, lice. causes irritation, stress, production loss, grazing, increased dz transmission
What are 3 ways to control external parasites?
- integrated pest control - use of other living organism to kill pests (ex. other insects, animals, funi)
- cultural - physical, mechanical to reduce sites favorable for reproduction (ex. water management, pen cleaning)
- chemical - insecticides (often topical)
How might we control internal parasites in cows?
Causes reduced weight gain, poor feed efficiency, scours, reduced milk prod and reproduction. EX. roundworms, coccidia, lungworms, flukes, tapeworms
Strategic deworming - Correct product, time, dose, efficiency (FEC), and class of animal
Pasture management - avoid overgrazing, rotational gracing, harrow manure piles
