Farm animals 6 Flashcards
What two key factors can toxic mastitis in dairy herds be considered as a combination of?
- Environmental infection pressure
- Inadequate immune function
Discuss the prevention of toxic mastitis in dairy herds
- Environmental management: stocking density (1.25m^2/1000L annual mean cow milk prod. needed), clean bedding and passageways daily, ensure good ventilation, ensure sufficient feed trough space
- Vaccination against E coli and Strep aureus mastitis
- Imrestor to support innate immune system (admin 7 days before anticipated calving date)
When is the breeding season for camelids in the UK?
Potential to breed all year round, but generally breed December to April
Briefly describe the key facts about the oestrus cycle in South American Camelids
- Follicular growth occurs in regular waves during rutting season
- Induced ovulators - no luteal phase between oestrus cycles unless ovulation occurs
- Females do not show overt signs of oestrus other than acceptance of male when hand teased
Explain what is meant by kushing in camelids
Position where alpaca folds its legs under body to rest, keep warm, or if female receptive to breeding
Explain what is meant by spitting off in camelids
When mated female that has ovulated is re-introduced to stud male, will reject advances by kicking, running away and spitting
What is the gestation length of alpacas?
335-372 days
Why should males and third trimester pregnant females be kept separate in camelids?
Placental derived oestrogens produced may be mistaken by male for oestrus
List the non-infectious causes of abortion in camelids
- Uterine torsion
- Twinning
- Umbilical cord torsion
- Placental insufficiency
- Luteal insufficiency
- Environmental stress
- Iatrogenic
- Nutritional deficiencies
List the viral causes of abortion in camelids
- BVDV
- Equine herpesvirus 1
- Equine arteritis
- Bluetongue
List the bacterial causes of abortion in camelids
- Brucellosis
- Chlamydiosis
- Leptospirosis
- Listeriosis
- Campylobacteriosis
List the protozoal causes of abortion in camelids
- Toxoplasmosis
- Neospora
Outline the risk factors for uterine torsion in camelids
- Large foetal size
- Male foetus
- Breed predisposition
- Maternal illness
- Excessive rolling (females moved to new area in late gestation)
- Right horn pregnancies
- Prolonged gestation
What are the treatment options for uterine torsion in camelids?
- Rolling female whilst stabilising uterus to untwist the tosion
- Surgical: left flank paralumbar fossa approach and untwist
- Where possible, leave gestating cria in utero to then continue to a natural birthing process (poor survival if premature)
Outline the possible complications of uterine torsion in camelids
- Haemorrhagic shock, toxemia
- Foetal death/compromise
- Rupture of uterine/ovarian artery
- Uterine rupture and subsequent peritonitis
When called out to a difficult calving, what advice should you give to the owner over the phone?
- Do not keep in crush if will take >15 mins to get there
- Avoid too much manipulation of calf/dam (risk of injury, stress)
- Provide lots of clean bedding
- If possible isolate from rest of herd
Discuss the use of drugs in the management of a dystocia case in calving
- Sedatives only if dam is fractious, avoid due to effects on foetus reducing viability
- Use analgesia
- Consider epidural anaesthesia, will control abdominal straining but if only minor repositioning needed, abdominal effort from dam may be helpful
Outline the steps in the vaginal examination fo a cow with dystocia
- Check for injury/abnormalities in birth canal
- Check dilation of vagina, vestibule, then cervix
- Check if foetus is alive
- Assess relative size of foetus
- Assess position of uterus, foetus and umbilical cord
Briefly outline the maternal causes of dystocia in cows
- Inadeqate expulsive forces (primary/secondary uterine inertia or weak abdominal straining)
- Inadequate size of birth canal (incomplete dilation/constriction of birth canal, inadeqate pelvic diameter)
Briefly outline the foetal factors that can cause dystocia in cows
- Oversize: relative and absolute (breed, prolonged gestation etc.), congenital monsters, foetal pathology (ascites, anisarca etc.)
- Foetal disposition i.e. presentation/position
Discuss the advantages of manual correction of dystocia in a cow
- Less invasive than c-section
- Lower cost
- Shorter recovery time
Discuss the disadvantages of manual correction of dystocia in a cow
- Risk of foetal hypoxia
- Trauma to birth canal
- Painful to dam
- Risk of nerve damage and haemorrhage to dam
- May need to convert C-section if foetus too large/cannot reposition
Discuss the advantages of caesarean section for the correction of dystocia in a cow
- May be faster
- Reduced risk of hypoxia
Discuss the disadvantages of a caesarean section for the correction of dystocia in a cow
- Invasive
- Cost
- Greater risk of peritonitis and systemic illness
- Antibiotic use
