Practical practices

Question 1

Dangle tage

Answer 1

Applied to the ear, typically about half the distance from the tip. They:
* Dangle from the ear.
* Are used for herd management.
* May be color coded, hand identified with a numbers and letters e.g. a unique letter for each birth year, or simply sequentially numbered.
These tags are easy to see and are the tag usually used for identifying animals when talking to the owner or hands. They can be placed in either ear unless the animal is a purebred and is tattood. Tattoos are placed in the right ear and in this case, tags go in the left ear

Question 2

CCIA tags

Answer 2

CCIA tags are difficult to read visually. Many contain an RFID device. This is automatically scanned and logged when cattle go through auctions. Large operations may have an RFID scanner at the chute for cattle identification. CCIA tags must have the numbers facing forwards (rostral) inside the ear

Question 3

Brands are used for

Answer 3

Brands are unique to a farm.
* They are registered with the Province so two farms in different Provinces could have the same brand.
* Can be placed in one of 6 locations: hip, ribs or shoulder on the left or right side.
* Each farm can only place its brand in one location as determined by the Province at the time of registration.
* It is a very popular method because it can be used to quickly identify which owner an animal belongs too. In addition, the brand is permanent and is checked at auction and when cattle leave the Province by brand inspectors. This is an important deterrent to theft.
* However, there is no legal requirement to brand, and should be avoided if possible as it causes unnecessary harm to the animal.

Question 4

First layer of a LA bandage

Answer 4

First layer – Telfa pad. The telfa pad is keeps the medication on the wound and prevents other bandage layers from sticking to the wound. Taking care not to contaminate the telfa pad, apply the telfa pad onto the wound.

Question 5

Secondary layer of LA bandage

Answer 5

Second layer – stretch conforming gauze. This keeps the telfa on the wound site while the gamgee is being placed.
o Lay the free end of the roll against the limb with the rolled-up part facing out. This is so that when you unroll the gauze it unrolls smoothly onto the limb without wrinkles or excess tension.
o Apply even and smooth, but light, tension so that the roll gauze is just starting to stretch.
o Roll gauze applied to 2-4 cm proximal and distal to wound edges.

Question 6

Third layer of LA bandage

Answer 6

Third Layer – cotton Gamgee. This is a padding layer and should consist of quilted cotton pads, cotton roll or other thick cotton material. Padding distributes tension, reduces swelling, supports ligaments, absorbs exudate from wounds, and provides protection to the limb.
o Place the cotton wrap on the distal limb in an axial (tendons in) direction using firm pressure, making sure there are no creases or folds.
o The bottom of the cotton wrap should be over the heel bulbs nearly touching the floor and covering most of the dorsal hoof wall.
o Padding should be ~2 cm thick

Question 7

Fourth layer of the LA bandage

Answer 7

Brown gauze. This keeps the gamgee in place and provides compression.
o Secure the wrap to the distal limb in the same axial direction starting proximally and continuing distally, overlapping the gauze by approximately 50% with each rotation
o To prevent uneven pressure, make sure approximately 1 cm of the gamgee is exposed above the brown gauze proximally, and that the brown gauze lays flat against the white cotton.
o Distally, the brown gauze can completely cover the white cotton because the hoof wall will not become compressed with direct pressure from the brown gauze. Tuck the end of the brown gauze into itself

Question 8

Fifth layer of LA bandage

Answer 8

Vetrap. This improves the longevity of the bandage and prevents contamination.
o Apply the vetrap in the same axial direction overlapping 50% with each rotation. The vetrap can be pulled to its maximal tension and will look shiny when it is placed.
o Again leave the white cotton exposed 1/2 “ proximally and fully covered distally over the hoof

Question 9

Sixth layer of LA bandage

Answer 9

Elastoplast. This prevents the bandage from slipping and prevents shavings or debris from entering the bandage. DO NOT use any pressure with the Elastoplast; it should be laid onto the skin and bandage.
o apply a single rotation of Elastoplast at the proximal part of the bandage (50% on the limb and 50% on the bandage), and the distal part of the bandage over the hoof and bandage.
o Make sure the Elastoplast is placed low under the heel bulbs (sometimes briefly picking up the hoof to get it placed low enough is necessary)