Rearing young stock Flashcards
Which is the only functional stomach at birth of a calf?
Abomasum
What is a ruminal drinker and what are the signs?
Left distension
Milk entering the rumen and being fermented by the flora
Signs include ill-thrift, pot bellied, poor hair coat etc
Pasty faeces or fluid like
What is the treatment for a ruminal drinker?
Get them off milk ASAP and on to a good quality forage or compound feed
What causes rumenitis and how?
Left distension
F. necrophorum
Trichobezoar from excessive licking of coat
What causes a rumen impaction and how is it treated?
Left Distension
Fibre def or ingestion of bedding that has accumulated in rumen
Treat by putting calf back on milk or a high quality forage
What does right sided abdominal distension normally mean in calves?
If it occurs with out left sided distension then it is most likely an acute problem with the abomasum
What is the difference between temporary tympany and tympany that causes atony?
Temporary- overgrowth of gas producing bacteria
Atony- Abomasum can become displaced
What is abomasal bloat caused by in calves?
Abomasal dilatation that happens when the start eating solid food
What are the features of abomasal bloat syndrome?
pH of the abomasum is much higher than normal which allows bacteria to multiply rapidly
What are some things that contribute to abomasal bloat in calves?
Poor milk hygiene
Cold milk or milk replacer
Intermittent feeding of large volumes
How can you relieve the signs of abomasal bloat in a calf?
Drain the abomasum with stomach tube
Calf laying on its left side with its head down
Flush stomach with an electrolytes solution
What can cause bilateral abdominal distension?
Abomasal ulcers
When do abomasal ulcers appear and what signs will you see?
2-3wo when they start eating solid food
Rarely signs occur but if they do it will be abdo pain fever inappetance etc
What are some predisposing factors for navel ill
Poor colostrum management
Unhygienic calving
Poor housing and dirty trailers for transport
What signs might you see in a calf that is navel ill
Ill thrift, dull and possible systemic signs like joint ill
May have a localised abscess
Are you able to treat a navel ill calf?
Treat with penicillin for early or mild cases but may need surgical intervention if there is a large abscess
What does oral necrobacillosis indicate?
Poor hygiene
What are the signs of oral necrobacillosis?
Fever dribble and foul breath
Swelling on the cheek normally indicates food impacted between cheek and teeth
How do you treat oral necrobacillosis?
Isolate the infected calf don’t let it share equipment with the others and treat with penicillin for 2-5days
Should you breed from animals that had an umbilical hernia?
No it is likely hereditary
If smaller than 5cm they normally heal on their own
What is bovine neonatal pancytopaenia and what causes it?
Emerging disease of calves
Antibodies in the colostrum possibly linked to a BVD vaccine attack the bone marrow cells of the calf
What will you see in a calf with bovine neonatal pancytopaenia ?
Wide spread bleeding from a thrombocytopaenia
Fever
Secondary infections
Massive neutrophilia with left shift
What is the main aim of rearing young stock?
Have heifers calving at 2 years of age
What are the targets of heifers to get them to calve at 2yo?
55% of adult BW at mating at 15m
90% of adult BW at calving at 24m
