Routine husbandry procedures

Question 1

Where should ear tags be placed in calves

Answer 1

between the 2 cartilage ribs which run the length of the ear
in its middle third
avoid the blood vessels

Question 2

describe TB reactor tags

Answer 2

have unique identifier recorded by the vet
collects a tissue sample
will be green
animal tagged at time that reactor identified

Question 3

List 2 complications of tagging

Answer 3

Infection
Trauma

Question 4

describe how to treat a infection due to tagging

Answer 4

lance abscess
clean with antibacterial washes
topical antibiotics
Bad cases- NSAIDs and broad spectrum antibiotics, remove tag

Question 5

Describe how to treat haemorrhage due to ripping out tag

Answer 5

clean
clamp or tie off vessels
compression

Question 6

at what age should bulls get a nose-ring

Answer 6

any age but best 6-12 months
all adults should be rung to aid safe handling

Question 7

how can you sedate a bull for placing a nose ring

Answer 7

xylazine/ detomidine
lower dose than for a cow of same weight as bulls more sensitive
only really needed for fractious animals

Question 8

describe anaesthesia used when placing nose ring in bulls

Answer 8

infraorbital nerve block - both sides, around 20ml per site, flood the area around the infraorbital foramen

Question 9

What are the 4 methods to place a bull nose ring

Answer 9

nose punch
The sharp end of the ring is driven through the septum by hand
The sharp end of the ring is driven through the septum using a applicator designed specifically for the job
A scalpel blade (size 11) is used to cut a slit through which the ring is passed

Question 10

where should a bull nose ring be placed

Answer 10

through the soft tissue of the nasal septum in front of the cartilage - not in cartilage itself

Question 11

what can occur if you don’t fully clean area when placing bull ring

Answer 11

pituitary abscess - very rare but can’t be treated and animals will be euthanised
been linked to dirty bull rings being placed

Question 12

list 2 things that you need to do with aftercare for bull nose ring

Answer 12

the septum must be allowed to heal before the ring is used to restrain the animal
they can tear the ring- most will heal by secondary intension

Question 13

under what act is it illegal to disbud without anaesthetic

Answer 13

Under The Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954

Question 14

what nerve blocks should be used for dehorning cows

Answer 14

corneal nerve block
Subcutaneous branches of second cervical nerve- caudal aspect of horn

Question 15

what are barnes dehorners used for

Answer 15

used to remove small to medium/large horns quickly- require strength to operate

Question 16

List 4 haemostasis methods in cows during dehorning

Answer 16

Grasp and pull or twist the artery slowly with haemostats causing them to break below the bone line where they clot
Work around the wound circumferentially with a hot iron
Apply a tourniquet around the base of the horns and the poll with baler twine or bands
cobwebs

Question 17

describe the aftercare with dehorning

Answer 17

oxytetracycline spray/ aluminium spray
clean environment
stress should be minimised
animals should be regularly checked during first 24 hours to ensure haemorrhage has stopped

Question 18

what do you need to be careful about when dehorning cows with large horns

Answer 18

In large horns the frontal sinus extends into the horn and is therefore left open following dehorning. Animals should be fed off the floor and not from a rack to prevent foreign material falling into the sinus

Question 19

list 4 potential complications of dehorning cattle

Answer 19

haemorrhage
infection at the surgical site -rarely significant problem
sinusitis
fly strike

Question 20

which local anaesthetic is used for dehorning cattle

Answer 20

procaine

Question 21

T/F haemorrhage is significantly less if a wire is used

Answer 21

True - heat and dust generated limit bleeding

Question 22

when do goats need to be disbudded

Answer 22

within first week of life

Question 23

describe anaesthesia for goat disbudding

Answer 23

anaesthetise with gas following a pre-med of Xylazine, administer analgesia, then to remove the horn buds with electrocautery

Question 24

how big a diameter do you need when disbudding goats

Answer 24

You must take a large diameter of approx. 25mm from the centre of the horn bud

Question 25

how can you increase the volume of inject of local anaesthesia

Answer 25

dilute in saline to increase the volume- to make easier to inject

Question 26

T/F goat skull is more fragile than calves

Answer 26

True