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Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) update

BVD bulk tank antibody results for most of our dairy clients seem to be generally dropping, which means herd testing has had a positive influence on the amount of BVD circulating in our local herds.We’ve made a graph of the last 10 farm’s results that have come over the desk, to take a look at any trends....

Tick or treat

Theileriosis is becoming an increasingly prevalent issue on New Zealand farms.  Caused by the blood-borne parasite Theileria orientalis, the disease is transmitted from cow to cow by ticks. Once inside the bloodstream, the parasite damages and destroys red blood cells, leading to anaemia.  Clinically, affected cows may show pale or yellow mucous membranes, lethargy, reduced appetite, loss of body condition, and a noticeable drop in milk production. In more severe cases, par...

The Mystery Moo: Phantom cows explained

As the mating season continues, there will be cows or heifers that may be struggling to get in-calf. You may have heard the term ‘phantom cow’ being mentioned to describe some of these cattle. But what exactly are phantom cows?The term ‘phantom cow’ is used to describe a syndrome where a cow doesn’t return for a second insemination after it’s had a first insemination, even though they have been declared ‘empty’ during an early pregnancy scan or ...

Careful with pets and Christmas treats

Christmas treats are something we all look forward to, but for our furry friends, some of these can be extremely toxic, so it is important to keep them out of reach. If you have a pet with a penchant for opening gifts, this may mean not putting wrapped treats under the tree!Some festive foods to be cautious of around pets include:1. ChocolateWhy it's toxic: Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are stimulants of the central nervous system and heart. They also act as diuretics, ...

Caring for pets over the holidays

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching. If you are heading away, now is a good time to start thinking about what plans you need to make for your pets.  Will you leave them at home and get someone to come and care for them?  Is booking them into a cattery or kennel a better option?  Or, can you take your pet away with you? Leaving your pet at home You may decide to leave your pet in the comfort of its own home, with a neighbour or friend either house-s...

Why pet dental x-rays matter

From the outside their teeth might look clean, white, and free from any obvious tartar or inflammation. But beneath the gum line can hide problems like infection, or even bone loss and furcation exposure – signs that periodontal disease is happening that would otherwise go undetected. That’s where dental x-rays come in. They let our vets see what’s really going on – the roots, the jaw, and all the structures you s...

Lameness: Trimming during the risk period

Between wet weather conditions and post-calving changes, the spring months tend to bring an increased risk of lameness issues on farm. Here's an overview of mobility scoring and corrective/preventative hoof trimming techniques to give you some guidance when dealing with lame cows. ...

Bull ratios

Bulls are a key part of the process of getting good mating results.  Having enough bull power over mating is very important. The number of bulls required depends on how many cows need to get pregnant. For many, you may need to ask yourself how many cows you expect to not be pregnant after your AB period finishes?A good calculation for the ratio of how many bulls you need per cows is: decide how many cows there are to get in calf, multiply that number by 3%, and round it up to get the numb...

CIDR programme timing and return on investment

As with every CIDR programme, there will be different details and therefore results for every farm. However, using basic numbers we can still review general trends in the return on investment for our 10-day non-cycler CIDR programme. The data shows:Inserting CIDRs 9 days before planned start of mating (PSM) gives a return on investment (ROI) of 197%.   Inserting CIDRs 7 days into mating gives a ROI of 71%.  Inserting CIDRs 21 days into mating just breaks even, with a ROI of ...

Cattle and parasites – what the FEC?

Data from faecal egg counts (FECs) taken from cattle poo samples, and shared by vets in a recent Wormwise forum, has shown Ostertagia worms that are resistant to triple oral drenches in 45% of tests!It’s also known that Cooperia parasites are becoming commonly resistant to double and triple drenches. Fonterra has picked up on this and has added a question about whether you are doing FEC tests in their Animal Welfare Plan – so it’s definitely something our farmers now need to start con...

It’s time to prepare for mating

The key to achieving good repro results is being proactive and addressing any issues before mating starts.Many things go into making mating time successful, here are some to consider: ...

Keeping your pets safe and calm during fireworks

Fireworks can be a beautiful sight, but they can also be stressful for our pets. Here are some simple, practical tips to help keep your animals safe, comfortable, and calm as possible during firework displays.  ...

Understanding ear infections in dogs 

The most frequent type of ear infection canines experience is called otitis externa, which simply means inflammation of the outer ear canal. While dogs with floppy or hairy ears (think cocker spaniels and poodles) are more likely to be affected, it can happen to any dog.  ...

Why is my pet so itchy?

Itching, also called pruritus, is a sensation that makes your dog or cat want to scratch, rub, lick, or chew their skin. While occasional scratching can be normal, persistent or severe itching often signals an underlying issue that needs attention.  ...

Body condition: Calving changes and mating impact

A lot of cows were in great condition pre-calving this year, what we'd consider body condition score (BCS) 5.A loss of one BCS – down to BSC 4 – is expected in the first 7-8 weeks after calving, as the cow adjusts to producing milk and is ‘milked off their back’, while their appetite increases. After this time, cows start to gain body condition again.Remember though, any cows with BCS 5.5 or higher are more at risk of subclinical and clinical ketosis after calving, so don't let them get ...

Metrichecking is an investment worth making

Cows with even mild infections in their uterus at mating cost you money (and time), with more non-cyclers, poorer conception rates, higher empty rates, and fewer days in milk overall. These 'dirty' cows can take up to four weeks longer to get in calf and have empty rates 10-30% higher than 'clean' cows.  Metrichecking is the most efficient way of finding 'dirty' cows to allow treatment. If an infection is detected, we use an intrauterine antibiotic to treat it.   We recommend che...

Disbudding with a dose of compassion 

Disbudding involves carefully and safely burning out the horn buds of calves. Removing the buds means they won’t grow sharp horns as an adult, helping prevent nasty injuries to herdmates and handlers. It's much less painful and stressful on the animal getting them done while they're young, as the buds are still only in the skin level.At Vet Clinic Morrinsville, when we disbud calves we do it under sedation and give anti-inflammatory pain relief (Metacam), on top of using local anaesthetic.Rese...

The big deal with pet obesity

One of the most common issues associated with obesity in pets is joint problems. The extra weight puts unnecessary stress on their joints. This can lead to the progression of joint degeneration and arthritis, causing significant pain and reduced mobility. By adopting careful weight management however, this can sometimes reduce or even eliminate the need for arthritis medications. ...

Spring survival kit

Preparation is key! Ensure you have all all the things you need this spring ready in a handy place for when the calves start coming. ...

Reducing calf scours

Every year, outbreaks of scours occur in calf pens – sometimes on farms with a history of issues, and other times on farms that have never experienced problems before. Fortunately, there are a few strategies we can use to manage calves that reduce the risk of scours and improve sick calves chances of survival.Colostrum feeding is crucial for calf health. Ideally every newborn calf should drink 3-4 litres of ‘gold’ colostrum (from a cow's first milking) within six hours of being born to ens...

Calf shed prep

With spring calving just around the corner, now is the perfect time to assess the quality and readiness of your calf sheds. A well-designed shed not only promotes healthy growth, but also reduces the risk of disease spreading among your calves....

Abortions: How many is too many?

It can be disheartening when you see your cows slipping, especially after all the effort you put in over mating. The reality is, a certain number of slips are inevitable. But it’s still worthwhile keeping an eye on how many you have and trying to avoid those that can be managed out of the equation.  So, what’s normal? It’s common to see about 2-5% of your cows abort, and another 3% may abort unseen.   Some possible causes of abortions in cattle include:Nitrate poisoning....

Acorn poisoning

This poisoning is caused from a substance called ‘tannins’ contained within acorns themselves, but also found in oak tree leaves, young shoots, and even the bark. Stock usually get ill from eating the acorns. Unripe acorns are a lot more toxic, so pay close attention to strong winds bringing down crops of acorns before they’re naturally ready to drop. Cattle and sheep are more likely to ingest acorns in an area when feed is tight, however, any exposure to acorns or oak trees coul...

Salmonella cases locally

We currently have a few herds with confirmed cases of Salmonellosis.  The Salmonella Bovismorbificans strain of this disease causes severe diarrhoea and has been linked to abortions. Other clinical signs of Salmonella in a herd can range from a mild drop in milk production, to deaths from toxic shock in more severe cases.  Changes in diet or stressful events (e.g. transport, calving, or overcrowding) can cause changes in a cow’s gut flora, leading to clinical disease. It’s also bee...

A look at Leptospirosis

Lepto can cause sickness and abortions in some dairy cows, and in others it may cause no symptoms and they simply carry the bacteria and pass it to others. Lepto is likely to be contracted by unvaccinated calves from their first autumn onwards, and can be shed by an infected animal in their urine for years.   As a zoonotic disease, it’s easily spread from animals to humans. There are plenty of people who have had Lepto if you ask around – and they don’t recommend it!  Mild cases ...