Magnesium in beef cows
Magnesium in beef cows Magnesium is required for optimal rumen fermentation. Ruminants deficient in magnesium have lowered cellulose digestion in the rumen resulting in reduced appetite and total nutrient intake. Magnesium is also essential for key body enzyme systems regulating energy, protein and fat metabolism. In addition, magnesium is also involved in the uptake and […]
Nitrate poisoning
Nitrate poisoning, is a relatively common problem in grazing livestock in our temperate climate, and often follows when livestock graze young, rapidly growing pastures and crops that haven’t converted all their nitrates into protein.
Lifestyle block facilities
Lifestyle block facilities When owning large animals, it is important that good handling facilities are available. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to build some on your own property – consider borrowing your neighbour’s or purchasing portable steelyards. Yards make routine activities (drenching, ear tagging, vaccination, shearing) easier, and many veterinary procedures are unachievable […]
Is your zinc working?
Is your zinc working? Often when we see issues arise despite treating with zinc it isn’t due to the spore counts being overwhelmingly high, it’s due to our zinc dosing being inadequate. This can be due to a multitude of reasons that include (but aren’t limited to): Dosing to average liveweight (some cows bigger some […]
The role of trace elements and vitamins in calves
The role of trace elements and vitamins in calves Directly after their birth, many calves have a serious deficiency of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Milk feed alone often cannot provide sufficient nutrients. Supplementary vitamin and minerals are therefore essential. Which nutrients are involved and how do they affect the health and immunity of the […]
Caring for cows with facial eczema at calving
Caring for cows with facial eczema at calving Often you won’t know how badly affected your cows were by facial eczema (FE) until calving time. FE is a disease of ruminants caused by a fungus called pithomyces chartarum. This grows on dead plant material at the base of pasture. Its spores release a toxin, sporidesmin, […]
Lungworm in cattle and deer
Lungworm in cattle and deer Lungworm in deer is caused by a deer-adapted lungworm Dictyocaulus eckerti. Cattle lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus, has also been shown to affect deer, although it is less well adapted to red deer. In the lower North Island, clinical disease in dairy calves is common and is often associated with higher stocking rates and where […]
Calf vaccination and mineral treatment
Calf vaccination and mineral treatment Protecting your calves now protects the income from your herd down the line. Leptospirosis (Lepto) Lepto is a bacterial disease that can affect most mammals. Although it does not often cause severe illness in cattle, it is one of the most common diseases to be transmitted from animals to people […]
Eczema in livestock: what’s it all about?
Eczema in livestock: what’s it all about? When we talk about eczema in livestock what we are really talking about is ‘photosensitivity’. Photosensitivity is sunlight-induced swelling, reddening, scabbing and/or peeling of white or unpigmented areas of skin as a result of liver damage and/or ingestion of certain crops. Facial eczema (FE) is what most New […]
The license to farm – The use of anti-inflammatory medications
The license to farm – The use of anti-inflammatory medications When an animal has an illness or injury, they will have inflammation and pain. The degree of pain is not always obvious to us as animals cannot tell us, but they do show us in a variety of ways. Pain has both physiological (increased temperature, […]