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Top tips for managing calves with scours

A scouring calf urgently requires water and electrolytes to correct imbalances, and must also receive a source of energy. Most scouring calves can be saved with just electrolytes, whether the cause is dietary, bacterial or viral, without the need for antibiotics. When you give electrolytes (salts etc) the calf becomes thirsty. If you have given 6 litres of electrolytes it will go looking for another 4L of water to make up the rest of its daily requirement. Fresh clean water must b...

Transition Boluses

TRANSITION™ Boluses contain a unique combination of calcium and vitamin D3. Cows given TRANSITION™ Boluses receive supplemental calcium and vitamin D3 when they need it the most. TRANSITION™ Calcium Boluses include three proven sources of calcium;◾Calcium chloride◾Calcium propionate◾Calcium carbonateVitamin D3 is also introduced to help the absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus.TRANSITION™ Calcium Boluses are easy to administer, safe for the animal and help prepare co...

Filling the feed gap

Now is the time to determine how much of a deficit you have for the coming spring, which will give you the opportunity to source sufficient supplement now, or contract enough to fill the void. It is quite easy to calculate what the dry matter deficit is, for example:Target pasture cover for 1st of July = 2200 kgDM/ha                                                  &n...

Zoetis Recycling Programme

Better for your farm and the planet. Delivering products and services that care for your animals is the cornerstone of what we do, but an area for improvement is what to do with the significant volume of waste that can come with some of the products required to maintain healthy animals. Animal health company Zoetis are passionate about long term sustainability, and have been creating new opportunities to help steward resources responsibly and minimise the impact on the environment. In 2021 Zoet...

Transition Cow Management

Transition management is the best way to support our cows to preform to their potential around calving and has flow on benefits through lactation. Recent studies found that a well-managed transition plan can result in an increased lactation production of 5-10%, increased 6 week in calf rates and reduced incidence of disease. From a financial perspective the return on investment from production gains alone equated to 5:1 over the costs of transition feeding. When developing a transition plan, it ...

Nitrate poisoning - the risk is now!

Click here for our article all about nitrate poisoning in dairy cows...

Dry Cow Consult Time!

Dry cow consult time is upon us again/ This year we have done something a little different and the form has gone online to hopefully save you time! Click here to access the form, fill in your details and then ring the clinic to book in your appointment! https://us6.list-manage.com/su... ...

Scanning 2022 - the results are in!

Click here to see the latest scanning results for Cow Vets Clients...

In water zinc supplementation starts now!

The facial eczema season is almost upon us and for those who provide protection via in water zinc treatment this needs to start now at 1/2 rates to allow the cattle time to get used the taste. After 3-4 weeks the dose can be then upped to the full rate required for protection to coincide with the start of the risk period. See this article for further information. ...

Christmas Opening Hours

24th Dec: 8.30 -1pm 25th: CLOSED - On call vet available for emergencies: 0800269838 26th: CLOSED - On call vet available for emergencies: 0800269838 27th: CLOSED - On call vet available for emergencies: 0800269838 28th: CLOSED - On call vet available for emergencies: 0800269838 29th: 8.30- 5pm 30th: 8.30 - 5pm 31st: 8.30-5pm 1st Jan: CLOSED - On call vet available for emergencies: 0800269838 2nd: CLOSED - On call vet available for emergencies: 0800269838 3rd: CLOSED - On cal...

December To Do List

Bulls out at the end of the month - don't forget unless you want to still be calving next October!Plan for Zinc in the new yearWeighing and worming of calvesBook in early pregnancy scanning Early dry off for some Autumn calving herds at the end of the month Have a cracking holiday! ...

To Do List - November 2021

End of AB - Bulls InMonitor bulls health - particularly lamenessSort trace element supplementation for calves Calf 7 in 1 and BVD vaccinations may be dueWeighing and worming of calves - do you have a plan?Check herd test results...

New Weigh Scales Available For Hire

We have an exciting new piece of equipment available for hire to all our clients! Back at field days we purchased some portable Gallagher scales and eID reader wand to enable our clients to weigh calves in a cost effective manner without the initial outlay on expensive equipment themselves. Use of the wand enables you to upload the captured information straight to MINDA.  We hope this will be a utilized service and allow you to better track your calf growth rates and thus improve the health...

Mating KPI's

KPITop FarmsAverage Farms 3 week submission rate90%80%Conception rate 60%55%6 week in calf 78%68%Empty Rate (12 week mating)6%10% Are you on track? Remember the main parameter here that you have the most control over right now is the 3 week submission rate. Your focus should be on getting this as high as you can, giving you the best chance the rest will fall into place. ...

TURBO® Initial

Turbo® Initial is an oral drench specifically designed for weaned calves. It provides broad worm parasite coverage as well as helping to protect against coccidiosis. This bridges the 'susceptibility' gap after calves come off coccidiostat-treated meal and before they develop natural coccidiosis immunity.If you have had issues with coccidosis in the past then this product may work for you. Give us a call at the clinic to find out more ...

October 2021 - To Do List

Synchronise non-cyclers at the start of mating AB for cows and watch for returns, touch up tail paint, re-apply kamars etcCheck your bulls - are they sound, BVD tested and vaccinated?Wean calves when ready - they should be eating 1kg meal/head/day2nd calf 7 in 1 may be due at the end of the month ...

Why Wait To Mate?

All cows should be tailed painted a minimum of 3 weeks before planned start of mating... why? 1) Non cyclers are identified early and can then be put on a CIDR programme at the beginning of mating ensuring maximum return from the programme (reduced empty rates, better 6 week in calf rates, more days in milk) 2) Opportunity to bring cows forward to cycle in the first week of mating with timed PG injections - also known as Why Wait Programme For those of you now using electronic means of heat dete...

September 2021 - To Do List

Finish up calf disbudding Vaccinate calves with 7 in 1 Plan for mating - start tail painting to identify non-cyclers early Identify and treat dirty cowsBCS cows to identify condition loss post calving Try to give yourselves and staff some time off in between calving and mating to re-charge Book in herd Lepto vaccination for those of you whose annual booster is due in September Book in Scanning for those of you who calve in the Autumn ...

Calf Disbudding

It's time to book in your calf disbudding! The calves are coming thick and fast so many of you will have a decent sized mob of replacements to get started with disbudding. Our disbudding service is performed with the calves sedated which makes the job a lot quicker and less stressful for the calves. The process includes supernumerary teat removal and a navel check. Vaccinations can also be performed depending on calf age. With the calves asleep it is also a great time for tag application or any ...

August 2021 - To Do List

 To do this month Keep calm and carry on calving!Identify ‘at risk’ cows and treat for endometritis Keep on top of calf pen hygiene and measuring colostrum qualityOrganize first mob of calf disbuddingCheck your bulk milk BVD testing is booked in with your provider (via LIC or via us with SVS)...

Managing Stress during Calving

Let’s face it; no matter how well you plan calving, it is a stressful time for most people.However there are some simple things you can do for yourself and your staff to reduce that. • When we are busy or stressed the first thing that goes is communication but this iswhen it is most crucial. Don’t be tempted to skip those regular staff meetings. Dealwith things before they become problems, thus reducing wear and tear on both yourteam and your assets. So ensure you continue your weekly staf...

New BVD ear punch PCR test available

LIC have launched a new test that means ear punching at disbudding is now possible Previously calves had to be >35days to run the test however new technology means they can now be done with a ‘dry’ sample at any age. We are able to offer this service at disbudding so please speak to one of the vets beforehand if you’d like to get this sorted....

July 2021 - To Do List

This month's to do listGet stocked up for calvingConsider doing some pre-calving bloods to check your mineral supplementation is workingHave a pre-calving meeting with your team, make sure everyone is familiar with protocols for down cows, sick cows etcFind your refractometer!Do some calf bloods in some of the first born to check colostrum management is workingMake a plan for calcium supple- mentation and milk fever treatment...

Checking Colostrum Transfer in Calves

The effects of inadequate colostral transfer in calves are well documented. Calves that don’t get sufficient colostrum are more than 5 times more likely to die before weaning and 9 times more likely to become diseased compared to calves that do get sufficient colostrum. Not all cow colostrum is created equal, combined with the fact that antibody levels in the colostrum begin declining from the moment of calving until the cow gets milked it pays to be checking colostrum quality using a refracto...