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livestock ‘n’ animal health Green Cow Safe Cubicles


In a joint collaboration, Quattro UK and Easifix Ireland launched the 'Green Cow Safe Cubicle' range last summer, a development considered a major step forward in terms of meeting the general management and welfare needs of the modern dairy cow.


The new cubicles, which are green in colour, offer enhanced safety features because of their flexible nature. The plastic bars dividing the cubicles provide cows with that little bit of additional space when lying down. The cubicle frame will revert to its initial default position once the cow stands up. Because the plastic frame is much kinder to cows there are none of the injuries, bruising, haematomas or incidences of cows getting trapped that are associated with steel cubicles. Such injuries have a negative effect on her health, reduce milk yield, increase veterinary costs and reduce profitability in an industry where margins are already very tight.


Main Features


1. Consists of flexible plastic high tensile tubes 2. DIY and easy to install Main Advantages 1. Improved animal comfort, welfare and performance 2. Reduced healthcare and veterinary costs 3. Increased resting time leading to higher milk production 4. More efficient use of lying space 5. They fit to size of the cows so the cow lies perfectly in the cubicle.


For more information, contact Quattro on 01768 864977.


Experimental studies highlight need to act quickly when pneumonia symptoms first present


When cattle start showing visible pneumonia symptoms they could well have been suffering from the adverse effects of the disease for two days.


Studies in France with young beef bulls have confirmed the insidious nature of pneumonia and confirm the crucial need for farmers to act fast with proven antibiotic and anti- inflammatory treatment as soon as an animal presents obvious signs of infection.


“The studies show the pneumonia disease process is well underway before farmers are able to see any signs of illness. This makes it vital that farmers hit clinical pneumonia cases hard as soon as they can with a highly effective, rapid-acting combination treatment, such as Resflor, as prescribed by their vet,” stresses Paul Williams MRCVS, livestock veterinary adviser with Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health.


In the French experimental study, 112 young beef bulls aged between 7 and 11 months and split into 12 groups were observed during a 40-day period after arrival on three commercial units. Shortly after arrival, all the cattle were given an intra-ruminal bolus containing a temperature sensor. Data collected showed that the animals eventually treated for pneumonia – when the farmers detected visible signs of disease – had actually been suffering from a high temperature for 47 hours, on average, before the therapeutic action was initiated. Comparable levels of disease under-detection have also been observed in North American and South African feedlots.


“It's clear that, on farm, it is often difficult to detect animals with respiratory disease early enough, so you are already on the back foot when you do start treating. But respiratory disease that is left undetected not only has a negative effect on cattle well-being, it also impacts significantly on their growth,” he warns.


The growth setback effect caused by lung damage has been highlighted in studies carried out in conjunction with Blade Farming. This work showed that pneumonia lung damage could be costing some cattle almost 74kg a year in lost lifetime growth potential. It's a startling fact that led the company to review pneumonia treatment protocols on all their beef production units.


“The message is clear. As soon as you see a pneumonia case, act fast with proven combination treatment. Studies have demonstrated that Resflor reaches all areas of the lung within six hours of administration. Its use has also been shown to deliver 37% less lung damage than treatment with antibiotic alone,” Paul Williams says.


dangers highlighted


Frost Farming Ezine Page 18


Vets and farmers are being reminded of the need to store medicines properly and ensure they are kept at the right temperature. Janssen Animal Health's technical helpline say that many of the people contacting them about Vecoxan® 2.5 mg/ml Oral Suspension (diclazuril) seem unaware of the need to keep the product in a frost-free environment.


It was identified some time ago that freezing leads to the active ingredient in Vecoxan® 2.5 mg/ml Oral Suspension, diclazuril, coming out of suspension. If this previously frozen product is used subsequently the amount of active ingredient given may not be consistent, which could lead to both over- and under-dosing. The effects of freezing can be particularly acute at this time of year, as the lambing season gets underway and affected young lambs are treated with Vecoxan® 2.5 mg/ml Oral Suspension that has been stored in unheated buildings over the winter. As the country had one of the coldest winters for many years in 2010, the problem may be even more relevant this spring.


www.farmnequine.co.uk


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