Dairy Learning Lab 2Cow Health & Reproduction

Arusha, Tanzania 22-23 JuneKasisi, Zambia 25-26 JuneMbarara, Uganda 29-30 June

Gidi Smolders organimprove@upcmail.nl

Outline of programme

Day 1

a) Intro on health management

b) On natural behaviour

c) Looking at healthy cows

d) On reproduction

Day 2

e) On preventive management

f) On diseases and illnesses

g) On farmers solutions

h) On advisory

Health management as 3-step approach

a) Intro on Cow Health & Reproduction

Step 1: Preventive measures

Step 2: Growing conditions

Step 3: Direct treatment

Why keep animals healthy?

Disease Transmit to humans via

Tuberculosis, Q-fever Air, milk

Brucellosis Milk, wounds, contact

Salmonellosis Faeces

Leptospirosis Water and food

Listeriosis Cheese, water, vegetables

E-coli Meat, faeces

Anthrax Meat

Liver fluke Contaminated greens

Rabies Bites, wounds

Tape worms Meat

Lice, mites, ringworm Contact

Paratuberculosis Milk

Why keep animals healthy?

• Happy dairy cow => happy farmer

– Animal welfare

– Higher production• More milk

• Better weight gain

• Better reproduction

– More years of production• Lactation curve

• Lower replacement rate

– Lower veterinarian costs

– Less medicine in products and environment

b) on natural behaviour

Natural behaviour

Herd animals like to synchronise behaviour

Herd ranking system

Fleeing as a defence mechanism

Dairy cow needs are:

– Fodder

– Water

– Light

– Air

– Rest

– Space

– A friendly farmer

Do: Always feed and fresh water

Do: Clean surface, but not slippery

Do?: Mutilations cause/reduce stress

• Dehorning

• Removing extra teats

• Taildocking

• Clipping part of ear

• Branding numbers

• Tattooing numbers

c) Looking at healthy cows

Do: watch, reflect, act and learn

Watch your herd a few times a day and check:

• What cow behaviour do you see?

• Do all cows synchronize their behaviour?

• What causes this behaviour?

• What is your reflection?

• Is action required? Why? Why not?

• What do you learn from this action?

What to look for in individual cows?

• Awareness/attent• Shiny coat, happy lines• Development in relation to age• Cleanliness• Body condition• Rumen fill and ruminating• Skin damages/swellings/hairless patches• Locomotion• Behaviour• Discarding from eye, nose, vulva• Claws• Signs of heat

Welfare quality assessment in 7 steps

tarsus (incl. hock)

hindquarterneck/ shoulder/ back

carpus

flank/ side/ udder

1. Cleanliness

Acceptable DirtyRegion WQ Score 0 WQ Score 1lower hind legs (coronary band to hock)

little or no dirt ,minor splashing

plaques of dirt above the coronary band (a)

hind quarter and flank (upper leg, flank and rear view excluding udder

no or minorsplashing of dirt

plaques of dirt (a)

udder no or minor splashing of dirt

plaques of dirt on udder or around the teats (a)

teats no dirt present ANY dirt on teats (b)

Ad a. “Plaques” of dirt are three dimensional and size the palm of a hand, or more than half the area under consideration is covered

Ad b. Record “2” if area covered with dirt has diameter of > 2 cm.

2. Body condition: average is OK

3. Hairless/lesion/swelling

4. Check faeces consistency

1. thin fluid, „pea soup“, slop, no rings or dimples.

2. thin pulp, faeces less than 2.5 cm high, rings.

3. medium pulp, like „porridge“, faeces 3 to 4 cm high, rings, dimples, sticking to the tip of your gumboot.

4. thick, not sticky, faeces 5 to 8 cm high, no rings, dimples.

5. Compact faeces, faeces higher than 8 cm

5. Discharge eyes, nose, vulva

6. Locomotion score

• 0 – Not Lame: Timing of steps and weight-bearing equal on all four feet.

• 1 – Lame: Imperfect temporal rhythm in stride creating a limp (irregular foot fall – uneven temporal rhythm between hoof-beats, weight not borne for equal time on each of the four feet)

• 2 – Severely Lame: Strong reluctance to bear weight on one limb, or more than one limb affected.

7. Claw assessment

The 6 criteria of a normal claw are:• A plain surface• Claws are not bended • Halves same length (cows: 7.5cm)• No or little space between claws• contact to surface of the whole claw• Angle to ground near 50°

If 2 criteria of a normal claw are not fulfilled on at least one of the examined claws, then you score “overgrown claws”.

d) On reproduction

Oestrus cycle

Time to breed

Managing cow fertility

• Ideally one service should give pregnancy

• Heifers in good condition need 1.1 service which means 90% pregnant after one service

• High yielding cows, skinny cows are less fertile: Cost of more services vs calving interval Consider recovery time for high yielders High quality feed to skinny cows.

• How long do you continue breeding (… 4, 5, 6 ,7…. times?

Calving interval determined by

1. Planned interval between calving and next mating/insemination When you want a calving interval of 1 year, mating should

be within tree month post partum

2. Heat detection When do you watch your animals Do cows show heat symptoms

3. Pregnancy rate after first mating or insemination Each mating increases the interval with about a month 60% pregnancy rate means that 4 out of 10 cows need at

least one more mating

4. Early embryonic death Happens after 2-3 month, cycle starts again

Breeding calender

Reproductive problems (1)

• Retained placenta: afterbirth should drop within 8 hrs.

• No treatment, oxytocin or prostaglandins, antibiotics.

• Anoestrus: no heat signs for a long time.

• Adequate feeding of roughage, minerals, trace-elements

• Endometritis: inflammation of mucus membrane of uterus, after abnormal delivery.

• Hygiene, disinfect calving area

• Pyometra: pus in uterus caused by Corynobacterium pyogenes.

• Estrogens and oxytocin.

Reproductive problems (2)

• Silent heat: no regular signs or skips a period.

• Adequate quantity and quality roughage, minerals, trace-elements,

• Improve heat detection.

• Vibriosis: early embryonic death, infertility caused Campylobacter fetus.

• Artificial Insemination or bulls without infections.

• White heifer disease: in BBl and Shorthorn (white coat)

Day 2 e) On preventive management

Cows get used to pathogens on farm

But, new pathogens can enter the farm via:

• Bringing in new cows to the farm

• Using common grazing areas

• Receiving visitors

Measures:– Do not introduce animals from other farms

– You avoid contact with animals from other farms

– Make appointments about sanitation/vaccination

– Indigenous breeds are less sensitive than exotic breeds

– Boosting the immune system

Boosting the immune system = less treatments

Inborn and gained immunity (resistance)

First barrier: intact skin and gastric juice

Breeds have different immunity

Pathogens influence immunity

* vaccination against specific pathogen

Stress lowers immunity:

* caused by naturalness, housing, feeding, care, disease, attitude farmer

High resistance => self curing => less treatments

Treatment: Yes or no!! Profitable/prospects/prognosis

Prevention during calving (1)

Calving area is clean, dry, quiet

Provide help if the cow shows signs of difficulty during the birth.

If delivery takes longer than 24 hours and the allantoic sac has not protruded, the cow will require assistance from a veterinarian.

If there has been no expulsion of the foetus or any contractions for more than two hours after the rupture of the allantoic sac, veterinary assistance will be required.

During this period, there is the possibility of milk fever, uterine prolapse, or downer cow occurring.

Prevention during calving (2)

Foetal membrane should occur 3-8 h after calving. If it is retained over 12 h, the cow will require assistance.

Remove the foetal membrane from the calving area or pen floor, clean the pen and the rearing area of the dam to reduce risk of infection by flies.

Feed enough good quality and palatable feed because the cow has less appetite and may remain stressed from delivery.

There is risk for retained placenta, metritis, milk fever, uterine prolapse and mastitis.

The immune system is low from two weeks before till two weeks post partum. Avoid contact with animals with contagious diseases.

Prevention of claw disease:

Prevention of mastitis

• Milking place: quiet, clean, relaxed

• Cow: tasteful feed, wipe udder/teats, (restrain?), massage udder, clip hair

• Milking technic: check milk for flakes, squeeze the milk, not pull teats, 12 h interval, antiseptic teat dip, treat lesions

• Milking equipment: clean after milking and dry in sun

From GART manual

General prevention of eye problems

• Apply tick grease or other repellants around the eyes.

• Manually remove ticks.

• When spraying make sure NOT to spray directly into the eye.

• Do not hit the animal around the eyes

• Do not herd where there are many thorny plants or plants with irritating sap

• Use only leafy trees and shrubs for fencing in animal pen

• Separate animals with

infectious eye diseases

• Control Camel pox

Pink eye – Eye worms Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Vaccination

Age Vaccinate against Application Remarks

3-8 months f

or heifers

Brucellosis S/C - Once in a lifetime During threats of outbreak the

whole breeding herd may be vaccinated. S19 live

vaccine can cause brucellosis in humans.

3 months

to 3 years

Anthrax and

Blackquarter

S/C - Yearly or upon warning of

impending outbreak

Vaccine is cheap. Anthrax is deadly for humans

and animals.

2 weeks

and above

CBPP Yearly in endemic areas. In other

areas upon warning of impending

outbreak. (through tail tip).

To be administered by trained veterinarians.

Animals can loose their tails from this

vaccination.

1 month

and above

ECF S/C under the ear. Vaccine is

commercialized in Tanzania.

Only to be used by licensed Veterinarians

2 weeks

and above

Foot and

Mouth disease

S/C - Every 6 months in endemic

areas.

Different strains exist. Consult you veterinarian

on the choice of vaccine.

3 months

and above

Rabies I/M or S/C - Annually and when

there is an outbreak

A vaccine that can protect already affected herds

(within a week after the outbreak)

6 months

and above

Rift Valley

Fever

S/C - After heavy rains or when

there is a risk of outbreak.

Pregnant animals may abort if live vaccine is

used. In humans RVF can be deadly so control is

very important

1 month

and above

Lumpy skin S/C - Preventive when there is

a risk of outbreak.

With live vaccine, separate cattle from sheep and

goats, as the vaccine can cause pox in sheep and

goats.

Preventive measures are less expensive than the cost of diseased animals

• Keep robust breeds/crosses

• Prevent heavy calving

• Don’t introduce ‘strange’ animals

• Avoid contact with neighbours animals

• Provide adequate feed and water

– Meet requirements of animals

• Provide adequate shelter

• Provide adequate care

• Vaccinate against diseases you cannot avoid

f) on diseases and illnesses

Causes of disease

organism Disease Treatment

Virus flue Sanitation, desinfection, vaccination

Bacteria Tuberculosis, mastitis, salmonellosis

Antibiotics, vaccination.

Protozoa Coccidiossis Antibiotics

Fungi Ringworm Prevention

Internal parasites Worms, liver flue Dewormers, rotational grazing

External parasites Lice, flies, ticks, mites Antiparasitca

Diet composition Off feed, acidosis Supply proper diet

Minerals Milk fever Supply minerals/ trace-element

Plastic, wire, soil Digestition Clean surroundings

Respiratory diseases

• Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS): – Vaccination, antibiotics, quarantine

• Contagious Bovine Pleuro-Pneumonia – CBPP:– Vaccination, isolated sick animals

• East Coast Fever:– Vaccination, tick control (dipping twice/week), pour on,

pyrethrum grease in ears and below tail base

• Pneumonia in young calves:– Colostrum within 3 h, hygiene, dry place, no cold draft,

antibiotics

• Tuberculosis: – Hygiene, strengthen immune system, isolated sick

animals, sterilize milk for calves, sunlight kills bacteria

Different ticks (most important on cattle)

• Blue tick, or cattle tick (Boophilus sp). Transfers Anaplasmosis and Babesiosis

• Brown Ear tick (Rhipicephalus sp) around the ears an under the tail. Transfers East Coast Fever (ECF)

• Hyalomma ticks. Transfers Sweating sickness

• Amblyomma ticks, boring right into the skin of the animals, difficult to remove by hand. Transfer Heartwater disease.

Tick born disease (1)

• Anaplasmosis, acute fever caused by a parasite Anaplasma marginale, which multiplies in red blood cells, causing severe anaemia. Incubation period is 2 - 12 weeks. Dipping/spraying, resistance, vaccination.

• Babesiosis (Redwater), fever producing disease by the protozoan parasites Babesia bigemina and Babesiabovis. Dipping/spraying, resistance, vaccination.

• Bovine Petechial Fever, haemorrhages, fever, oedema, and abortion caused by Ehrlichia ondiri. Keep cattle away from forest edges and from reed- and bushbuck

Tick born disease (2)

• Heartwater, caused by Ehrlichia ruminantium. Indigenous breeds more resistant. Dipping/spraying, don’t introduce infested stock, infection&treatmentmethod

• Sweating sickness, toxic condition that affects the skin and visible mucous membranes, caused by a toxin attracted to skin, secreted by females of Hyalommatruncatum. Dipping/spraying, resistance, Let ticks attached for 4 days to produces immunity.

Flies and Mosquito Borne Diseases

• 3-Day Sickness (Ephemeral Fever), most recovered cattle have life-long immunity, spread by midges and mosquitoes Vaccination in endemic areas, no treatment needed.

• Bluetongue, an infectious, non-contagious virus disease spread by Culicoides imicola. Vaccination, pour on

• Rift Valley Fever (RVF), accute or peracute, viral disease. Vaccination, pour on, confinement of stock.

• Trypanosomiasis, protozoal infection caused by genus Trypanasoma and spread by Glossina tsetse. Tolerant breeds, trapping flies, dipping/spraying, pour on

Managemement disease (1)

• Frothy bloat, gas in their stomach because of lush green pastures.

• Free gas bloat is an obstruction of the oesophagus. Feed some dry feed before grazing, avoid abrupt changes in diet. Supply anti-foam agents.

• Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Incidence is low but mortality is high. Infection in different stages of pregnancy creates persistent infected calves, antibody negative calves, abortion. Remove infected calves from the herd.

Management disease (2)

• Enteroxamia (Dysentery) acute diarrhoea, abdominal pain and convulsions. Death may occur within a few hours, but less severe cases may survive. Vaccination of the dam

• Foot and mouth disease, highly contagious viral infectious disease. Disinfection, vaccination

• Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (shipping fever) is an acute bacterial disease, caused by Pasteurellamultocida. Vaccination, boost immune system, herd quarantine

Management diseases (3)

• Mastitis, not visible (sub-clinical) and visible (clinical). Different pathogens and other causes. Preventive solutions preferred (changes in management) and as less treatments as possible.

• Milk fever does not occur in indigenous cows. It is caused by too low calcium available at the onset of lactation at calving. To keep mobilisation of Ca from the bones active, feed low calcium diet in the dry period

• Acetonemie occurs when fat from the body is used in times of energy shortage, at peek production. Feed more energy to prevent using own body reserves

• Hypomagnesia occurs when magnesium is low and Potassium and protein is high. Provide magnesium in diet, licks.

Shortage of minerals, trace-elements and vitamins

Element Signs of shortage solution

Calcium (Ca) Bones, milk fever

Phosphorus (P) Bones, digestion

Zinc (Zi) Hair, skin, claws

Copper (Cu) Hair, blood, fertility

Magnesium (Mg) Neromucular system

Potassium (K) Low feed and water intake Young plants

Sodium (Na)Chloride (Cl)

Feed intake, water metabolism

Cobalt (Co) Vitamin B12

Vitamin A Still birth Fresh grass

Vitamin D Bones, low growth Ca + sunlight

Vitamin E Fertility, immunity

Transmission of mastitis

• Via the hands of the person milking

• Through milking cloth

• Via flies

• Via the liners of milking cup (if milking machine is used)

• Via the mouth of the suckling claves

• Through environmental contamination of the stable or the outdoor run (wet and dirty beddings)

• Through contaminated water

• Via contaminated teat dips

• Via intra-mammary infusions

• Teat skin lesions and wounds

Diarrhoea of the young calf (1)

• Salmonella infections, 14 days - weaners. Faeces foul smelling, with blood, clots and mucous. High fever. Calves lose weight and die despite antibiotic treatment.

• Clostridial diarrhoea, few days old strong calves with good appetite. Onset sudden with depression, weakness, bloody diarrhoea, abdominal pain and death within few hours. Clostridia produce a toxin which kills very fast. Most die before treatment can be started.

• Viral infections, due to Rotavirus or Coronavirus, 5 - 15 days old and up to 3 months of age. Most continue to drink milk. Faeces are several days soft to liquid, containing much mucous. Response to fluid and electrolyte and nutritional support is usually very good.

Diarrhoea of the young calf (2)

• Cryptosporidiosis, in the second week of life, with persistent diarrhoea not responding to treatment. Mixed with other organisms it may be severe and life-threatening.

• Coccidiosis, diarrhoea up to weaning age. Thin watery with blood look red at first and become dark. Calves may not eat and become dehydrated.

• Dietary diarrhoeas, calves >3 weeks old and shows pasty faeces of a gelatinous consistency. Initially calves are bright and alert and have good appetites but if the diet is not corrected they become weak and emaciated

Diseases of the skin

– Bovine Farcy, caused by Nocardia farcinica. Prevent wounds. Isolate or cull affected animals, no cure.

– Elephant Skin Disease (Besnoitiosis) affects skin, subcutaneous tissue, blood vessels and mucous membranes. Protozoal parasite Besnoitia besnoiti. Separate sick animals, control ticks/flies.

– Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) caused by a poxvirus. Vaccination

– Pseudo-lumpy Skin Disease (PLSD), harmless herpes virus.

– Mange, small mites under the skin. Don’t introduce it in the herd, acaricide dipping, washing.

– Photosensitization, plant poison and sunlight. Remove from paddock and from sun

– Worm Nodule Disease, small lumps full of worms and larvae just under the skin. Ivermectin.

Worms or nematodes

• Adult tape (segmented) worms, different types with different livecycles \and hosts. Drugs.

• Larval tape worm (different types in humans and dogs). Treat humans and dogs, use pit latrines.

• Liver fluke (fasciola gigantica andfasciola hepatica). Avoid wet land, rotational grazing

• Lung worm (Dictyocaulus viviparous). Boost resistance, remove animals to clean paddock, vaccinate.

• Round worms (different types with dif. livecycles), rotational grazing, grazing >6 cm, rest pasture, drugs.

Life cycle gastrointestinal parasites

Life cycle giant liver fluke

10 -12 weeks

6 weeks

f) on farm solutions

Prevention: the right breed

What do you want.

What can you offer.

What fits best.

Prevention: improved housing

Prevention: hygienic measures

Conditions: feeding ration

Conditions at the start of lactation

At the start of the lactation, increased risks of mastitis, metritis, abomassal displacement, acidosis and ketosis.

Weight loss after calving means insufficient energy in the diet.

On large farms cows could be grouped for feeding and management according to their milk production.

One month after calving check the reproductive tract for uterine involution, metritis and ovarian functions.

The cow should show signs of oestrus within 60 days postpartum.

cows requiring more than 3 inseminations need a check by a vet.

Conditions: calf care first 3 days

A new-born calf needs to be licked by the cow to stimulate respiration and blood circulation.

Remove slime, water from the nose and mouth. Cut the navel 3” and dip in iodine. Feed colostrum within 2 hrs after birth

(10-15% of the calf‘s birth weight).

Absorption of antibodies is highest in the first 6-8 h. Colostrum is high in nutritive value and contains antibodies.

Conditions: calf care first month

• Feed milk twice a day. (clean buckets and teats after use)

• Feed the calf concentrate and roughage from week 2 onwards.

• Easy digestible solid food stimulates rumen development.

• Clean water must be available at all times.

Common health problems during this period are:• navel-ill, • diarrhoea (scours),• respiratory infection

(pneumonia) • and arthritis

Conditions: calf care till weaning

Calves should be dehorned at one to two months of age.

All female calves should be vaccinated against brucellosis (S19) at three to eight months of age.

Weaning at about three to four months of age

calf is able to eat roughage and 1 kg concentrate per day

body weight between 80 - 90 kg (depending on the breed).

De-worm the calf against roundworm, tapeworm and flukes. Also, eliminate external parasites such as ticks by spraying.

In this period problems to be aware of, are parasites, bloat and arthritis.

Conditions: care up to 18 month

Body weight should not be less than 270 kg in crossbred or 300 kg in pure-bred cattle at first service.

Heat detection to determine the right time for breeding.

Heifers being over 18 month not seen in heat and heifers requiring repeated insemination (more than three times) need to be checked by a veterinarian.

Pregnancy diagnosis: 45 to 60 days after the last insemination.

Common health problems that occur during this age are, three-day sickness (ephemeral fever), tick fever, and other infectious diseases and parasites.

Condition: heifer care pre partum

Feed with good quality roughage and concentrate as a supplement to pregnant heifers in poor condition.

Mineral supplement can be used for pregnant heifers to prevent shortages.

Vaccinate against FMD, haemorrhagic septicaemia and other diseases as a vaccination program in the dairy region.

De-worming for external and internal parasites should be carried out routinely.

Be alert for heifers mastitis (mastitis before calving) and abortion.

Conditions: drying off and dry period

Check for pregnancy before drying off the cow.

Dry period of two month (not longer).

During the first week of the dry period the immune system is low. So take care if it were your best cow.

Prevention of mastitis during the dry period and after calving is important.

Maintaining the routine vaccination program.

Treat for internal and external parasites.

Hoof trimming can be done during this period.

Maintaining good feed management during the dry period.

Conditions: cows with painful claws do not eat

Prevention: feeding, housing, good floor, regular food bath with copper, zinc, formaldehyde

Treatment: pedicure when necessary; medicine in case of interdigital dermatitis, mortellaro

Direct treatment (3rd step)

Treat with chemicals only when really needed

Be aware:

• What to use it for

• Antibiotics don’t work against virus

• Respect the withdrawal period

– Some days - weeks after last use

• Cause residuals in animal products

• Cause resistant pathogens

– Antibiotics are not effective anymore

• Can be harmful for the soil

– Via manure in the soil

SCC at drying off and in begin of lactation, with and without antibiotics

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

-9 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 8

celgetal*1000

week

antibiotics

no antibiotics

Use local available therapy

Radical treatment: cull animals

When animals don’t cure, culling might be the best solution for the animal and the farmer

• Don’t infect other animals

• Save medicine and time

• Don’t suffer longer

• Don’t take a place of a healthy animal

• Save feed for rest of the herd

• Care can be given to other animals

Manuals

Heifer international

Section about

- Appropriate breeds

- Housing

- Keeping dry cows

- Calving and diseases

- Good calf management

- Breeding

- Health problems

- Disease prevention

We effect

Sections about

- Appropriate breeds and breeding

- Housing

- Reproduction and fertility management

- Management of breeding stock

- Dairy hygiene, quality and standard

- Calf rearing

- Milking

- Animal health and disease

- Disease prevention

Kasisi training centre

Sections about

- Management of the pregnant animal

- Calf and heifer rearing and housing

- Young stock health

- Milking

- Dairy animal health

and welfare

- Animal health management

NAADS Uganda

Sections about

- Breeds (no local)

- Young stock rearing incl. some diseases

- Milking

- Drying off

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