Preventing Metabolic Problems

Getting magnesium supplementation right over spring is likely to have the greatest effect on reducing the incidence of metabolic problems.

The cow is totally dependent on what magnesium is supplied in their daily diet.  The magnesium  content of spring grass is relatively low and only a small percentage of this is absorbed by the cow.  One of the main factors affecting availability of magnesium is herbage potassium levels.  High pasture potassium level causes significant decline in absorbable magnesium, particularly in spring when herbage magnesium is at its lowest.

Start supplementing with magnesium daily for 3-4 weeks pre-calving.

The best way to achieve the required dietary magnesium concentration pre-calving is to add 60 grams Mag C or Mag S/cow/day into the water supply and dust pasture/silage with 50-70 grams Mag Oxide/cow/day as well.

If the herd is experiencing more than a 3% incidence of milk fever despite sufficient magnesium supplementation then colostrum cows can receive calcium supplementation via lime flour at 200g/cow/day dusted on the break.  Lime flour can continue to the milkers at 100g/cow/day for the first 6 weeks after calving if required.

To avoid metabolic problems:

1. Maintain adequate dry matter intakes over the spring period
2. Supplement with sufficient magnesium
3. Avoid grazing potassium rich effluent paddocks with springers and colostrum cows
4. Avoid excess applications of potassium rich fertiliser during the months of June - October.
5. Blood test mature cows on day 3-4 of the colostrum period for metabolic profile.

Dry Cow Therapy

There is only one outcome we are interested in when we consider dry cow therapy and that is to have as many cows as possible calving without an infection.  To achieve this, any cows that are infected at dry off need to have that infection cured and not acquire a new infection.  Cows that are not infected at dry off, need to be protected against new infection.  For the majority of cows dried off from now onwards, Cepravin will provide adequate protection against new infection for the duration of the dry period and obviously cure existing infection.  There is also the option for cows that are not infected to use Teatseal to protect against new infection for the entire dry period.  There are rules based on the history of the cow that allow us to be very confident that a cow is not infected at dry off.

A mixed age cow can be considered not infected at dry off if all four herd tests were less than 150,000 and there were no cases of mastitis.  A first lactation heifer can be considered not infected if all four herd tests were less than 120,000 and there were no cases of mastitis.  If the BMSCC is under control and not rising at the end of the season these rules allow a significant number of cows on many farms this year to be protected for the whole of the dry period with Teatseal.

Cow BCS and Preparing for Winter

The greater majority of herds which we see going off farm on a winter grazing contract are budgeted on cows being offered a standard 14kgDM/cow day.  Is this figure relevant to what your herd requires to meet target at calving?  If they will need more can your grazier accommodate the number of cows you plan to send?

• 1 BCS gain in a 480kg dry cow will require 2100MJME over and above maintenance and pregnancy requirements.
• Therefore the difference between what a BCS 4.0 cow and a BCS 5.0 cow are offered over a 60 day dry period is about 240kgDM (or 4kgDM/day).

Our practice operates a comprehensive BCSing service whereby individual animals can be scored and with due to calve dates factored in calculate daily energy requirements to reach targets over the winter.

If performed in April, light cows can be identified for preferential feeding, OAD milking or staggered dry off depending on your system before cows are dried off.  The big advantage of doing this is that cows can be wintered in mobs based on due to calve date and not BCS as the herd profile is fairly even before dry off.

Reminders in February

Pink Eye 

The practice is seeing an increasing number of cases of Pinkeye. This is a contagious disease of calves spread primarily by close contact with infected animals and by flies. Vaccination with Piliguard can be a cost effective control method although vaccination must be given prior to disease occurring. In the affected animals topical ointments or sub-conjunctive injections with appropriate antibiotics are usually effective in curing the affected animals.

Excede LA Meat Withholding Times

Just a reminder that while the milk WHP for Exceed LA for cattle is NIL, the meat WHP for cattle is 14 days if injected subcutaneously at the base of the ear, or 56 days if injected subcutaneously in the anterior half of the neck.

Cepravin Milk Quality Competition Winners'

In conjunction with MSD (the manufacturers of Cepravin) we have just run our fourth competition for Milk Quality Production . Eligible entrants were those clients enrolled in infovet. (This season we also requested Oceania suppliers to submit their BMSCC as there are still technical issues linking data to infovet). We sought the lowest five day average BMSCC as at 11th of December 2014.

Well done to the Top Three Farmers who will receive $750, $500 and $250 respectively as a voucher to use within our practice.

Last season there were eleven farmers with a BMSCC under 80, 000. This season there are 30 farmers with a BMSCC under 80, 000. This is an outstanding result and reflects the increased emphasis being placed on prevention of infection especially around calving. Congratulations to you all.