Transcript feedlot health programs - Michigan State University

FEEDLOT HEALTH
PROGRAMS
By
David R. Hawkins
Michigan State University
INTRODUCTION
• In general beef cattle have a low incidence
of disease compared to other farm animals.
• Plan a herd health program with your
veterinarian before you purchase any cattle
or move them to your farm or ranch.
• Decide what treatments you can do and
when you need professional assistance.
NORMAL VITAL SIGNS
• Rectal body temperature = 101.5o F
– Range is 100.4o F to 103.1o F
• Pulse rate = 40 to 70/minute for mature
cattle, may be slightly higher for calves.
• Respiration rate = 10 to 30/minute.
• Alert behavior and normal feeding patterns.
– Cattle are curious and will usually come up to
feedbunk when fresh feed is presented.
DISEASE TERMINOLOGY
• Morbidity – sickness but not death.
• Mortality – death.
• Chronic – animal that has been sick and
does not respond to treatment. Usually
performance is greatly reduced.
• Pull – remove animal from pen & move to
treatment &/or isolation facility.
GOALS of a FEEDLOT
HEALTH PROGRAM
• Minimize incidence of disease.
– Purchase from reliable source
– Biosecurity
– Vaccines, etc.
• Reduce losses due to disease.
– Prompt treatment of sick animals
– Isolation of sick animals
• Enhance performance.
TAMU “RANCH TO RAIL”
1992-95
• Morbidity - $21 to $38 per sick calf
• Chronics - $240 - $307 per head loss
• Mortality – cost of calf + processing
expense + feed consumed.
• Reduced ADG - $ 13 per head
• Reduced carcass quality grade
• Total Loss = $ 111.38 per sick animal
HEALTHY CATTLE RETURN
MORE MONEY
• $ 50 to $ 90 per feedlot animal
– Texas A & M University
• $ 20 to $ 35 per stocker calf
– Don Gill, Oklahoma State University
• Respiratory disease cost the U.S. cattle
industry $ 624 million in 1991
– NAHMS
RESPIRATORY DISEASES
• Complex of several diseases which result in high
fever, nasal and ocular discharge, salivation,
coughing, lesions in the respiratory tract and/or
diarrhea.
• Some of these diseases may also cause abortion of
pregnant cattle.
• Originally termed “shipping fever” since
symptoms occurred 10 to 14 days after shipment
or stress.
Respiratory Disease Complex
• IBR – Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis
– Virus
• BVD – Bovine Virus Diarrhea
• PI-3 – Parainfluenza 3
• BRSV – Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus
• PASTEURELLA – bacteria which occurs as a
secondary infection, but results in pneumonia
Respiratory Disease Complex
• Often results in 65% to 80% morbidity;
30% to 70% mortality.
• Diagnose with blood test, fetal tissue
sample or cultures from respiratory tract.
• Treat with antibiotics or sulfa drugs.
• Prevent with a comprehensive vaccination
program.
Clostridial Diseases
• Clostridial organisms live in the absence of
oxygen & survive in the soil. They tend to
occur more frequently in some regions.
• Enterotoxemia – “overeating disease”
– Cattle on high concentrates go off feed.
– Clostridium perfringens types A, B, C & D.
– Bull tests usually require this vaccination.
Clostridial Diseases
• Blackleg & Malignant Edema
• Spores exist in soil and organism enters
through an open wound (castration or
dehorning).
• Gas pockets and hemorrhages form under
the skin. Leg appears “black” when hide is
removed.
• Vaccination may or may not be included.
Haemophilis Somnus
• Bacteria affects central nervous system and
results in sudden death.
• Mortality can be sudden and high.
• Usually occurs in late fall or early winter of
a cold wet year.
• Diagnose with brain tissue or blood sample.
Coccidiosis
• Protozoa – Eimeria bovis & Eimeria zurnii.
• Primary symptom is bloody diarrhea.
• Often results from unsanitary conditions,
such as pools of standing water.
• Ionophores can be helpful in preventing the
disease.
• Amprolium can be used to treat infected
cattle. Drench or mix in drinking water.
Digestive Diseases
• Bloat – Gas accumulates in the rumen. In feedlot,
incidence increases with finely ground rations.
• Acidosis – Often occurs on high concentrate
rations where rapid accumulation of VFA’s results
in low rumen pH and toxicity.
• Liver abscesses – Often occur on high concentrate
rations. Can reduce by feeding antibiotics,
Nutritional Diseases
• Founder – Laminitis or inflammation inside
hoof wall. Often observed with high
concentrate rations and can result in
lameness.
• Urinary Calculi – “Water belly”, similar to
kidney stones in other species. Occurs with
a mineral imbalance of calcium and
phosphorous (Ca:P ratio < 1:1).
Minor Diseases
• Foot rot – Bacteria enters through cut or
crack in hoof. Treat with antibiotics.
• Warts – Caused by a virus. Vaccines are
marginally effective. May need to manually
remove.
• Ringworm – Caused by fungus. Occurs in
winter. Sunlight will kill it. Treat with
fulvicin and fungicides.
Internal Parasites
• Primarily roundworms, tape worms and
flukes.
• These attach to the wall of the digestive
system and result in blood loss and anemia
with a resultant decrease in performance.
• We usually deworm feedlot cattle as they
come into the feedlot.
External Parasites
• Flies, lice, mites and grubs.
• In addition to annoyance and irritation,
some of these can transmit other diseases.
• Good sanitation is helpful in reducing the
population.
• Organophosphate compounds may be used
to prevent. Be sure to observe “cut off”
dates for your region.
METHODS of TREATMENT
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Intramuscular (IM)
Intranasal
Intravenous (IV)
Oral
Subcutaneous (Sub Q)
TYPES of VACCINES
• Killed organism vaccines – Chemical antigen
remains intact to stimulate the immune system.
• Inactivated bacterial toxins – Toxicity of pathogen
is neutralized while antigen remains intact.
• Modified-live vaccines – Organisms grown to
eliminate disease causing capability but retain
antigenic structure
INJECTION MANAGEMENT
• Always read and follow label directions.
• Administer all injections in fron of the
shoulder.
• IM injections should be given into neck
muscle 2-3 inches below the top of the neck
with a 1 in. to 1.5 in., 16 or 18 gauge needle
• SubQ injections use ¾ in. to 1 in., 16 or 18
gauge needle under the skin of the neck.
INJECTION MANAGEMENT
• Avoid dull or dirty needles. Change
frequently. Do not put a used needle into a
multiple dose vial.
• Do not mix different vaccines in the same
syringe.
• “Modified Live” vaccines are easily
inactivated by heat, light, water, alcohol or
other contaminants.
INJECTION MANAGEMENT
• Reconstitute only the vaccine that will be used in a
few hours and discard leftover vaccine.
• Store vaccines at refrigerator temperature and
keep them in a cooler during processing.
• Do not use disinfectant on needles or syringes
used to administer modified live vaccines.
MINIMAL HEALTH RECORDS
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Animal ID & Pen ID
Date of occurrence.
Reason animal was pulled.
Therapy administered.
Weight.
Who pulled and who treated.
Can be index cards, notebook or computer.
ESTABLISH TREATMENT
PROTOCOLS
• Systematic approach to treating problems.
• Problem specific.
• Based on:
– Best available knowledge
– Health records
– Logistics & Economics
• In consultation with herd veterinarian.