September 2015 BVD Exposure in Beef Herds New Scabby Mouth We are always asked “how much BVD is there really in the area”. This year during pregnancy testing we Vaccine in 2015 - sampled 13 herds for their exposure to the virus. The map below outlines the results on a local basis A value greater than 0.75 indicates that the herd Scabiguard has a Persistently infected (PI) animal in it or they For many years Scabine has been have had recent exposure to the virus. the main vaccine used in the market, however last year one batch failed A value of 0.17- 0.74 indicates the herd has minimal having many repercussions. The current exposure to BVD. supplier has not been able to determine Ewes News A value of less than 0.17 indicates no exposure to Andrew Muir BVSc the cause of the failure so has pulled The Rugby World Cup (like lambing) is a big September the virus the product from the market in 2015. event. Regardless of our patriotic opinion, New Zealand has As you can see from the data only 2 of the herds sampled had minimal In 2015 Veterinary Centre is providing no mortgage right on international rugby supremacy in the exposure. All the others have had recent exposure to the virus. The simple Scabiguard to protect lambs against professional age. There are plenty of other bigger countries answer to the question would be “lots” scabby mouth. Scabiguard is equivalent with good coaches, big players and big budgets. Despite this, to Scabine vaccine, and has been in the winning record since the 2011 World Cup, (and before) has production for a number of years. been remarkable. I often hear All Black coaching staff on TV The main difference from Scabine talk about doing the basics right and focusing on the things Jeff Spillane, is an applicator gun is used for its that deliver success rather than on the outcome. administration. Commercial Manager Our business, and yours, has similarities in that success Scabiguard, as with Scabine, is a live depends on doing the basics right. It’s no use having a fast winger if you can’t win vaccine and requires strict handling a lineout and for us it’s no use having a fl ash brand and lots of clinics if you don’t and storage procedures to be followed. To administer, a drop of vaccine is have industry leading, passionate vets armed with the latest technical advice, the scratched (once) into the groin area of right products at the right price and a reliable 24/7 on call service. I know our each lamb, breaking the skin to ensure business is focusing our resources in the right areas. After that, as Steve Hansen In this issue vaccine penetration. would say, the results will look after themselves. Lamb survival: improving the The Veterinary Centre has demo units In this issue read about fodder beet for wintering sheep on, an important change set up with coloured dye and leather to the scabby mouth vaccine and Andrew Muir reports recent BVD risk area info. odds with prolifi c sheep in The scratch pads in all its clinics so clients Some early pre-lambers will be due for Faecal Egg Count checks in September. Strath Taieri can get familiar with the new applicator Make sure you use this handy tool. Grass Staggers (magnesium guns. There are also instruction cards and defi ciency) in beef cows information booklets to Ram health and husbandry take away and study show staff who Sustainable Drench Use might be doing the job on your Pet Lambs farm. New Faces What do I do with this information? The Rugby World Cup – one of a few big events in September When thinking about BVD on your prior to mating, which is coming around way to control exposure in a herd. property the fi rst thing to do is Assess fast. Vaccination has a large amount of “the leading light in your biosecurity risk. This isn’t too This brings you to the third step which fl exibility of when it can be given. Cattle diffi cult to do but does require the is Action. What do I do to reduce the initially require two doses 4 weeks knowledge of a vet that understands risk of BVD to my herd? to 6 months apart. The second dose animal health” the disease. The second step is to There are only three different actions can be given as close as 2 weeks prior Defi ne the BVD status of your herd. At to control BVD. to the start of mating. Vaccination Veterinary Centre Oamaru Ph 03-434 5666 this time of year that becomes very Blood test and cull signifi cantly reduces the risk of BVD Veterinary Centre Waimate Ph 03-689 7213 diffi cult if you have breeding cows as Vaccinate to mating and formation of more PI they will be calving or about to calve. Improve biosecurity animals. Veterinary Centre Palmerston Ph 03-465 1291 However using the information from Blood testing: Cows prior to mating Biosecurity: The risk of exposure can Veterinary Centre Glenavy Ph 03-689 8118 the map above the vast majority of can be done but timing can be hard sometimes be reduced by modifying Veterinary Centre Kurow Ph 03-436 0567 herds have recent infection therefore given the time of year. Bulls should biosecurity. Discuss this with a vet. Veterinary Centre Omarama Ph 03-438 9868 you might just take a pragmatic view always be done. If you are serious about doing something that you want to do something about it Vaccination: This can be a practical for BVD now is the time to do it. Veterinary Centre Ranfurly Ph 03-444 1020 Scott Tomlinson - Waihemo Downs Dunback Sheep Production I spoke to Scott Tomlinson, who farms something that is usually quite diffi cult how much the stock ate once the in a family partnership at Waihemo or expensive with traditional wintering paddock is fi nished. This helps calibrate Downs, Dunback, about his experiences systems. your yield estimations. What you Feeding ewes om lambing to weaning - Dave Robertson BVSc, BSc with wintering sheep on fodder beet Scott did mention that measuring yields thought might have been a 25 tDM crop this year. of fodder beet can be challenging and may have only been 18-20t based on They grew 10 ha for sheep, some does like to retrospectively calculate what the stock ate. Feeding lactating ewes for best lamb growth brigadier, the more upright and lower dry matter variety and some monro, Late pregnancy which has more bulb below the ground. Paul Roy - Roy Partnership, Macraes feeding Scott thinks stock did best on the PAUL ROY, farms near Macraes, has used fodder beet for the fi rst time infl uences ewe brigadier variety, and the utilisation this year. Although not the greatest crop yield-wise, they are likely to put mothering was better. “The Munro variety is a in a bigger area next year and build on the lessons learned around crop ability, lamb harder bulb, and although has greater establishment and using the right sprays at the right time. vigour and yield potential, more is left behind [in Paul did fi nd some ewes going a bit starry eyed and staggery when on the colostrum the ground] that requires scratching beet. We are not sure if this is an acidosis thing or a B vitamin issue. The production, up”. best solution was just to take them out on to grass and they seemed to come Dave Robertson BVSc, BSc so if you are Twinning Ewes right in a day or two. noticing twinning ewes with small 1100 twinning ewes were wintered for udders, ratty lambs and/or poor 45 days on 3.5Ha of fodder beet, plus behaviour, a review of feeding in this a run-off paddock of rough cocksfoot period might be worthwhile while it is grass. Transition involved running onto Fodder Beet For Sheep still fresh in the memory. the fodder beet break for extended There are farmers now wintering ewes on fodder beet, and a number thinking Looking forward in the production periods, building up to half a day over a about it. The main advantage is that it is a source of cheap, high energy feed that cycle the best time to achieve 400g/ week. After that, the break was shifted can put condition on stock over winter. day + growth rates in lambs is in the every 3rd day. Scott likes the run-off Sheep do not seem to have the transition issues that are seen in cattle, but they fi rst month of life. This can be achieved paddock system, “it keeps their feet still need an adjustment period of 1 -2 weeks to ensure they will do well on the through optimising lactating-ewe right and provides a bit of exercise”. crop. If sheep get too much too early, they are likely to scour and/or have tender feet for a day or two, but they don’t drop dead like cows can. feeding. (italian usually) which must be a pretty milking ability of ewes (2-3 weeks after No major animal health issues were Around North Otago I see some good way of achieving this. If you’re lambing) with spring grass growth is experienced, and ewes defi nitely put condition on over the winter period. organised farmers poking freshly not one of these operations with green key to getting good early lamb growth Very few bearings or deaths. lambed ewes through onto green feed feed up your sleeve, matching the peak rates.