This post was written by

Paula Egan| Supervising Pharmacist at McLaughlins Pharmacy

 

The winter months can be a “quieter time”, but farmers as a breed like to be busy and some find these darker months difficult especially this year with everything else that’s going on around us!

Here’s a few suggestions to hopefully help you through these dull days. As always, at McLaughlins we’re here to help.

 

Keep Active!

Exercise produces serotonin “the happy hormone” so even if you don’t feel like exercising you’ll definitely feel better for doing it.  It doesn’t have to be for a very long time  – 30 minutes every day will benefit you and help prevent heart disease.  Chocolate also helps, would you believe!! Chocolate produces serotonin and dark chocolate has been scientifically proven to protect the heart.

 

Boost Your Immune System

Nobody wants to catch a cold (especially these days) but we can help our immune system by increasing our Vitamin C intake, naturally, by eating citrus fruits or by using supplements.  

Zinc and Lysine also help to prevent cold sores.  Echinacea is a natural product used to strengthen our immune system  and it’s available in many different forms  –  tablets, drops, liquid.

 

Vitamin D

A high proportion of Irish people are deficient in Vitamin D – especially during the winter months.  It helps prevent respiratory conditions and benefits immune function. Vitamin D “the sunshine vitamin” is produced in our skin when it is exposed to the sun. Since the sun is pretty hard to find these days a supplement is highly recommended.  Other natural sources are oily fish, eggs, liver and fortified foods.

 

An all-round super supplement is Revive Active, it supports energy, the immune system and a healthy heart.  It’s a tasty powder that you mix with water and take it daily.  If you’d prefer a capsule I would highly recommend Pharmaton (a multivitamin with Ginseng to help boost energy).

 

If you’re feeling a bit low in mood see my previous blog that includes tips to help boost your mental wellness.

 

Until next time. Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

 

Paula

Resistance is an issue that is creeping up on us more than we realise. Coming into the winter we need to ensure we are dosing our animals in a way that will benefit both the herd and the individual animal thus avoiding the possibility of resistance. This issue has to be addressed before it becomes a big problem in our herds. 

 

What is Anthelmintic resistance?

It is the ability of worms to survive doses of drugs that would normally kill them. The over-use of anthelmintics leads to the possibility of anthelmintic resistance.

Prolonged wet weather is often associated with an increased parasite burden on grass. 

Both detrimental and non-detrimental effects of parasites need to be considered when addressing the issue of parasites.  

Coughing in cows can be one of the most obvious symptoms  when parasites are becoming a problem. This is a good indication to the farmer that they need to dose the animals. 

A refugia-based approach is recommended which often requires a departure from routine practices. 

The refugia concept states that during a worm’s life cycle it will spend some of its time inside the animal and the rest of its time on grass. At the time of dosing, the worms in the animal are said to be the “exposed population”, while the worms at pasture are said to be the “in refugia population”. That is, they are not exposed to the drug.  “The larger the in-refugia population is  in comparison to the exposed population, the slower the resistance will develop.”

Therefore, we want to increase the “in refugia” population. This can be done by leaving a portion of the herd untreated. 

 

A good place to incorporate this concept is by leaving the top, better performing 10% of the herd untreated. Calculate this by looking at figures of the daily live weight gain, milk recording and observing clinical signs within the herd. 

As well as this, rotating the doses on a yearly basis is highly suggested. Using the same dose persistently tends to increase the risk of resistance. 

A move to a more evidence-based parasite control such as this will reap rewards in the long run, controlling fluke and worms in cattle for better returns.

Dosing decisions can often be made based on either cost of product or ease of administration. “However It is important that farmers regularly check the efficiency of the drug that they use and not just assume they are effective.” This can be done by taking fresh dung samples, sending them to the laboratory and getting an egg per gram (EPG) count before and two weeks after using a product. A reduction in the EPG count shows that the product was successful.

 

There is an increasing body of evidence showing that target approaches to worming can reduce unnecessary treatments without impacting on health and productivity thus reducing the likelihood of resistance in the herd.

 

In order to future proof parasite control we need to alter our approach now. Once resistance becomes clinically apparent it will be too late.

 

 

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This post from

Eamon Guineavan MRCVS| Veterinary Surgeon at McLaughlin’s Veterinary Clinic

Are your calves ready for housing?

All ages of cattle are susceptible to pneumonia however young stock are most vulnerable. In the regional vet labs in 2018 respiratory disease accounted for one third of all deaths in calves aged between one and 12 months of age. Common causes of pneumonia in calves include viruses like RSV, PI3 and bacteria such as Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Mycoplasma bovis. Risk factors leave calves more susceptible to disease.

Risk factors for pneumonia

Nutrition

The dry matter content of grass can be quite poor in autumn and calves may require additional feeding in the form of meal and in some instances forage too. Likewise, with vitamins and minerals, supplementation may be needed if deficiencies are suspected or diagnosed.

Parasites

Mild wet weather is perfect for hoose and it has been extremely prevalent of late. Lungworm in severe cases can result in death. A lungworm burden presenting as a cough in the batch can also predispose to secondary infections. 

Environment

Stress factors such as overstocking and lack of shelter in paddocks may leave calves vulnerable. Once housed ventilation plays a leading role in controlling pneumonia. Increasing level of comfort (e.g. slat mats) along with adequate space, light and air plays a role in keeping animals healthy. 

Vaccination

Vaccination should be used ahead of the housing period to provide immunity against the most common causes of pneumonia. Seek advice regarding which vaccination protocol is best for your calves. 

 

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This post was by

Eamon Guineavan MRCVS| Veterinary Surgeon at McLaughlin’s Veterinary Clinic

 

Dos and don’ts around drying off

The aim at drying off is to shut down milk production and to seal the teat canal. It is one of the most important events in the year on a dairy farm and takes time, planning, good technique and excellent standards of hygiene. 

 

Dos

  • Dry off cows as soon as production drops below nine litres per day.
  • Reduce feed intake for cows producing more than 12 litres per day in the week prior to drying off date.
  • Dry off cows abruptly.
  • Feed immediately post drying off to encourage cows to remain standing for two hours.
  • Ensure cows have a clean dry environment immediately after and for up to five days after drying off.
  • Teat dip with freshly made disinfectant solution post drying off.
  • Mark cows clearly for drying off and record tag numbers, date & product used.
  • Examine udders carefully for one week post drying off.
  • Contact your vet regarding treatment if you suspect mastitis post drying off.

 

Don’ts

  • Restrict water at any stage throughout drying off 
  • Skip milkings or days
  • Undermilk
  • Give DCT to cull cows
  • Rush the procedure of drying off 
  • Walk cows for long distances in the few days post drying off
  • Bring cows near the parlour as this will stimulate further milk production
Dairy Wipes Udder towel
teat sealers sealant
ClusterXX Clus-ster XX
Duramark Marking Aerosol 400ml spray

 

This post from

Eamon Guineavan MRCVS| Veterinary Surgeon at McLaughlin’s Veterinary Clinic

 

For a typical spring calving herd, we are in the final months of lactation 2020. The last weeks of any lactation is an important time for mastitis control. Somatic Cell Count (SCC) can creep up during this time; a small rise in an individual cow’s SCC may be normal at this stage, however large increases in SCC in individual cows may indicate a significant sub-clinical infection. Now is the time to put the final plan in place for this year’s dry period.

What is the ideal dry period length?

A dry period of at least 60 days has been shown to increase milk yield in subsequent lactations when compared with a 32 day dry period. This length of time is needed for the renewal of the producing cells in the udder.

The goals of dry period treatment

  1. Cure infections
  2. Prevent new infections at the time of drying off at the time of drying off and throughout the dry period.

Blanket treatment or selective dry cow treatment (DCT)

Blanket treatment involves treating all cows in the herd with antibiotic DCT with or without teat sealer. Selective DCT refers to treating a selection of cows with antibiotic DCT and all other cows in the herd receive teat sealer only. This treatment allows for more prudent use of antibiotics, however it is not without risk therefore veterinary consultation should be sought before moving to selective DCT.

Selective DCT may be considered for herds with the following:
  • Good evidence of a low prevalence of infection eg bulk milk SCC consistently <200,000 cells/ml, clinical mastitis rate <2% during the three months to drying off etc.
  • Regularly milk recording, with a recording in the last month prior to  drying off
  • Records of all clinical mastitis cases, including culture and sensitivity results
  • High standard of hygiene at drying off, throughout the dry period and at calving

Within these herds; cows with a SCC consistently <100,00 cells/ml throughout the lactation and with no history of clinical mastitis may be considered suitable candidates for receiving teat sealer only. All other cows should receive antibiotic DCT and teat sealer.

There is a proposal that by January 2022 selective DCT will be compulsory in Ireland.

Choice of dry cow treatment

There are two main types of dry cow treatment; antibiotic dry cow tubes and teat sealers.

The antibiotic in dry cow tubes is designed to remain in the udder for a prolonged period of time (differs with various products) at a concentration that is capable of killing specific mastitis causing bacteria. Antibiotic DCT and teat sealers also protect against the formation of new infections in the dry period. New Zealand research has shown that quarters receiving dry cow treatment had a higher rate of teat canal closure than untreated quarters.

Your choice of antibiotic DCT should be based on:
  • Culture and sensitivity results from previous clinical mastitis cases
  • Culture and sensitivity results from high SCC cows identified on the problem cow report
  • Activity against certain bacteria eg. Staph. aureus, Strep. uberis & E. coli
  • Period of protection for new infections
  • Length of the dry period

It is not recommended to rotate your antibiotic DCT unless you have a reason eg. identified antibiotic resistance within the herd.

A word on antimicrobial resistance

AMR is the ability of a bug to develop resistance to the effects of a drug which it was previously susceptible too. Antibiotic resistance is a subset of this; when a type of bacteria develops resistance to a particular antibiotic. The use of antibiotics in both humans and animals increases the risk of AMR developing and therefore responsible use is encouraged. The World Health Organisation (WHO) classify antibiotics based on their importance in human medicine into a number of categories. One such category is “Highest Priority Critically Important Antibiotics for Human Health (HP-CIA)”. In 2018 8% of antibiotic dry cow tubes used contained a HP-CIA. This class of antibiotic should not be used as a first line treatment i.e. if there is an effective alternative available.

Consider early drying off for certain cows

Plan the drying off time based on expected calving dates. For seasonal calving herds this often means drying off cows in batches. It may be worth considering drying off high SCC cows earlier to a) lower bulk tank SCC and b) reduce the risk of spread of infection. Other possible candidates for early drying off may be thin cows or those with a concurrent issue eg. lameness.

Consider culling persistently infected cows

Cure rates from antibiotic DCT are best for younger cows and worse for older cows with chronic infections. Some types of bacteria, eg Staph. aureus are difficult  to successfully treat regardless of age. Chronically infected cows are a source of infection for the rest of the herd nd a small number of SCC cows may be responsible for a significant increase in bulk tank SCC. Culling persistently infected cows is a key part of mastitis control.

Consider culling cows;
  • With high SCC in two consecutive lactations despite treatment with antibiotic DCT in the dry period in between
  • Which have three clinical cases of mastitis during the lactation. If only one quarter was involved it may be an option to dry off that quarter and milk on.

Do not use antibiotic DCT on cows that will be culled immediately and ensure adherence to withdrawal periods for subsequent culling of treated cows.

Preparation of dry cow housing

Providing a clean, dry environment around the time of drying off and during the dry period plays a vital role in mastitis control. Now may be a good time to address housing issues from last year and provide general maintenance to water troughs etc. Studies have shown that 35% of all new intramammary infections occur during the dry period; particularly during the critical high-risk periods of two to three weeks after drying off and two weeks before calving.

 

Dairy Wipes Udder towel
teat sealers sealant
ClusterXX Clus-ster XX
Duramark Marking Aerosol 400ml spray

 

 

Padraig Shevlin | Plant & Soil Solutions

As we are now in September it’s a good time for all farmers to start to consider soil sampling fields to allow planning for next season to commence. The autumn and winter months present an ideal opportunity for farmers to take samples. The key factors to bear in mind when taking samples is to avoid taking samples ideally until 8 weeks after the last nutrient application, let that be organic or chemical fertiliser and 12 months since the last bulk lime application. 

Decisions on what fields to sample can be based on a number of factors, these could include:

  • Fields with poor grass growth during the current season.
  • Fields that had reduced palability or poor clean out of paddocks.
  • Nutrient management – to target organic manures to the most appropriate fields.
  • Below par grain yield.
  • Targeting better nutrient use efficiency; more balanced chemical fertiliser compounds.
  • Improving the overall soil health and the impact of our nutrient applications to the environment.

As a company, Plant & Soil Solutions works closely with the McLaughlins Farmcare team to offer a more bespoke soil analysis service; from the most comprehensive test on the market – the Albrecht soil analysis, to the slimmed down version that still supplies the base saturation of our major cations in the soil (Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium and Sodium) and the trace elements that are integral for all farming systems. 

These results are then backed up by Plant & Soil Solutions tailored recommendations for each individual crop. This could be grassland, cereals, vegetables, potatoes through to daffodils. 

The McLaughlins Farmcare team will be able to discuss with you the most appropriate analysis to suit your requirements. 

This post was written by

Paula Egan| Supervising Pharmacist at McLaughlins Pharmacy

 

Stiff, Sore and Sorrowful?

 

Farmwork can be EXHAUSTING…. you can’t “call in sick” so it’s really important to keep healthy in body AND mind.

 

We all try our best to eat a well balanced diet. If you’re anything like my Da – you LOVE your dinner!!!!  But sometimes you just don’t get the full nutrition you need from the meals that you have.  That’s where supplements come in handy.  They act as a top-up of vitamins and minerals that your body may be missing. There are a huge variety of them available but I want to highlight just a few to you…….

 

Stiff and Sore?

 

Revive Joint Complex – this product is designed to keep you active and moving.  You give the tractor various things to keep it working well  (oil, brake fluid, antifreeze) – so why don’t you treat yourself to a supplement that does the same?!  It supports joint health, not just in one way but targets several areas – cartilage, bones and joints, connective tissue and muscle function.

 

 

Tired or Stressed Out??? – Try Zenflore – it’s a unique product that has been proven to reduce fatigue and stress levels.  There is no magic cure to make our worries disappear but people who have used Zenflore find that they have more energy and are better equipped to deal with the stress in their lives.

 

Feeling a bit low?

 

Low mood affects more people than you know.  It’s normal to have bad days but if you find there are more bad days than good then maybe it’s time to talk to someone and see if they can help.  Depression can sneak up on you and can feel like a tonne weight on your shoulders.  By seeking help and talking about what’s on your mind, that weight which has been holding you down, can be released and you can get back to enjoying life again.

 

If you want to get any more information or advice on the above or any other health concern please call us  – that’s what we’re here for.

 

Keep well, keep safe and keep smiling!

This post is from

Sophia Kingston in association with Goldcrop

Fodder rape is a popular forage crop with many livestock farmers due to its ease of production, the flexibility if its sowing date and its palatability at feeding time. It is capable of producing a large bulk of fodder in a short period of time.

Rape is extremely useful as a feed for fattening lambs and lactating ewes and very good performance can be achieved with good grazing conditions. It is also widely used to supplement cattle and cows but care is needed as there is a much greater risk of digestive disorders with sheep.

Prevent these problems by

  • Introducing the rape into the diet gradually
  • Putting restrictions on the intake of rape will also help and
  • By feeding hay or silage as a roughage source with it.

Give Iodine and phosphorus as supplements also. Ensure diets are properly balanced.

 

Regrowth

When Gorilla is sown early (May) it can produce a first growth in August to cover a shortage of grass in late Summer. It then has the ability to achieve a second crop in November/ December. Alternatively Gorilla can be strip grazed as required with good growth potential.

The advantages of Gorilla are as follows;

  • Darker green leaf
  • Medium height with good standing ability 
  • Higher than average dry matter content leading to good dry matter intakes 
  • High energy due to high leaf to stem ratio. 
  • Good leaf retention and disease resistance
  • Moderately good resistance to powdery mildew 
  • Quite good resistance to club root 
  • Good regrowth potential similar to red start. 

 

Crop Management 

To manage as fodder Rape, sow the Rape anywhere from April to August at a seeding rate of 3.6-4.5kg/acre depending on establishment conditions. The crop can then be fed from June to February. 

Gorilla comes in a 10kg bag and will cover around 2.5 acres. There are also straight rapes available such as Fontan in store or to order.

 

This post was written by

The team at Auctus

Giving your calves the best possible start in life through good calf management has a major role in the profitability of both the dairy herd and calf to beef enterprises.

There are several factors which contribute to successful calf rearing but the most important aspect we will deal with is nutrition.

From the moment a calf is born, the clock is ticking to ensure the calf receives top quality colostrum. Time is a major factor which influences both quality and absorption of colostrum.

It is particularly important to ensure that a calf consumes a minimum of 3 litres from its’ own mother, ideally within 2 hours. This is the most effective way of getting essential antibodies, immunoglobulins, energy and minerals into a calf. This will have a positive impact on the calf’s immune system and may help fight infections and reduce incidences of scour and later setbacks.

After 2 hours, the quality of the colostrum produced by the cow declines. The ability for the calf to absorb immunoglobulins also progressively declines, particularly after 6 hours.

Following completion of the colostrum and transition milk phase, from 4 days of age, it is highly beneficial for calves to switch onto a quality calf milk replacer to achieve a minimum target of 700g/day live weight gain.

Outlined in the table below are target weights which should be realised for both Holstein and Aberdeen Angus/Herford cross bred calves.  For Jersey cross calves, targets will be lower and for continental breeds, weight gain targets will be higher.

Target Weight Gain
Holstein AA/Hereford
Age (weeks) Target Weight Target Weight Daily Live Weight Gain
Birth  45kg 48kg
6 70kg 73kg 700 grams
12 100 kg 102 800 grams

  Teagasc (2006); Teagasc (2003)

Research by Teagasc Moorepark, which can be found in the Teagasc Calf Rearing Manual 2017, indicates a significant Daily Live Weight advantage from feeding, a high quality calf milk replacer such as Opti-mum versus whole milk as indicated in the table below.

Whole Milk Milk Replacer

(26% protein DM basis)

Average 56 Day Weaning Weight (kg) 75.5 81.5
Average 70 Day Weaning Weight (kg) 85.8 91.5
Average Overall Weight Gain (kg) 47.7 55.4

 

Milk Replacer Benefits

There are other significant benefits to feeding Champion or Opti-mum calf milk replacer which include:

  1. Convenience: Calves can be fed at a time which suits the farmer where calves can be fed before the evening milking commences.
  2. Consistency: Auctus milk replacers are fed with the same fat levels, protein levels, concentration and temperature at each feed.  Whole milk will vary in fat, protein and somatic cell counts levels.   
  3. Reduced disease transmission from, for example: Johnes.
  4. Increased concentrate consumption with better rumen development.
  5. Calf milk replacer is antibiotic free. This will reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance due to antibiotic residues present in waste whole milk. 

Auctus have been supplying McLaughlins Farmcare successfully with high quality whey milk replacers for the past 4 years where John and his team are extremely aware of the advantages of both Champion and Opti-mum to the growth and health of the calf. 

A quality calf milk replacer should include:

  1. Protein (23%-26%) for maximising frame and muscle growth.
  2. Contain quality whey ingredients for maximum absorption of nutrients.
  3. Contain a Triple Shield Protection health package that fortifies the milk replacer with vitamin/minerals; enzymes and sodium butyrate to increase digestive health and boost the calf immune system.

Optimum and Champion

Optimum and Champion milk replacers have been manufactured to continue the important work done in the first days of life.

Both Optimum and Champion both contain Triple Shield Protection and are successful in achieving important weight gain milestones. On the farm of Brendan Cremins from Lisselton, Tralee, Co. Kerry, calves fed on Champion calf milk replacer has achieved an average daily live weight gain of 870 grams/day. This growth rate will keep your calves ahead of target and lay down the foundation for strong growth rates throughout the animal’s lifespan, as the genetic merit of all calves is defined in the first six months of life.

When a calf is born, the abomasum makes up 70% of the digestive system. It can take up to the first twelve weeks of life to develop the rumen. When the rumen is developed, it will make up 70% of the digestive system.

Rumen development can be encouraged from 3 days of age. The three central elements required for rumen development are: water; fibre; and concentrate. 

Fresh, clean water should be available from 3 days of age as water enters the rumen when consumed by the calf. Water consumed as part of the milk replacer mix does not count towards this as milk consumed through a teat will enter the abomasum.  Water in the rumen encourages beneficial bacteria to grow which are then used to break down solid feed during rumination.

A high energy concentrate of 16% protein or higher, along with Fibre is essential for rumen development. Chopped fibre in the form of Lucerne/straw should be used for the development of the rumen papillae.

First Fibre

First Fibre has been formulated to develop the rumen to its maximum potential. This product contains a complete mix of three fibre sources of Lucerne, Chopped Timothy Grass and dried Straw mixed with a concentrate of flaked maize, barley, wheat and soya.  A vitamin and mineral package, as well as a rumen conditioner has been included. 

First Fibre has been dried to a low moisture content for efficient rumen development. This also prevents secondary fermentation.

For more information about calf rearing or calf management, please follow the link: http://www.auctus.ie/ or contact McLaughlins Farmcare.

 

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This post was written by

Barry Murray MSc | Chief Agronomist Goldcrop Limited

 

In order to keep grass swards yielding at their best potential then it is important to manage them correctly.  Use of ‘Easy Care’ Teagasc bred varieties such as Oakpark are designed to meet the needs of intensively stocked farms as they are able to withstand poaching and, when mixed with highly digestible tetraploids such as Astonenergy, are able to extend intervals whilst keeping the grass nice and leafy.

Ongoing dock control is extremely important.  If clover is an important constituent of the sward then only Eagle of Prospect can be considered.

If clover is less important then products such as Doxstar Pro or Pastor Trio can be used.    A slightly cheaper product on the market this year is Pasture Pack.  This is a co formulation of Thrust and Tandus which offers excellent control of docks, thistles and general grassland weeds and can be used up to 4 days prior to silage cutting. It can also be used as a spot treatment option.

Derogation will provide challenges in the year ahead for livestock farmers but clover is a valuable part of a sward.  Mixtures have to include 0.6 kg/acre of clover going ahead but mixtures should be designed to be ‘easy care’ maximising grass intake whilst allowing high livestock numbers on the land.  Ongoing control of docks and other weeds should feature as part of any management strategy of a progressive dairy farm.