Relative survival of calves in 16 traditionally managed herds in Bauchi, Nigeria

An actuarial life-table approach was used to study the mortality of 277 calves born alive in 16 traditionally managed herds in Bauchi, Nigeria from 1993 to 1995. The proportion of calves in the herds surviving for the first 12 months was 53.8%. The probability of dying was greatest during the first month of life and decreased with age. The proportion of calves surviving in the herds has been increasing for the last 2 years. We suspect that this is probably due to improvements in management practices. Septicaemia, malnutrition and injury were the common causes of calf mortality. We recommend that more attention be given to improving the management of calves early in life in order to reduce mortality of calves and hence reduce economic losses to the herd owner.     

A study of health and productivity of traditionally managed cattle in Zambia

A three-tiered survey was devised comprising a detailed questionnaire, a serological survey and a sentinel herd scheme for disease surveillance. The survey was carried out in the traditional farming sector in 7 districts of Zambia to obtain background information on cattle management and productivity, data on the prevalence of tick-borne and other disease problems in these areas and to monitor changes in individual herds.In the questionnaire survey, 288 farmers were interviewed. They owned a total of 15 360 head of cattle, representing approximately one percent of the national herd. Mean herd sizes ranged from 31 to 114 for each district. Mean calving percentages were 44–80%. Average national offtake from these herds was 10%. Calf mortality rates ranged from 4 to 32%, while adult yearly mortality rates ranged from 4 to 16%. Factors affecting the regional variation of these figures are discussed.     

Suspected botulism in three intensively managed Australian cattle herds.

Serious outbreaks of a paralytic disease in cattle occurring in the spring and summer of 1988 were investigated on three farms in south eastern Queensland, Australia. On one farm 237 (31 per cent) of 770 cattle died, on the second 109 (40 per cent) of 271 cattle died and on the third 30 (8 per cent) of 380 cows died. Botulism was suspected on the basis of the clinical signs, the lack of significant pathology, a failure to incriminate other agents and a positive feeding trial in one sheep. Laboratory tests for the presence of botulinum toxin failed to confirm this diagnosis, and further feeding trials using ingredients of two rations were also negative.     

An intradermal test for the diagnosis of brucellosis in extensively managed cattle herds

The application of a delayed hypersensitivity test for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis was examined in a series of field experiments. The test is based on the intradermal injection of ‘Brucellin’, a lipopolysaccharide-free protein extract of Brucella abortus strain 45/20.

The Brucellin test was compared with the complement fixation (CF) test in 8656 cows of mixed age and known vaccination and herd status. An intradermal injection of 0.1 ml of the allergen was made in either the cervical region or the caudal fold. The injection site was examined 72 h after administration of Brucellin and any increase in skin thickness of 2 mm was regarded as positive.

When administered into the caudal fold site the Brucellin test had a sensitivity relative to the CF test of between 52 ± 14% and 61 ± 6%. The relative specificity of the test exceeded 99%.

Calfhood vaccination with B. abortus strain 19 did not result in positive Brucellin test results. There was no evidence that the injection of Brucellin induced a serological response.

Despite the low relative sensitivity of the Brucellin test, it is a useful low-cost tool for identifying infected herds. It is a least as effective as slaughterhouse surveillance systems.     

Prevalence of cattle herds with ivermectin resistant nematodes in the hot sub-humid tropics of Mexico

The objective was to determine the prevalence of semi-intensive Bos indicus and Bos indicus × Bos taurus cattle herds with ivermectin (IVM) resistant nematodes in a sub-humid tropical zone of Mexico using the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT). Thirty-three herds (28 beef and 5 dual purpose herds) were monitored in a period of 6 months (September 2008 to February, 2009). Only 14 of the 33 herds were included in the trial. The other herds had not enough animals with sufficient nematode eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) to be included in a FECRT. Some farms were visited twice trying to find more animals with egg counts higher than 150 EPG. In the 14 surveyed herds the calves were randomly distributed into two groups: (a) treatment group received 0.2mg of IVM/kg BW sc on day 0, and (b) control group without treatment. Faecal samples were obtained from each animal on days 0 and 14 post-treatment. Reduction percentages (% R) and 95% CI were calculated. The prevalence of cattle herds with IVM resistant nematodes was 78.6%. Those suspected of IVM resistance were 21.4%. All surveyed herds used IVM from two to three times a year (mainly beginning and end of the wet season) during 1-11 consecutive years. The farm with stronger resistance used IVM for 11 consecutive years (% R=0%; 95% CI=0-47%). Genera of nematodes resistant to IVM were: Ostertagia, Haemonchus, Cooperia and Trichostrongylus. A considerable effort is needed to perform FECRT in cattle herds under hot sub-humid tropical conditions.     

Financial analysis of East Coast fever control strategies in traditionally managed Sanga cattle in Central Province of Zambia

Five different East Coast fever (ECF)-control strategies (involving ECF immunisation by the infection-and-treatment method) were tested in groups of traditionally managed Sanga cattle in the Central Province of Zambia over a period of 2.5 years. Two groups were under intensive tick control (weekly spraying with acaricide)--one group immunised and the other non-immunised. Two groups were under no tick control--one group immunised and the other non-immunised. The fifth group was under seasonal tick control (18 sprays/year) and was immunised against ECF. The input and output data were used to construct discounted cash flows for each group. The seasonally sprayed and immunised group gave the highest net present value, and the non-immunised group with no tick control, the lowest. A break-even analysis showed that the immunisation costs could rise to US$25.9 per animal before profitability was affected. For herds under intensive tick control, immunisation was of no financial benefit. The results demonstrate the value of immunisation, and indicate the importance of its combination with seasonal tick-control measures.     

Prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in traditionally managed cattle at the wildlife-livestock interface in South Africa in the absence of control measures

Cattle are the domestic animal reservoir for Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) which also affects other domestic animals, several wildlife species and humans leading to tuberculosis. The study area is in a resource-poor community that is surrounded by several game parks, where M. bovis infection has been previously diagnosed in wildlife. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of M. bovis infection in 659 cattle from a total of 192 traditionally managed herds using the BOVIGAM® interferon gamma assay (IFN-γ). Infection was confirmed by post mortem examination and M. bovis isolation from three test-positive cattle. Genotyping of the M. bovis isolates was done using spoligotyping and VNTR (variable number of tandem repeats typing). The apparent M. bovis prevalence rate in cattle at animal level was 12% with a true population prevalence of 6% (95% Confidence interval (C.I) 3.8 to 8.1) and a herd prevalence of 28%. Spoligotyping analysis revealed that the M. bovis isolates belonged to spoligotype SB0130 and were shared with wildlife. Three VNTR profiles were identified among the SB0130 isolates from cattle, two of which had previously been detected in buffalo in a game reserve adjacent to the study area. The apparent widespread presence of M. bovis in the cattle population raises a serious public health concern and justifies further investigation into the risk factors for M. bovis transmission to cattle and humans. Moreover, there is an urgent need for effective bTB control measures to reduce infection in the communal cattle and prevent its spread to uninfected herds.

     

Ivermectin use and resulting milk residues on 4 Canadian dairy herds

The Canadian gFARAD was contacted for milk withdrawal recommendations after multiple cases of topical ivermectin use in lactating dairy cows. The following 4 cases included pertinent milk residue information and illustrate the challenges faced by producers, veterinarians, and regulatory authorities when ivermectin use occurs in dairy cows.     

Use of selenium in problem cattle herds

A 150-cow beef herd had problems with diarrhea in all neonatal calves, with 50% mortality. Necropsy revealed changes consistent with colibacillosis. Vaccination of cows in late pregnancy with E coli and BVD vaccines reduced morbidity but did not eliminate the problem. Assays revealed low serum Se levels. Limited supplementation of Se in premix at 90 mg/lb premix, with 17 lb premix/ton feed, resolved the problem. A 70-cow dairy herd had long-term problems with increased numbers of cystic ovaries and retained placentas, and low conception rates. Serum Se levels were low; results of various other diagnostic tests were inconclusive. Dietary supplementation of Se greatly improved reproductive efficiency. Gross and microscopic lesions may not be inconclusive for a diagnosis of Se deficiency. Dietary supplementation of Se is recommended over injection.     

Association between milk production, somatic cell count and bacterial dermatoses in three dairy cattle herds

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlations between three bacterial dermatoses in cattle, milk production and bulk-milk somatic cell count (BMSCC). DESIGN: Field observations in three dairy cattle herds. METHODS: Milk production, BMSCC, fertility and all herd diseases were recorded by computerised dairy management systems. Each herd was visited twice weekly and the clinical signs, course of diseases and morbidity and culling rates were noted. Bulk-tank milk was sampled twice monthly and analysed for somatic cell count. Bacteriological and histological examinations were carried out from samples collected from affected animals in the respective herds. RESULTS: The acute exudative form of dermatophilosis was diagnosed only in first-calving cows. The morbidity rate was 53% and the culling rate was 16% of the affected animals. The BMSCC increased by a factor of 2.4 times, and there was an average loss of milk production of 30%/cow/day in affected animals. Ulcerative lymphangitis was diagnosed in first-calving cows (22%) and older cows (15%). The culling rate was 28%. The BMSCC increased by a factor of 17.3 times, and the average loss of milk production was 5.5%/affected animal/day. Papillomatous digital dermatitis (PDD) was diagnosed in first-calving cows (25%) and in older cows (18%). The culling rate was 8%. The BMSCC increased by a factor of two times, and the average loss of milk production was 1.7%/affected animal/day. CONCLUSIONS: The correlations between three skin diseases (ulcerative lymphangitis, dermatophilosis, papillomatous digital dermatitis), milk production and BMSCC have been found to be unfavourable.     

Neospora caninum infection in Greek dairy cattle herds detected by two antibody assays in individual milk samples

A survey to demonstrate the presence and the extent of Neospora caninum infection in dairy cattle was carried out in Greece. Seven hundred and seventy-seven (777) individual milk samples from all milking cows in 10 dairy herds were tested using an ELISA (p38-milk-ELISA) and immunoblot analysis. The herd prevalence was 80.0% and 100.0%, while the overall prevalence was 15.2% (ranging between 0.0% and 38.9%) and 27.9% (ranging between 3.4% and 61.6%) based on the results of the ELISA and the immunoblot test, respectively. In conclusion, N. caninum infection is present among dairy cattle in Greece, deserving more studies to determine its contribution to abortion problems in Greek dairy herds.     

Iodine toxicosis in six herds of dairy cattle

Daily iodine intake estimated to range from greater than 68 to 600 mg/animal/day was associated with signs referable to iodine intoxication in adult cows in 6 herds of dairy cattle. Signs were reversed by lowering supplemental intake to less than 12 mg/animal/day. Results of biochemical tests other than those for serum and milk iodine were not diagnostic. Serum iodine concentrations were 2.6 to 6.9 times the mean iodine concentration found in 12 control cows, each receiving 12 mg of iodine/day. Milk iodine concentrations were 3.6 to 13.6 times milk iodine concentrations in the control cows.