Cattle

Figure 1. Similar aged beef calves born at the beginning of a seasonal calving block to synchronised dams with fixed time artificial insemination.

Use of artificial insemination and oestrus synchronisation in beef herds

This is an area attracting increasing interest from beef suckler producers in the UK but carries the caveat, as for dairy cows, that lower pregnancy rates are to be anticipated compared with...

Figure 1. During August a Holstein cow which calved 2 weeks previously is presented in respiratory distress with occasional open-mouth breathing. There was a purulent nasal discharge. See Video 1.

Cattle self assessment

Bovine viral diarrhoea in cattle: an update

Eradicating BVD has many benefits for cattle industries. These range from removing financial restrictions to increasing farm profitability. The reduction in disease burden accounts for this, and...

Cattle Review: November–December

Bovine paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) is an endemic disease caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map). Map is mainly transmitted between herds through movement of infected but...

Mastitis pattern analysis: epidemiology into practice

Recently, work published at University of Nottingham has used machine learning to improve the original mastitis pattern analysis tool and has refined the algorithms used (Hyde et al, 2020). The...

Figure 1. The calving pen: a high risk environment for disease transmission.

Calving pen management

A total of 66 dairy farms in Northern Ireland were visited in 2019 on three occasions over a 3 week period to measure and collate data on the environment pertaining to calf management. Full details...

Figure 1. Holstein cow at referral following a 3 day course of marbofloxacin and meloxicam. Figure 2. The same cow 6 weeks later after a change in antibiotic therapy to penicillin [Video 1]. Similar cases are shown in Videos 2 and 3.

Diagnosis of respiratory disease in adult cattle using ultrasonography

cow 6 weeks later after a change in antibiotic therapy to penicillin.

Reviewing the diagnosis and treatment of digital dermatitis in dairy herds

A reliable and affordable diagnostic test for BDD is not available and so the gold standard for diagnosis remains lifting feet for examination in a foot-trimming crush. This is time-consuming and...

Figure 3. Calves grazing silage aftermaths.

Parasite control and Saint Swithin's Day

Depending on the results of monitoring since turnout and the outcome of the review, the possible actions that can be instigated around mid-July essentially revolve around pasture management or...

Figure 1. When bacteria from organs such as the uterus and the udder enter the systemic circulation rather than the portal circulation, they avoid the phagocytic actions of the Kuppfer cells in the liver.

Sepsis in adult cattle

Sepsis is a known or suspected infection leading to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) that is characterised by alterations in body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and leukogram...

Figure 2. Cow and calf following successful completion of stage 2 parturition. Image courtesy of K. Ellis, reproduced with permission.

Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at calving

Calving is a complex process with three recognised stages (Figures 1 and 2), each associated with different sources of pain. Pain is a subjective experience defined by the International Association...

Figure 2. Small groups of calves housed within a polytunnel, fed using manual Wydale feeders.

Practical implications of calf housing systems in the UK

The selection of the type of calf housing used on farm can be influenced by many factors, with an understanding of farmer perspectives proving helpful in the provision of appropriate veterinary...