References
Youngstock health: a focus on Mycoplasma bovis, nematode control and the use of NSAIDS in scour
Abstract
Foreword
Farming is under increasing scrutiny on environmental issues (including greenhouse gas emissions, resource use, water and air quality, biodiversity and other impacts), in addition to increasing economic and social pressures. It is increasingly clear that we need to ensure that every animal has a good healthy life, while reducing losses throughout the production system.
As cattle vets, we work with cattle at every stage of the production cycle, but on many dairy farms, youngstock are still seen as being of secondary importance compared with the mature herd, suffering significant levels of disease, and sustaining high mortality. This is despite the fact that dairy replacements are, or should be, the group with the highest genetic merit on the farm and are the future of the herd.
In contrast to the dairy herd, calves from the suckler herd are the only saleable product of the cow and thus her whole production for the year is lost if the calf should die. Despite this, more could still be done on many farms to improve health and productivity of these calves allowing them to be finished faster with associated environmental benefits.
For environmental, economic and social reasons, it is no longer acceptable to cull dairy bull calves, or to ignore high levels of morbidity or mortality. An animal that has a suboptimal growth rate or dies represents a financial loss to the farmer, a welfare concern to the consumer, and an environmental impact that is not compensated for by food (milk or meat) production. If we are to serve our clients to the best of our ability and help make their businesses as sustainable as possible, we need a greater focus on youngstock.
This supplement is a good place to start with its focus on Mycoplasma bovis, nematode control and the use of NSAIDs in calf scour.
The importance of Mycoplasma bovis in causing and contributing to respiratory disease in cattle has been highlighted over recent years, however, it still remains a significant challenge to UK farmers. M. bovis has developed genetic adaptations enabling improved survivability within the host, and its ability to produce biofilms supports survival and aids spread of the organism in the environment. As for many respiratory pathogens in cattle, early diagnosis and prompt treatment with an effective antibiotic are vital in tackling M.bovis infections, however, preventing the spread from infected to uninfected animals is key to tackling the disease at a herd level.
Recent science has shown the positive impacts of a good start in a calf 's life on its future productivity (Soberon, 2012). The areas of particular relevance to ensure a good start are: colostrum management, calf nutrition, environmental conditions and disease control. Unfortunately, however, 14.5% of live born UK dairy replacement calves fail to make it to their first calving (Brickell et al, 2009). One of the main causes of death in these calves is pneumonia. Nationally, respiratory disease costs the UK cattle industry around £50 million per annum (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), 2018), and the estimated cost of an individual case is £43–82 per calf (Andrews, 2000). Furthermore much of the disease exists subclinically, meaning animals can have it without showing any signs, and therefore the losses associated (e.g. reduced growth rates) can often be hugely underestimated. For example, it has been calculated that a reduction in average daily weight gain to weaning of just 0.1 kg/day reduces a heifer's first lactation yield by 300 litres (Bach et al, 2008). Despite these startling statistics calf pneumonia is still a significant problem on many UK farms.
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