heifers coughing too mild

leoch

i have noticed the heifers (jan-may 11) coughing a bit this last few days in the slatted shed its a good airy shed but i think its so mild,they are only in a month or so and were dosed for everything the day they were put in what would you think should i give them a jag or something? they are not all coughing all the time just an odd time wat u think ?

bbam

leoch wrote: »

i have noticed the heifers (jan-may 11) coughing a bit this last few days in the slatted shed its a good airy shed but i think its so mild,they are only in a month or so and were dosed for everything the day they were put in what would you think should i give them a jag or something? they are not all coughing all the time just an odd time wat u think ?

noticed the same here... ours are in a little longer
ours were injected with ibermac when they went in and again last Saturday to be sure...

1chippy

treat them. we didnt do it straight away and now have 4 calves with pneumonia, 2 coming round but other two still weak and four bulling heifers all seemed to be well improved today . heard of a lad losing two calves on friday, seems to be bad at the moment.

leoch

i wonder what did he treat them with would u jag them with alamycin or dose vthem for lung worm or what?

PatQfarmer

leoch wrote: »

i wonder what did he treat them with would u jag them with alamycin or dose vthem for lung worm or what?

If dosing for lung-worm, be very careful you don't end up with pneumonia across the lot of them. If they have a bad infestation, the pressure of coughing out the dead worms can cause infection, stress...and pneumonia.
Happened to me last year.
Did them this year when housed, and gave them the Respichlor powders as well, just in case. Much safer, imo.

leoch

i did them when housed aswell about 4/5 weeks ago they are not to bad yesterday and this morning a man said if they are eating drinking and dunging then they will be ok and just keep a close eye on them mine are all doing that at there leisure ,what is that powerder u are chating about never heard of that

PatQfarmer

leoch wrote: »

a man said if they are eating drinking and dunging then they will be ok

Mine were doing all that and still had temps of 40+ at the time, so be careful. Just 'cause they are eating, doesn't mean they won't get pneumonia.

Respichlor powders (CTC) sprinkle on feed. Antibiotic powder for respiratory. Good value(€55 will treat 20 150kg animals for a week)...and it works in preventing or cleaning up an outbreak.

leoch

thanks for reply but according to website that powder is for calves less than 6 months old

PatQfarmer

leoch wrote: »

thanks for reply but according to website that powder is for calves less than 6 months old

Had to check that myself! And you are right!
Worked grand on my 8month old weanlings though.
Ask vet do they have anything for the older stock. Very easy to administer with feed, beats needling them anyway:)

charityboy

used those powders on weanlings that were well dosed for everything but were constantly coughing ,mixed it through the ration and all cleared up after a week

leoch

charity boy what age were they mine are from 9-13 month old

charityboy

they would have ranged from 8 to 12 months ,worked after a couple of days but was told to keep giving it to them as per instruction on bags to finish the course

westlander

charityboy wrote: »

they would have ranged from 8 to 12 months ,worked after a couple of days but was told to keep giving it to them as per instruction on bags to finish the course

I had 2 weanlings with pneumonia. Got dexamethasone off the vet and some other injection he had drawn up. But just wondering is there any vaccination that can be got for injecting cattle to prevent pneumonia?

or is it a case of being very observant and treating with resplichor powder (think thats the name of it could be wrong) for when they first start coughing..

Thanks

greysides

Vaccination is by far the best answer. It's usually considered once the coughing has started though.
Well, to tell the truth, vaccination is the second best answer. If you could have 'perfect' housing that would be the best answer. Sometimes astutely opening up the shed a little can help.... space boarding on the sides, raise some of the roof sheeting etc. Other times stopping daughts coming in at floor level can help...............I hate seeing light under doors.
For calves on a liquid diet drainage is vital. The humidity helps the spread of the virus. Leaking water troughs are no help either.
In terms of vaccination, there are four viruses to consider.
BVD which can make a joke of your vaccination program if you have it and don't know it.
IBR, generally older animals but weanlings would qualify.
PI3 and RSV, nearly 100% prevalent.

Some vaccines include a Pasteurella component as it's a very common secondary invader.

Most vaccines are two shots, 3-4 weeks apart and allow 2 weeks to be fully up and running. So it needs to be planned.

IBR, down the nose will work much quicker, almost like a treatment, but you need to be sure it IS IBR before you hand over cash.

PatQfarmer

First time I did calves, I didn't vaccinate. Disaster.
Now vaccinate everything in originating farmers yard with RSV. Only way imo.
BVD test them there now as well!
Vaccines are not cheap, but they are a whole lot cheaper than drugs and save loads of hardship on man and animal.
That said, sheds are a huge cause of pneumonia as well.
I had weanlings in a she this year that I couldn't get enough airflow into without causing draughts. They all sweated, got chills, coughed etc. Ended up letting them sleep in shed with access to yard so they could get air if needed. Set them back a good bit:mad:

westlander

PatQfarmer wrote: »

First time I did calves, I didn't vaccinate. Disaster.
Now vaccinate everything in originating farmers yard with RSV. Only way imo.
BVD test them there now as well!
Vaccines are not cheap, but they are a whole lot cheaper than drugs and save loads of hardship on man and animal.
That said, sheds are a huge cause of pneumonia as well.
I had weanlings in a she this year that I couldn't get enough airflow into without causing draughts. They all sweated, got chills, coughed etc. Ended up letting them sleep in shed with access to yard so they could get air if needed. Set them back a good bit:mad:

Makes you wonder are you better off having an open slatted shed instead of the back to back ones?
Even though ours is enclosed, it has a spaced roof and vented sheeting at the sides.