Factorying Weanlings with BVD

problum8

Hi all. I have 3 weanlings who have all tested positive for BVD. I did not get test results back for them 'til they were 5 months old and at that stage they were too old I though to cull. I spoke with the vet and he said to isolate and try to fatten and factory as soon as possible as BVD is not transferable to humans.I did this and now I am about to put them in the shed. They appear perfectly healthy, are 400kg approx and almost 1 year old. My question is is would any factory take them at that age and that weight? Any answers or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

LostCovey

problum8 wrote: »

Hi all. I have 3 weanlings who have all tested positive for BVD. I did not get test results back for them 'til they were 5 months old and at that stage they were too old I though to cull. I spoke with the vet and he said to isolate and try to fatten and factory as soon as possible as BVD is not transferable to humans.I did this and now I am about to put them in the shed. They appear perfectly healthy, are 400kg approx and almost 1 year old. My question is is would any factory take them at that age and that weight? Any answers or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

The factory won't care about their BVD status - re age & weight - that will depend on the factory.

bbam

Positive or PI's
We're they tested twice?

problum8

They were tested twice bbam. Ear notch and blood test. Want to get rid of them soon as they are takin up shed space that the 'healthy'stock will need over the winter and have to keep them isolated.

LostCovey

problum8 wrote: »

They were tested twice bbam. Ear notch and blood test. Want to get rid of them soon as they are takin up shed space that the 'healthy'stock will need over the winter and have to keep them isolated.

Sounds like a good call. What about the freezer, if the factory isn't interested?

yellow50HX

need a big frezzer...lol

that said if soemone gets a positive test and the calf is already too old to cull (hate putting down animals unless they are in distress) is this an option.

if factories can take BVD animals can they be kept fattened and factoried rather then going to knackers yard. would it make more sense to isolate them and if they are old enough to try and get them to teh factory/freezer.

another question will the shed need to be disenfected after they are gone?

reilig

yellow50HX wrote: »

need a big frezzer...lol

that said if soemone gets a positive test and the calf is already too old to cull (hate putting down animals unless they are in distress) is this an option.
if factories can take BVD animals can they be kept fattened and factoried rather then going to knackers yard. would it make more sense to isolate them and if they are old enough to try and get them to teh factory/freezer.

another question will the shed need to be disenfected after they are gone?

A calf is never too old to cull. The knacker's yard will take them at any age. PI's tend to do ok when sucking on a cow because they are getting antibodies through the milk which supports the immune system. However, when weined, they tend to start to lose condition and can pick up all sorts of illness because their immune system is weakening.


The problem with keeping bvd calves is the risk of infection to you in calf cows. If you're going to keep a PI to fatten then it needs to be in total separate accommodation than your other animals. BVD is transferred through mucus. That is, snots from the nose, mucus on the breath. You cannot allow contact with other animals as they will become Ti's and ultimately infect pregnant cows.

The TI infection lasts for up to 3 weeks in animals. therefore, along with disinfecting the shed after they are gone, it would be advisable not to allow animals into it for at least 3 weeks.

OP

The biggest problem with trying to fatten a PI will be trying to put condition on them. As I said, when weined from the cow their immune system gets weaker. They will pick up any disease easily. They will become thin and virtually fade away in front of your eyes. You are at a much higher risk of losing than animal before it is ready for the factory in comparison to a non PI.

Farmer Pudsey

At 400kgs most factories will take them it depends on fat cover. I imagine thta they are only fatcover 2- depends on how you are feeding. I heard that Ballinrobe 9 a few weeks ago) are looking for light cattle for the home market. Also some small abatoirs ( especially near cities) may be intrested this time of year. Not sure if they will take bulls at that fat score they were supposed to be giving a flat price.

I would be moving them on you need them out of the shed a few weeks before you house also you do not want them to come in contact with incalf cows. Even if you could feed for 4 weeks heavy they may not put on enough weight to cover cost. They would eat 10kgs/head/day 3-3.5 euro/day depending on cost of ration. You are also up against it as yhey are still growing. In four weeks they may put on 35 kgs LW. TBH it depens if they are growing or finishing. If they have finish the factories will take.

I killed a bulls last year I picked up with a twisted leg at 240kg DW he was about 430kgs but was fat score 3 but had stayed small and butty.

Muckit

If it were me in your situation OP, I think my first call would be to the factory you usually send your cattle to. Cut your losses as quickly as possible and move on.

It'I be al lot negative hype here when what you need is to get the best possible positive outcome out of the bad situation in which you find yourself.

49801

stuff them full of feed for a couple weeks and get factory to take them.
keep them seperate from the rest of your animals!

caseman

problum8 wrote: »

Hi all. I have 3 weanlings who have all tested positive for BVD. I did not get test results back for them 'til they were 5 months old and at that stage they were too old I though to cull. I spoke with the vet and he said to isolate and try to fatten and factory as soon as possible as BVD is not transferable to humans.I did this and now I am about to put them in the shed. They appear perfectly healthy, are 400kg approx and almost 1 year old. My question is is would any factory take them at that age and that weight? Any answers or suggestions would be very much appreciated.

If you know a local butcher, they might be able to take them.
I'd move them an as quick as possible.

towzer2010

I had the same situation with one earlier this year. He wasnt thriving so I got him blood tested and he had BVD. I rang the local factory agent and he took him in. I got €150 for him but he was only around 250 kgs. Better than paying the knackery.

cow man

I have had cases of BVD over the years and it never showed any signs of the disease in the animal till they were over eighteen months then they would start to scour get mouth ulcers snotty nose and slowly go down hill so I think you have time on your side

problum8

Thanks for all the replies. Ive rang around a couple of factories and a only a few of them are willing to take them. Not going to get much for them though. Ive tried the local butcher but reckons the meat wouldnt have enough fat and wouldnt be set for selling.

Cow Man - Did you try to finish them before the 18 months? I would have no hassle stuffing them with nuts til next March if i thought they would thrive but no guarantees i suppose!!

cow man

No, we are not running a very intensive operation here.

LostCovey

problum8 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. Ive rang around a couple of factories and a only a few of them are willing to take them. Not going to get much for them though. Ive tried the local butcher but reckons the meat wouldnt have enough fat and wouldnt be set for selling.

Cow Man - Did you try to finish them before the 18 months? I would have no hassle stuffing them with nuts til next March if i thought they would thrive but no guarantees i suppose!!

Thats the gamble, they could live 10 years (very unlikely) or be dead in the morning (possible), most likely they will die somewhere in between those extremes so its a gamble. I would take my chances with a factory or the freezer.

I wouldn't hang around.

Regard anything you get out of them as your profit, because if you gamble and get it wrong you lose the lot plus the cost of the collection service.

problum8

Lads just a quick update on my weanlings. I have them isolated inside on straw for about six weeks now and they seem to be doing well. They are getting about 3kg of nuts morning and evening and seem to be doing well. Barring any mishaps they will be ready for factory in March. I just want to be sure that I can definitely kill them at the factory next year. Can anyone confirm this. Just with all the talk about BVD it gets a little confusing. Thanks a million.

tanko

If you have pregnant cows/heifers on your farm, i think you are taking a big gamble by keeping these lads for another four months. Surely you are risking spreading the disease?

I assume that you have tested all animals on your farm for BVD at this stage?

problum8

No pregnant cows at the moment and the pi's are isolated and away from all other stock.