MIDSHIRE FARM NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2013
Subclinical Ketosis
Transition cow management is the crucial period for
avoiding metabolic diseases in dairy cows. It is
during this period, 3 weeks either side of calving,
that the risk of diseases such as milk fever, ketosis,
retained cleansings, endometritis, DAs and cystic
ovaries can either be reduced by good management
or increased by sub-optimal management.
Subclinical ketosis
is one of the key
diseases to avoid
in this period as it
is often the
gateway disease to
many of the other
fresh cow
conditions we see.
For instance, the risk of having an LDA increases 8
fold with ketosis, metritis risk increases increases
3 fold, and
by
3
fold
and the
the risk of cystic ovaries increases 6 fold. Typically
risk ofdisease
cystic in its
we don’t think of ketosis as a costly
increases
own right but when you see ovaries
the other
health
by
6
fold.
consequences and add in the lost milk production
then the costs soon ramp up. Losses due to
subclinical ketosis have been estimated at around
£200-500 per affected cow.
Subclinical ketosis is reported to affect 30% of dairy
cows but herd variation is huge so it is important to
routinely test and monitor the ketosis level on your
farm. Elanco ketotest milk test strips are a useful
management tool in establishing the level of ketosis
on your farm, and whether it is a significant problem
to your cows. These individual cow tests are
available from the practice. Please discuss using
them with one of the vets prior to use to determine
the number of cows to test in your herd.
Until now we have relied on good transition cow
management to minimise the risk of ketosis but even
in well managed herds, some cows still get ketosis.
Elanco have recently launched Kexxtone boluses onto
the market as an aid in reducing the incidence of
ketosis and subsequent losses. Kexxtone is a pulse
release bolus containing monensin, which is licensed
in the UK to reduce the risk of ketosis in dairy cows
around calving. The bolus encourages the production
of glucose precursors by the rumen microbes, this
reduces the risk of ketosis and helps maintain a better
appetite around calving.
Trial data collected from over 1300 cows showed that
where cows had been treated with Kexxtone the
incidence of ketosis reduced by 74%. The difference
in milk yield alone associated with this reduction in
Ketosis was huge with Kexxtone treated cows
producing 150 litres more per cow during the 125 day
trial than the placebo treated group.
The challenge is to identify which cows are going to
be at high risk of ketosis and target them with the
treatment. Those at increased risk of ketosis include:







Heifers or cows entering 3+ lactations
High body condition score ≥ 3.5 entering the
dry period
Loss of body condition during the dry period
Long dry periods > 2 months
Twin pregnancy
History of energy related diseases
First calving >27 months
The recommended treatment regime involves bolusing
dry cows around 3 weeks pre-calving and the bolus
lasts for about 90 days. This timing gives the bolus
time to modify the rumen function pre-calving and
provides treatment for the first 70 days of the lactation
during which most metabolic disease tends to strike.
Not only do you recover the milk lost due to ketosis
but you reduce the risk of metritis, LDAs, cysts and
many
other
diseases which
impact on cow
welfare
and
profitability.
MIDSHIRE FARM NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2013
Sheep Abortion Control.
The majority of abortions and infertility that sheep flocks experience, are caused by
two diseases: Enzootic abortion (EAE) and Toxoplasmosis.
If you are experiencing an abortion rate of more than 1 in 50 ewes or have any
worries about infertility, please contact us and arrange to have your flock tested.
We recommend taking blood from 6-8 barren/aborted ewes that have not previously
been vaccinated against either disease. The results of these blood tests will tell us
whether EAE or Toxoplasmosis are active in your flock, and help us plan control by
vaccination.
If you get closer to lambing and start to experience abortions you can submit a fresh
aborted foetus to the VLA at Sutton Bonnington for an abortion enquiry. If you do
this please remember that it is very important to submit the afterbirth as well as the
foetus so that testing for EAE can be carried out. Please contact the surgery before
taking the foetus and afterbirth to the VLA, as relevant paperwork will have to be
submitted by one of the vets prior to your arrival.
This year, we will be recommending Enzovax
as our EAE vaccine and Toxovax as our
Toxoplasmosis vaccine. Both these vaccines
need to be given before tupping (at least 4
weeks before for Enzovax, at least 3 weeks
before for Toxovax). The good news is that
they can now be given at the same time as long
as different injection sites are used.
Also this year don’t forget that Schmallenberg virus (SBV) was a major cause of
infertility, abortions and lamb losses last winter and spring. We expect this disease to
continue to cause problems each year now that it is established in England and
therefore we would recommend that you consider SBV vaccination this year for your
flock. Again, this vaccine needs to be given at least 4 weeks before tupping and a gap
of 2 weeks needs to be elapse between this vaccine and any EAE or Toxoplasmosis
vaccination.