BORDER VETERINARY SURGERY
26 HERBERT STREET GOONDIWINDI
Ph:07 46713688 reception@bvets.net.au bordervetgoondiwindi.com.au
Mac Kneipp BVSc (hons) MANZCVS
Cathy Kneipp BVSc (hons)
Eliza McInnerney BVSc (hons)
Lauren Droney BVSc (hons)
To Whom It May Concern
This is to certify that I examined a cow herd on 28 th May 2014 and made the following observations;
Visited McIntyre Saleyards, Goondiwindi to examine 86 cows with 26 calves at foot for Paul Fearnley.
The cows were Angus, Murray Grey & crosses & some few Hereford. The cows were in poor body condition, some cachectic and very weak. I was concerned about examining them in the crush & running them through the yards as some were close to collapse. The cows had NLIS tags and uniquely numbered ear tags. Their identities were recorded & each examined and manually pregnancy tested. The cows were body condition scored (BCS) with 1 to 5 system where 1 is very skinny, 5 very fat. The cows were mouthed for aging and teeth wear. They were physically examined, preg tested & tailtagged (AACV tags).
The cows range from BCS 1 (very skinny- backbone, hips & shoulder bones prominent, ribs clearly visible, tail-head area recessed, skeletal body outline) to BCS 2 (skinny). About 10% had mucoid or mucopurulent nasal discharge, there were no coughs or audible heavy breathers. All the cows had dermatitis to varying degree and most had palm sized patches of alopecia (hairloss) and scabbing.
These were distributed particularly on lateral hips, thighs and stifles, others were exhibiting alopecia and generalized dermatitis with excoriation (scratches) and scabbing. Some of these injuries are consistent with previous buffalo fly infestation and there were a few still visible but most lesions appeared to be skin calluses from lying down due to weakness and cachexia and a heavy lice burden.
Lice & lice eggs could be found. The cows were constantly licking and rubbing. The cows were so skinny they were sucking the preg testing glove off. There was some diarrhoea and a pooled sample found only a single strongyle worm egg. Several cows appeared yellow in skin and mucus membranes (jaundiced). A urine sample was checked from one cow with no evidence of ketosis. The cows were individually mouthed they were mostly between 8 & 10 years of age and mostly had worn teeth and broken mouths. The condition of the teeth did not correspond to their body condition as some very skinny cows had good teeth (full mouths) and less skinny cows had broken mouths. The teeth were not considered the cause of the poor body condition.
Only 13 of the 86 cows examined were detectably pregnant- these were all over 4 months pregnant except one under 4 months. The low pregnancy rate is unsurprising considering the poor body condtion that would be resulting in nutrtional anoestrous. Those cows that were lactating were noted. About 20 were classified as "wet" but few had enough milk to properly feed a calf. The 26 calves were examined they too were poor, BCS 1 to 2 and extremely "woody"- hairy coated and stunted growth. A couple were mouthed and still had milk teeth but were earmarked and thought to be at least 8 months old, they looked like 3 months old and "doing it tough". These calves have not been getting enough milk, starved and have become ruminants, trying to eat solid food before their stomachs are mature enough.
As well as the snotty noses several cows had various lamenesses and gait abnormalities of the hind limbs. These also appeared related to their poor body condition and were consistent with "downer

cow" injuries i.e. from falling, being down, struggling to rise &c. A few cows were noted to have mild sub-mandibular oedema (bottle jaw), something that occurs due to hypoproteinaemia (low blood protein) normally seen with high worm burden or starvation.
Overall the problems seen with these cows; poor body condition, weakness, dermatitis, low fertility, stunted calves is typical of primary starvation.
Any queries please contact me,
Mac Kneipp BVSc MANZCVS
Certified AACV 392