SELLS Animal Health Update August 2020
August 2020
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LOCAL DISEASE WATCH
Alex Stephens District Veterinarian Yass.
This month District Veterinarians have received queries and conducted investigations regarding cattle lice, sheep lice, lameness in sheep due to both abscess and scald, losses of newborn lambs and calves and nutrition. Losses have been seen and investigated due to bloat and pulpy kidney in cattle, hypocalcaemia in sheep on crop, pregnancy toxaemia in ewes and Johne’s in sheep. Surveillance monitoring has detected liver fluke in cattle, selenium deficiency in sheep, campylobacter in sheep and high levels of moxidectin/ivomectin resistance in barber’s pole worms. In addition, we have followed up a case of lead toxicity, assisted with export certifications, queries due to changes to the blue tongue zone property, queries about chemical residue status and assisted the RSPCA.
Lead toxicity: Accidental access to lead is still one of the most common forms of inorganic chemical poisoning in farm animals. Prevention is the best cure. The most common source is old lead batteries, but there are many other varied sources such as old lead paint and licking the ash from burnt painted objects, eating linoleum and sump oil. Cattle are most at risk as they like to taste new finds. Symptoms may be finding dead stock, or those with unusual nervous signs or blindness. Stock exposed to abnormal lead intake must not be slaughtered for human consumption until levels return to normal. It is very important to talk to your District Veterinarian if you suspect lead poisoning.
RSPCA investigations: District Vets and the Agriculture Advisors prefer to provide nutritional assistance and advice to producers before the RSPCA needs to be involved, however DVs are required by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA) to support the RSPCA when requested where stock appear to be suffering from malnutrition. They provide an accurate assessment of the stock and then advice on suitable diets and management. Usually in these cases management has been let go and or stocking rates have not been matched to conditions at hand.
Blue tongue zone changes: The bluetongue virus (BTV) transmission zone has been extended approximately 100 kilometres south and inland following detection of BTV in cattle in the Shoalhaven area during routine testing for the National Arbovirus Monitoring Program. Read more.
BEWARE OF LABEL CHANGES TO BROMICIDE 200 SELECTIVE HERBICIDE (NUFARM)
Evelyn Walker District Veterinarian South Coast
Bromicide 200, a Selective Herbicide, containing the active ingredient bromoxynil is commonly used to control fireweed in pastures. There have been important changes to its grazing withhold period. The 14-day withholding period no longer applies due to labelling changes. The current withholding period states, "Do not harvest, graze or cut for stock food for 8 weeks after application”. Always read and understand the label instructions for any agricultural or veterinary products you are using and use only as directed. The label will supersede any advice provided by previous South East LLS publications.
If the label on any product has been damaged or you are unsure, search the chemicals database (managed by APVMA-Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine Authority) or talk to your supplier to find the safety and use directions https://apvma.gov.au/node/10831
CHANGES TO NATIONAL VENDOR DECLARATIONS (NVDs) FOR ALL SPECIES
New versions of the LPA (Livestock Production Assurance) NVDs are now available for all species including cattle, EU cattle, bobby calves, sheep and lambs and goats. These versions can be identified by their version number 0720 printed at the top of the NVD. Previous versions of LPA NVDs for all species will continue to be accepted until 31 December 2020.
From 1 January 2021, only the new versions (0720) will be accepted. To stay up to date, order a replacement hard copy book or use the free electronic NVD known as eNVD. The eNVD can be completed online using a mobile phone or computer. You will still need access to a printer for printing of your eNVDs when selling and moving livestock.
For ordering and access to the hard copy NVD book or eNVD, you will need to login to lpa.nlis.com.au using your LPA credentials. A hard copy NVD book is normally $40 but is free of charge due to the Red Meat 2019 - Accelerated Adoption Initiative (AAI). Record keeping booklets, accreditation and reaccreditation are also free as part of this initiative. Beware it may take up to 6 weeks for NVD hard copy books to arrive due to high demand and postal delays so as back up, consider using the new versions (0720) available through the eNVD. For more information, check out the latest Integrity Systems website for access to webinars, online videos and practical tips for navigating and completing your record keeping requirements.
Web Resources:
Ordering and access to NVD book or eNVD: lpa.nlis.com.au
Stand by what you sell webinar events: integritysystems.com.au/events
eNVD info and ‘how-to’ guide: integritysystems.com.au/on-farm-assurance/national-vendor-declaration-nvd/
PAIN RELIEF OPTIONS FOR MULESING, CASTRATION AND TAIL DOCKING SHEEP
Alex Stephens District Veterinarian Yass.
The decision not to mules is an admirable goal for the industry but must be worked towards with years of selective breeding and then be backed with an integrated fly management plan. In the interim, although still optional in NSW, pain relief and the adoption of the smaller modified mules at lamb marking is widely supported and utilised by the industry. Another new mulesing option worth considering, and trialing is the liquid nitrogen mulesing option where the excess breach skin is frozen off by a cleverly designed liquid nitrogen applicator. It causes less pain and no open wounds. For more information see the following links.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-03-11/liquid-nitrogen-mulesing-alternative/10878280
https://agvetinnovations.com/2019/11/20/what-is-sheep-freeze-branding/
Strong progress has been made in the field of pain relief around lamb marking. With new products entering the market, there are now multiple forms of pain relief available. If you are introducing pain relief to your lamb marking program for the first time, one form of pain relief will be beneficial alone but the best results are seen when pain relief is layered or multimodal (i.e. two forms are used together). Pain relief at lamb marking reduces the stress on the lambs and the time taken to mother up post marking.
There are now several options available for producers. To assist you we have put together this guide to present the options. The below table shows all available registered pain relief products that can be used in lambs in NSW:
The most effective approach to managing pain in lambs is to use a local anaesthetic, topical (Trisolfen) or injected (Numnuts), combined with a long acting pain- relief /anti-inflammatory (Buccalgesic or Metacam20).
Tri-Solfen is used for open exterior wounds, it is a topical local anesthetic and antiseptic spray and was released in 2007.
Numnuts is a system/device released in 2019 which injects a long acting local anesthetic (numocaine) around the ring used for either castration or tail docking.
Buccalgesic and metacam are both meloxicam based anti-inflammatory drugs, released in 2016. Buccalgesic offers a good addition to Trisolfen to extend the pain relief for sheep undergoing surgical mulesing or offering pain relief on its own to those just undergoing castration, tail docking or dehorning.
For more information on these products and how they work please see:
For a comprehensive break down of the cost of the above products per lamb please see: http://www.flyboss.com.au/sheep-goats/management/breech-modification/pain-relief-faqs.php
PAIN RELIEF OPTIONS FOR ROUTINE HUSBANDRY PROCEDURES IN CATTLE
Cattle Council, the national peak industry boor grass-fed cattle has recently taken a significant, positive step for cattle welfare in releasing a framework for recommendations for use of pain relief for routine husbandry procedures.
For more details on the products available see more here.
The key points are as follows.
- Use of pain relief is advised for routine, aversive cattle-husbandry procedures including disbudding/dehorning, castration, spaying, branding, tattooing and ear notching.
- Pain-relief compounds fall into 2 main groups. Topical anaesthetic (Trisolfen) for application to open wounds after surgery (only on external wounds) and long acting systemic pain relief anti-inflammatories that are available via prescription from your veterinarian. It is this type which will offer significant and sustained pain relief, an example is meloxicam which if given at calf marking will offer pain relief benefits up to 3 days. They can be used on their own or together with a topical product for a more effective multimodal approach.
- Producers are encouraged to replace surgical procedures with non-surgical replacements if available. Examples include breeding for polled cattle to replace dehorning; using electronic forms of identification to replace branding (where allowed); and using immunocontraception if available and practical to replace castration and spaying.
- Use of pain relief must not replace good animal welfare practice as described in the Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines for Cattle.
ZOONOSES - ANIMAL DISEASES THAT CAN INFECT YOU
Zoonotic diseases are animal diseases that can infect and cause disease in humans. Anyone working with or handling animals needs to know about zoonoses and the precautions they must take to minimise the risk to themselves and their family. Examples of zoonotic diseases are: Hydatids, Q fever, Leptospirosis, Salmonella, Campylobacter and Hendra Virus.
South East LLS District Vets will be running a series of articles providing information on Zoonoses. The third in this series is about zoonotic Campylobacter.
Campylobacter
Henry Clutterbuck – District Veterinarian Goulburn
Campylobacter is a bacterium that is carried by sheep, cattle and poultry in their faeces and reproductive tract. It is an important cause of gastroenteritis in humans and a reminder to adults and children to always wash your hands after handling sheep, cattle and chooks. It is found worldwide and is a cause of enteritis, abortions, and infertility. Poultry do not usually become ill but are considered to be an important source of the disease. Testing for the disease and vaccination against it is possible in both sheep and cattle. If you suspect campylobacter in your stock, please contact your local DV for investigation.
Transmission
The major routes of transmission in humans are consumption of contaminated or undercooked meat (especially poultry), unpasteurized milk or dairy products, untreated water and by contact with infected animals, aborted foetuses or faeces.
Symptoms
In humans the bacterium is a major cause of gastrointestinal disease and is usually caused by C. jejuni or C. coli. The disease varies from mild gastrointestinal distress that resolves within 24 hours to a fulminating or relapsing colitis and a prolonged hospital stay. Clinical infections are particularly common in immunosuppressed adults but have been seen in our area in healthy men, women and children. The symptoms may include diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and muscle pain. The faeces may contain blood. Complications are not common; however, endocarditis, reactive arthritis, hemolytic uremic syndrome and septicemia are occasionally seen. C. fetus, the major causative strain of abortion in sheep and cattle, is an opportunistic human pathogen and mainly causes systemic infections in people with compromised immune systems.
Treatment
Antibiotic resistance in Campylobacter spp. is a serious problem worldwide hampering treatment in many cases. Good personal and food hygiene are the best protection against infection.
Learn more here.