O'Shea Bramley & Breen Veterinary Hospital Wexford

05/11/2024

Liver Fluke Information Note
Understanding Liver Fluke in Cattle and Sheep: A Guide for Farmers
Liver fluke infection, caused by the parasitic flatworm Fasciola hepatica, is a widespread and serious issue affecting both cattle and sheep. The parasite can lead to significant health problems in livestock, ultimately impacting farm productivity and profitability.

The Lifecycle of Liver Fluke
Understanding the lifecycle of liver fluke is crucial for effective control. The parasite has a complex life cycle that involves both definitive hosts (cattle and sheep) and an intermediate host, the mud snail (Galba truncatula).

Adult liver flukes live in the bile ducts of infected animals, where they lay eggs that are passed out in the host’s faeces. In wet and damp conditions, the eggs hatch into larvae (miracidia), which must find and infect a mud snail within a few hours. After a period of 6-8 weeks the larvae are released from the mudsnail and infect pasture. Once ingested, these larvae (metacercariae) migrate through the animal’s gut wall and liver tissue, eventually settling in the bile ducts of the liver, where they mature into adult flukes and begin the cycle again.

Negative Impact and Health Issues
Liver fluke infestation can have a range of detrimental effects on both cattle and sheep:

Acute Liver Fluke: This occurs primarily in sheep but can also affect young cattle. Large numbers of immature flukes migrate through the liver, causing severe liver damage, hemorrhage, and in some cases, sudden death. Symptoms include weakness, anemia, and rapid weight loss.
Chronic Liver Fluke: More common in cattle, chronic liver fluke results from long-term infection. Adult flukes in the bile ducts cause inflammation, fibrosis, and blockage, leading to reduced feed conversion efficiency, poor growth rates, decreased milk production, and reduced fertility. In severe cases, it can also lead to liver failure.
Economic Impact: The economic consequences of liver fluke infection are significant, including reduced productivity and negative health impacts associated with liver damage such as poor response to vaccination or susceptibility to other infectious diseases, e.g. salmonellosis.
Controlling Liver Fluke
Effective control of liver fluke requires an integrated approach that combines pasture management, strategic treatment, and monitoring. Here are some key strategies:

Pasture Management:
Drainage: Improving pasture drainage can make habitats less favourable for mud snails. However, this may not always be feasible or sufficient on its own.
Avoidance: If possible, avoid grazing livestock on wet, boggy pastures, especially during peak risk periods (late summer to early winter), when metacercariae are most abundant.
Strategic Treatment:
Anthelmintics: Administering flukicides at strategic times of the year can help reduce the burden of liver fluke in the herd or flock. The choice of flukicide and timing of treatment should be based on the lifecycle stage of the fluke and local risk factors. Different flukicide groups are effective against different stages of liver fluke, for example triclabendozole is effective against early immature, and mature fluke where as oxyclozanide is only effective against mature (adult) fluke.
Treatment Timing: Typically, treatment is recommended in the autumn (to target immature flukes) and late winter or early spring (to target adult flukes). In some cases, additional treatments may be necessary during high-risk periods.
Resistance Management: To reduce the risk of drug resistance, rotate the use of different classes of flukicides and follow veterinary guidance on dosing and treatment intervals.
Monitoring and Diagnosis:
F***l Egg Counts (FEC): Regular f***l egg counts can help assess the level of liver fluke infection in your animals and guide treatment decisions. Be aware that it takes at least 13 or 14 weeks from the time of the animal being infected for fluke to become mature and start shedding eggs, therefore faecal egg counts are not useful for detecting early infections
Blood tests. Fasciola antibody elisa tests are a useful tool for detecting Liver fluke in cattle from about 3 weeks post infection. Elevated blood liver enzyme tests (GLDH and GGT) can also be indicative of liver damage relating to liver fluke infection
Bulk tank milk. Measuring Fasciola antibody levels in the bulk tank are a useful monitoring tool for liver fluke in dairy herds. They can also be used (with caution) to assess the response to treatment- herds with high bulk tank fasciola antibody levels at drying off should see a reduction in the bulk tank antibody levels in spring if treatment was successfully implemented. It should be noted that it can take up to 3 months for milk antibody levels to return to low levels post treatment.
Liver Fluke Forecasting: Utilize liver fluke forecasting services, which use weather data to predict fluke risk, helping you time treatments more effectively.
Post-Mortem Inspection: When animals are slaughtered, request a liver inspection report. This can provide valuable information on the presence of liver fluke in your herd or flock.
Conclusion
Liver fluke is a challenging parasite, but with the right management strategies, its impact can be minimized. By understanding the lifecycle of the parasite, recognizing the health issues it causes, and implementing effective control measures, you can protect your livestock and maintain farm productivity. Regular monitoring, combined with strategic treatment and good pasture management, are your best defenses against this costly parasite.

For personalized advice and treatment plans, always consult with your vet, who can help develop a tailored liver fluke control program based on the specific conditions of your farm.

22/10/2024

https://youtu.be/daIMIv8perM

Reflections from a farmer born 1858 🥰 How things have changed in such a short time :

Born in 1858, Michael Fitzpatrick talks about the many changes that have taken place in farming during his lifetime and recalls an eviction at Bodyke.Mr. Fit...

27/09/2024

September Health Checks
In the month of September, it's a important time to prioritise your herd's health and well-being. Regular testing can help identify potential issues early, ensuring timely intervention and optimal productivity.

Here are some recommended tests to consider for your herd this month:

Parasite Monitoring: With the changing seasons, parasite populations can fluctuate. Regular f***l testing can help you assess the parasite load in your herd and implement appropriate control measures.

Mineral / Trace element Analysis: A comprehensive analysis of your herd's mineral and trace element status can ensure they are receiving adequate nutrition for optimal health and performance.

Disease Screening: Depending on your region and specific concerns, consider screening for diseases such as Johne's Disease, BVD, or Leptospirosis.
Ring to book your FREE herd health annual plan on 0539145755, one of our veterinarians can go through this with you in person or on the phone, whichever is handier.
========================================
Fluke:

Understanding Liver Fluke in Cattle and Sheep:

Liver fluke infection, caused by the parasitic flatworm Fasciola hepatica, is a widespread and serious issue affecting both cattle and sheep. The parasite can lead to significant health problems in livestock, ultimately impacting farm productivity and profitability.

The Lifecycle of Liver Fluke
Understanding the lifecycle of liver fluke is crucial for effective control. The parasite has a complex life cycle that involves both definitive hosts (cattle and sheep) and an intermediate host, the mud snail (Galba truncatula).

Adult liver flukes live in the bile ducts of infected animals, where they lay eggs that are passed out in the host’s faeces. In wet and damp conditions, the eggs hatch into larvae (miracidia), which must find and infect a mud snail within a few hours. After a period of 6-8 weeks the larvae are released from the mudsnail and infect pasture. Once ingested, these larvae (metacercariae) migrate through the animal’s gut wall and liver tissue, eventually settling in the bile ducts of the liver, where they mature into adult flukes and begin the cycle again.

Negative Impact and Health Issues
Liver fluke infestation can have a range of detrimental effects on both cattle and sheep:

Acute Liver Fluke: This occurs primarily in sheep but can also affect young cattle. Large numbers of immature flukes migrate through the liver, causing severe liver damage, hemorrhage, and in some cases, sudden death. Symptoms include weakness, anemia, and rapid weight loss.
Chronic Liver Fluke: More common in cattle, chronic liver fluke results from long-term infection. Adult flukes in the bile ducts cause inflammation, fibrosis, and blockage, leading to reduced feed conversion efficiency, poor growth rates, decreased milk production, and reduced fertility. In severe cases, it can also lead to liver failure.
Economic Impact: The economic consequences of liver fluke infection are significant, including reduced productivity and negative health impacts associated with liver damage such as poor response to vaccination or susceptibility to other infectious diseases, e.g. salmonellosis.
Controlling Liver Fluke
Effective control of liver fluke requires an integrated approach that combines pasture management, strategic treatment, and monitoring. Here are some key strategies:

Pasture Management:
Drainage: Improving pasture drainage can make habitats less favourable for mud snails. However, this may not always be feasible or sufficient on its own.
Avoidance: If possible, avoid grazing livestock on wet, boggy pastures, especially during peak risk periods (late summer to early winter), when metacercariae are most abundant.
Strategic Treatment:
Anthelmintics: Administering flukicides at strategic times of the year can help reduce the burden of liver fluke in the herd or flock. The choice of flukicide and timing of treatment should be based on the lifecycle stage of the fluke and local risk factors. Different flukicide groups are effective against different stages of liver fluke, for example triclabendozole is effective against early immature, and mature fluke where as oxyclozanide is only effective against mature (adult) fluke.
Treatment Timing: Typically, treatment is recommended in the autumn (to target immature flukes) and late winter or early spring (to target adult flukes). In some cases, additional treatments may be necessary during high-risk periods.
Resistance Management: To reduce the risk of drug resistance, rotate the use of different classes of flukicides and follow veterinary guidance on dosing and treatment intervals.
Monitoring and Diagnosis:
F***l Egg Counts (FEC): Regular f***l egg counts can help assess the level of liver fluke infection in your animals and guide treatment decisions. Be aware that it takes at least 13 or 14 weeks from the time of the animal being infected for fluke to become mature and start shedding eggs, therefore faecal egg counts are not useful for detecting early infections
Blood tests. Fasciola antibody elisa tests are a useful tool for detecting Liver fluke in cattle from about 3 weeks post infection. Elevated blood liver enzyme tests (GLDH and GGT) can also be indicative of liver damage relating to liver fluke infection
Bulk tank milk. Measuring Fasciola antibody levels in the bulk tank are a useful monitoring tool for liver fluke in dairy herds. They can also be used (with caution) to assess the response to treatment- herds with high bulk tank fasciola antibody levels at drying off should see a reduction in the bulk tank antibody levels in spring if treatment was successfully implemented. It should be noted that it can take up to 3 months for milk antibody levels to return to low levels post treatment.
Liver Fluke Forecasting: Utilize liver fluke forecasting services, which use weather data to predict fluke risk, helping you time treatments more effectively.
Post-Mortem Inspection: When animals are slaughtered, request a liver inspection report. This can provide valuable information on the presence of liver fluke in your herd or flock.
Conclusion
Liver fluke is a challenging parasite, but with the right management strategies, its impact can be minimized. By understanding the lifecycle of the parasite, recognizing the health issues it causes, and implementing effective control measures, you can protect your livestock and maintain farm productivity. Regular monitoring, combined with strategic treatment and good pasture management, are your best defenses against this costly parasite.

For personalized advice and treatment plans, always consult with your vet, who can help develop a tailored liver fluke control program based on the specific conditions of your farm.

15/08/2024

Parasite control at grazing

As temperatures rise, we are once again entering the season when stomach and gut worms become a problem on farms. These worms thrive in warm, damp conditions, and during the summer, their life cycles can be completed in just 3-4 weeks. Worms produce a large number of eggs and a small worm burden can quickly turn into a big issue, causing scour and poor growth in livestock. While we can expect stomach and gut worm problems to increase during the grazing season, lungworm outbreaks are less predictable. It is important to closely watch animals, especially those in their first grazing season, for any signs of coughing. If lungworm is suspected, treat the group immediately.

Monitoring and treating calves
Spring-born suckler calves typically don’t need treatment for stomach or gut worms until around weaning when they start eating more grass. However, dairy-beef calves and autumnborn sucklers should be routinely checked and treated if needed throughout the grazing season.

Worm egg counts from 6-8 weeks after turnout can help determine when these calves might need treatments. Collect your dung sample and drop into the Veterinary Hospital for testing, please ring ahead to arrange 0539145755. Early in the season the worm levels are usually low but egg counts above 200
epg along with poor daily live weight gains can indicate a risk of clinical disease. Additionally, coccidia infection can be an issue for calves early in the grazing season. A dung sample can help differentiate between coccidia and gut worm problems, as they require different treatments. Our veterinarian will discuss on the best treatment.

Pasture management to reduce the need for wormer treatments
One of the most effective ways to manage the worm burden on the farm is through pasture management. Pastures that have been grazed by calves in the previous season, particularly in the
autumn, are likely to be more contaminated. Grazing autumn-born or dairy-beef calves should be avoided on these high-risk pastures because they are more likely to develop clinical signs after picking
up severe worm infections. Instead, let adult animals, sheep, or second-season grazers use these pastures. These animals have some immunity to the worms, or in the case of sheep, they usually aren’t affected by the same stomach and gut worms as cattle. Adult cattle rarely show signs of stomach or gut worms, but lungworm can still be a problem if they graze on heavily contaminated pastures or haven’t developed strong immunity to lungworm.
It might be useful to map out which fields you consider low, medium or high risk for worm egg contamination for the current season to help with planning the grazing patterns (Figure). Was there a lungworm outbreak recently or in autumn last year? Were these areas grazed by young stock last year or earlier in the year? Is there a reseeded paddock that can be used for young stock? Are the fields waterlogged and a risk for liver fluke or can those areas be avoided with a temporary fence? Is there an option to use leader-follower grazing with other livestock species or different age groups? Is it late in the grazing season when worm burden will be higher? Has it been a very dry summer where worm larvae are less likely to survive in the fields? These types of questions can help identify the suspected risk on the fields of contamination with worm eggs and larvae over the course of the grazing season.
Animals might not need a wormer treatment when grazing on low-risk pastures. Practical decisions such as the amount of grass available, watering points, silage fields etc. all need to be considered in the planning alongside the parasite risk.
Plan ahead for parasites
A comprehensive parasite control plan can help prevent production losses due to worms before any obvious clinical signs appear. Controlling parasites is complex and needs to be tailored to each farm. For this reason, a parasite control plan should consider factors like the type of parasites present, weather, testing, grazing and overall farm management. It should also be adjusted as the weather changes, for example, in very dry summers the risk is lower. The prolonged rains and mild temperatures over the
last seasons might mean that larvae are more likely to have survived on pastures and extra care needs to be taken against worms this summer.

Free herd health plans available with our veterinarians, call 0539145755 and arrange your herd health today.

04/07/2024

Some helpful tips on Cattle Coughing after dosing :

We commonly hear from farmers who're concerned that they've dosed their cattle and the animals are still coughing, or even coughing harder. This most typical...

09/04/2024

When the vet has to Test the calf and then gives him a cuddle to make sure he's OK. Another busy day at the hospital. 😍😍🐄🐄🩺👨‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

14/03/2024

14/02/2024

Dairy farmers nationally are on the cusp of the busy spring-calving period. There is, however, an opportunity to make last-minute adjustments or tweaks to your calf housing to improve the health and welfare of your calves.

Speaking from a recent Teagasc / Animal Health Ireland (AHI) CalfCare event in Co. Cork, Charles Chavasse, Area Veterinary Manager of Zoetis, outlined the key steps to optimise calf housing on dairy farms, while highlighting immediate tasks that can be completed before calving commences.

A good quality calf house has five key requirements, these are:
Ventilation – well-ventilated with clean, fresh air that is well distributed;
Draught free – calves exposed to draughts will lose excessive body heat;
Warm – temperature is important for young calves, the optimal air temperature for calves under three weeks old is 15-20oC;
Dry – sufficient floor slope, no damp walls, no rain ingress or no leaking water troughs;
Clean and cleanable – easy access to clean without impacting other pens.
Ventilation and controlling draughts
Centring his presentation on tasks dairy farms can complete prior to the commencement of calving or activities that will improve the above during the calf rearing period, Charles first touched on the topic of ventilation and controlling draughts.

Where farmers are aware they had issues with ventilation in the calf shed last year and have yet to complete remedial action, he suggested the use of fans or an air tube to help remove stale air from the shed. When this option is selected, he urged farmers to ensure the device is adequately designed for the shed in which it is fitted to provide the best results and to ensure that air is flowing in the right places.

Alternatively, where a calf shed is fitted with sliding doors, Charles advised farmers to fit gates, sheeted with stock board, on the inside of these sliding doors. On days when the ventilation is poor within the shed, the sliding doors can be opened to increase the air inlet area. When this option is selected, draughts need to be minimised through the use or wind breakers above gate height and rubber below and around the hung gates to prevent air ingress at calf height.

“Having a supply of fresh, clean air coming into a shed is essential for rearing calves,” Charles told those in attendance at the Volac supported event. “It brushes out the moisture and it moves out bugs and noxious gases. Viruses are also deactivated much quicker in fresh air than stale air.

“Having clean air is really critical, but how it gets into the shed is also important because we can’t have draughts, so ideally a shed for calves should be sealed from four foot down,” Charles explained.

Warmth
Calves perform optimally in a temperature of 15-20oC - a challenge faced on Irish farms during the spring period. Adding to this challenge, Charles explained, is the lack of heat produced by calves until their rumen is developed.

Having an adequate bed of straw, to allow calves to ‘nest’ is one solution. However, with straw being scare on many farms this year, Charles explored the option of calf jackets.

“Personally, I am a big advocate of calf jackets. I came to calf jackets a number of years ago more so from the point of view that when you put a calf jacket on a sick calf, they recovered better and they would frequently catch up with the healthy calves not wearing calf jackets,” Charles said.

Citing research work, Charles said that calves fitted with calf jackets outperform those not when offered the same feed. And for farmers opting for this solution, the correct use of calf jackets is important.

“First of all, the calf has to be dry before the calf jacket goes on. The jacket needs to be made out a breathable material and it needs to have adjustable straps – with jackets with buckles preferred over Velcro,” Charles said.

When jackets are being reused, they need to be washed before transferring from one calf to the next and the optimum time to remove is at approximately four weeks of age. However, caution is advised when removing calf jackets, as to avoid removing them in periods of cold weather. In this instance, calf jackets should be left on until weather conditions improve.

Moisture and cleaning out
Before the calf shed comes into use, Charles also advised farmers to ensure that moisture sources – such as leaking water troughs – are fixed. Moisture present within the calf shed not only serves as a pathway for bug and pathogen survival, but it also lowers the temperature of the calf house.

One simple solution to reducing the amount of moisture present within the calf shed is by washing all feeding utensils and equipment externally of the calf shed. If this can’t be achieved, the resulting dirty water should place in a drain to exit the calf shed quickly, rather than simply pouring the waste water out in the feed passage of the shed to make its own way to the drainage system.

The topic of how frequently the calf shed should be cleaned out was also discussed, with the factors of drainage, floor slopes, ventilation and stocking density all being critical to how often the shed needs to be cleaned out.

Charles said: “How the shed is designed will impact on how often you have to muck out. In really good sheds, with a 1:20 floor slope, 2m2 per calf of floor space and good ventilation, you might get away with having to muck out every four to five weeks.

“Whatever system you are using, I would encourage you to do the kneel test. Enter the shed and walk straight to the back of the shed to where the calves are lying down. Kneel down and get your nose 6 inches off the ground, because that is what the calf breathes,” Charles said.

This test should be completed immediately upon arrival to the back of the shed, Charles explained, as the human nose becomes accustomed to the smell of ammonia rather quickly. The presence of ammonia – a pungent smelling gas – can have a negative impact of the calves’ respiratory system. The presence of this gas reduces the performance of the cilia – the hair-like projections in the lungs that clear the lungs of dust and bugs – thus heightening the risk of respiratory infections.

At which point to start mucking out, Charles said: “If your knees are dry and you can’t smell ammonia, repeat the test in two days’ time and when you can smell ammonia or when you kneel down and your knees are wet, you have to start mucking out.”

Where cleaning out is required, Charles has preference for removing the waste bedding and then applying lime to the shed’s floor before bedding. This approach, rather than washing the shed with high pressure hoses, serves to reduce the dispersal of pathogens in water droplets through the washing action and it also maintains shed temperature, as the floor doesn’t need to dry prior to restocking.

Calf Jackets available to order just ring 0539145755

14/02/2024

A special valentine poem to all our hardworking farmers🥰🐮🐔🐣🫏🐄🐂🐑🐖🦤🪿🐇

23/01/2024

Vaccine: Rotavirus and Coronavirus

Product Description
For the active immunisation of pregnant cows and heifers to raise antibodies against E. coli adhesion F5 (K 99) antigen, rotavirus and coronavirus.

When calves are fed colostrum from vaccinated cows during the first week of life, these antibodies have been demonstrated to reduce the severity of diarrhoea caused by bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus and enteropathogenic E. coli F5 (K99) and to reduce the shedding of virus by calves infected with bovine rotavirus or bovine coronavirus.

Onset of immunity: Passive immunity commences with colostrum feeding and is dependent on calves receiving sufficient colostrum after birth.

12/01/2024

Mastitis
Mastitis is a common disease of cattle worldwide. It can result in significant welfare issues for cattle and also results in huge economic losses through milk wastage, treatment costs and loss of productivity. Early and accurate identification of the organisms involved in mastitis can offer great benefits in controlling the disease at farm level.
Milk Antibody Detection
Milk Testing & Analysis can also yield a lot of useful information for the detection of various disease on farms. This can include detection of various antibodies for various diseases, such as salmonella or BVD. Prescence of antibodies indicates that the cow has been exposed to this disease at some point in the past, and therefore indicates that this disease may be an issue on particular farms. For more information on the use of milk antibody tests, farmers should contact their veterinary surgeon.

Milk samples can be used to check for antibodies for a range of disease, including:

IBR
Johnes Disease
Salmonella
Neospora
Contact us to find out the best way to collect your milk sample and when to drop in for testing.

10/01/2024

Bovivet CMT 1ltr:

Special price only E12.00 (while stock lasts)

10/01/2024

https://locatim.ie/
Locatim _ Calf Scour Prescription Medicine _ Non-Antibiotic

What is Locatim?

Calf scour antibody solution

The only prescription medicine for scour.

Non-antibiotic.

1 x 60ml bottle per calf at birth.

Given before colostrum.

Locatim is non-antibiotic and the only prescription medicine to provide guaranteed protection to new-born calves against scour.

01/12/2023

04/10/2023

Whether turkey, duck or chicken - hardly any poultry can resist the tasty Verm-x poultry pellets. It is a natural supplementary feed that is suitable for poultry of all kinds - regardless of breed and age. It is also a good choice for chicks and adult birds with sensitive digestion.
Whether turkey, duck or chicken - hardly any poultry can resist the tasty Verm-x poultry pellets. It is a natural supplementary feed that is suitable for poultry of all kinds - regardless of breed and age. It is also a good choice for chicks and adult birds with sensitive digestion.

Verm-x poultry pellets contain selected herbs and prebiotics that can support a balanced intestinal flora . This is not only to contribute to optimal digestion, but also to help fight intestinal parasites. Chemical additives are not processed, so chicken eggs, for example, are still suitable for consumption during feeding.
Verm-x poultry pellets contain selected herbs and prebiotics that can support a balanced intestinal flora . This is not only to contribute to optimal digestion, but also to help fight intestinal parasites. Chemical additives are not processed, so chicken eggs, for example, are still suitable for consumption during feeding.

Verm-x poultry pellets at a glance:
Supplementary feed for poultry
100% natural: can be used as a food supplement all year round
For poultry of all types: suitable for sensitive, young and adult as well as purebred and high performance poultry
Intestinal flora support: contains a mix of herbs and prebiotics, can create a balanced intestinal environment, which helps fight parasites naturally
Irresistible taste: delicious pellets, very well accepted
Made without chemical additives: no effect on the edibility of the Get Cracking

We stock Verm-X Liquid and Pellets and a Poultry housing spray - call in or ring 0539145755 🐣🐔🐥🦆🐤🐓🦃🦤

27/09/2023

https://youtu.be/JscQr7gw1kI?si=YD9iXr82z1ZntAcz