Disease Prevention in Dairy Cattle

Clostridial Diseases and Prevention

• Many types of clostridial diseases affect cattle and are caused primarily by bacteria. Red water, enterotoxemia, blackleg, tetanus and overeating disease are some common examples. These bacteria are predominantly present in the intestinal tract and soil, and are dormant. However, under suitable growing conditions, they multiply in number, release harmful toxins, which destroy tissue and ultimately result in the death of the cattle.

  Most of these diseases can be prevented through vaccination. Clostri Shield 7 vaccine is effective to prevent black disease, blackleg, malignant edema and gas gangrene. Clostridium Perfringens Type A Toxoid is a licensed vaccine to control various impairing cattle syndromes. Antitox Tet and Clostratox are some examples of antitoxin products that help in preventing deadly clostridial diseases.

Footrot Disease and Prevention

• Footrot disease causes lameness and swelling in the feet of cattle and occurs due to abrasion or wounds on the feet. This affects reproduction and results in loss of milk production. Though rarely fatal, the treatment is quite expensive. Fusogard is found to be effective and safe to prevent footroot disease.

Reproductive Diseases and Prevention

• Viral and bacterial diseases that result in reproductive failure are among the most expensive problems for dairy farms. Vibriosis, spread between cow and bull during breeding, results in destruction of the embryo in the initial stages and hence, necessitates repeated breeding. Artificial insemination has reduced the incidence of this disease. Leptospirosis, caused mainly in wet or warm climatic conditions, is found in the body fluids and urine of the infected animals.

  Vib Shield Plus L5 can be administered about two to four weeks before breeding to prevent leptospirosis and vibriosis infections, and also protect the cattle from various other reproductive diseases. Leptospirosis can also be prevented by vaccination containing the L. hardjo-bovis strain of virus.

Respiratory Diseases and Prevention

• Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD - Type 1 and 2), bovine respiratory syncyntial virus (BRSV) and parainfluenza Type 3 (PI3) cause respiratory disease, weaken the immune system, reduce milk production, affect reproduction and also result in neonatal disease or abortion. Depending on when the cattle are infected, the outcome varies from congenital defects, fertilization problems to even death.

  Prebreeding vaccination with Arsenal 4.1, New Vira Shield 6+L5 HB and Vira Shield 6 + Somnus prevents reproductive losses due to these infections.

Scour and Prevention

• Scour is nothing but diarrhea caused by viral or bacterial infections and affects calves that do not have strong immune systems. Administering Scour Bos 9 vaccine to a pregnant cow eight to 16 weeks before delivery can help pass the protection to the newborn calf through the colostrum. One dose of Scour Bos 4 is recommended four weeks before delivery during the first year. During the later years of calving, vaccinate once with Scour Bos 9 about eight to 10 weeks before delivery. Newborn calves can also be given Bovine Ecolizer+C20 orally in order to prevent this infection.