(1) Background: Selective dry cow therapy is widely promoted in many countries worldwide, however, concerns have been raised about the consequences of the unhygienic application of preparations by untrained operators, especially if no antimicrobials are being used, risking deteriorating mastitis outcomes. (2) Method: This study follows up on cows being dried off by farm staff and those dried off by final-year veterinary students and first-year graduate interns in a supervised training session. Subsequent mastitis parameters and culling data in a single herd with a low somatic cell count were evaluated. (3) Results: A total of 316 dry periods were enrolled in the study. There was no significant difference in the percentage of cows showing at least one high SCC reading within 90 days of the following lactation or cows with at least one case of clinical mastitis within the same period, neither in the total nor in the subset of cows dried off without an antimicrobial. Dry period cure rates and dry period new infection rates were similar too, as was the percentage of cows surviving in the herd after six months. The risk of culling within twelve months post-drying off was lower in cows dried off by students, the difference in survival manifesting itself from 150 days post-drying off, which is an unexplained finding. (4) Conclusion: Well-supervised practical training sessions on drying off routine can be responsibly implemented on well-managed commercial dairy herds.

While iron-deficiency anaemia is well recognised in piglets, the importance of its diagnosis and treatment in calves and lambs has been highlighted more recently. In particular, housed lambs and calves fed on whole milk are prone to subclinical iron deficiency anaemia, with surveys showing prevalence figures from 20% to more than 50%. Many studies show reduced daily liveweight gain as a main clinical sign in both species; some also show health issues such as increased risk of pneumonia and diarrhoea in calves and an increase in abomasal bloat risk in lambs. Iron supplementation trials consistently led to higher growth rates pre-weaning and to improved haematological values. In the UK, there are no injectable iron preparations licensed for calves or lambs, but preparations licensed for pigs can be used off label.

This study aimed to assess iron deficiency anaemia in new-born lambs and goat kids and was carried out in two parts: (1) Twenty blood samples were taken from one-month-old lambs and kids under different systems and were tested for haemoglobin. Three groups of lambs were compared: indoor reared on maternal milk, indoor reared on milk replacer, and outdoor reared on maternal milk. Indoor-reared kids were compared: those fed on maternal milk and fed on milk replacer. Indoor-reared kids and lambs on maternal milk showed significantly lower haemoglobin levels than those on milk replacer or reared outdoors. (2) On farms with indoor-reared lambs or goat kids on maternal milk, an intervention trial was carried out: animals were randomly assigned at 1–8 days of age to either receive 300 mg (lambs) or 150 mg iron (goat kids) as intramuscular iron dextran, and growth rates were compared after one and two months. Haemoglobin levels at one month were also compared in randomly selected animals from both groups. Treated lambs and kids showed higher haemoglobin levels at one month of age and a numerically increased growth rate that was statistically significant for twin lambs. Iron dextran improves haemoglobin levels in these animals and may lead to higher growth rates, especially in twin lambs.

The current knowledge on the effects of nutritional and environmental factors in the late embryonic and neonatal phase of dairy calves on performance later in life is summarised. The importance of epigenetic factors is increasingly recognised in this context. Prolonged colostrum feeding, discouraged on most farms to prevent the spread of Johne's disease, can have beneficial effects on the calf's immune system and has been shown to give protection against rotavirus. The importance of colostrum hygiene for uptake of antibodies is explained. Intensive milk or milk replacer feeding leads to a more productive animal while reducing the rearing costs. Iron deficiency anaemia is a common condition in whole milk fed dairy calves, and monitoring haemoglobin and supplementing iron where necessary leads to higher growth rates in calves. Other monitoring tools like lung ultrasound scanning, and beta-hydroxy-butyrate testing at weaning are briefly introduced. In conclusion, the benefits of many early intervention measures are likely to be underestimated.

Anaemia caused by iron deficiency has long been reported in dairy calves. This study investigated iron deficiency anaemia on UK dairy farms feeding whole milk and evaluated the effect of iron supplementation on the daily weight gain (DG) and haemoglobin (Hb) levels of these calves. Two-hundred-and-thirty-seven calves were enrolled across six farms. At enrolment, calves were randomly allocated to either receive treatment with iron injection (INJ; n = 120) consisting of 5 mL (1 g iron) of iron dextran (Uniferon 20% Injection, Pharmacosmos) or no injection, control (CON; n = 117). Calves were blood-sampled for Hb and total proteins and weighed at weeks one, six and 12 of age. Iron had a significant effect on DG from one to six weeks, with an average 78 g/d (SD 18 g/d, n = 188, 95% Confidence interval: 44–112 g/d, p < 0.001) DG increase in the INJ calves. Iron had a significant effect on Hb concentration at six weeks between the INJ group and CON group (110.7 (SD 12.4) versus 94.9 g/L (SD 13.2), respectively). Calves with a higher growth rate from one to six weeks were more likely to have low Hb levels at six weeks. There was farm variation in both Hb levels and DG, however, despite this, there was an effect of iron across all farms.

LivestockVol. 24, No. Sup6 Cattle SupplementThe dry period in dairy cows: Effective dry cow managementRichard Laven, Al Manning, Peter Plate, James BreenRichard LavenMassey University Farm services, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 4442, Al ManningQuality Milk Management Services Ltd, Peter PlateRoyal Veterinary College, Kingston Maurward, Dorchester DT2 8PY, James BreenSchool of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Evidence Group, Suite 1A, Cumbria House, Gilwilly Road, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 9FFRichard Laven; Al Manning; Peter Plate; James BreenPublished Online:16 Mar 2020https://doi.org/10.12968/live.2019.24.S1.1AboutSectionsView articleView Full TextPDF/EPUB ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail View article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails 1 November 2019Volume 24Issue Sup6ISSN (print): 2053-0862ISSN (online): 2053-0870 Metrics History Published online 16 March 2020 Published in print 1 November 2019 Information© MA Healthcare LimitedKeywordsdry periodshortzeroudder healthenergy balancedry cow therapyteat sealantsmotivational interviewingmastitis controlselective dry cow therapyantibiotic useinternal teat sealantAcknowledgements:Professor Andrew Bradley and Professor Martin Green.PDF download

A summary of a workshop attended by 15 delegates at the BCVA congress on 19th October 2018. The workshop started with an overview of organic animal health standards and the organic market. In the EU animal health standards promote ‘positive health’ and preventive medicine, but treatments can be given without the animals losing their organic status. This is different in some other countries, especially the USA, and this is relevant when UK producers export produce. A misunderstanding of standards can lead to potential welfare problems, but correctly managed, organic standards promote high levels of welfare and health. Some examples of common health issues and their management within the organic system are given — mastitis, calf issues, Johne's control, trace element deficiencies and parasite control.

Veterinary RecordVolume 184, Issue 14 p. 445-445 Letters and notices Vets and organic farming Peter Plate, Corresponding Author Peter Plate pplate@rvc.ac.uk Royal Veterinary College, Regional Veterinary Centre – South of England, Stinsford Business Centre, Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, DT2 8PYemail: pplate@rvc.ac.ukSearch for more papers by this author Peter Plate, Corresponding Author Peter Plate pplate@rvc.ac.uk Royal Veterinary College, Regional Veterinary Centre – South of England, Stinsford Business Centre, Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester, DT2 8PYemail: pplate@rvc.ac.ukSearch for more papers by this author First published: 06 April 2019 https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.l1533Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume184, Issue14April 2019Pages 445-445 RelatedInformation