Mixed messages from "experts"?

buffalo_soldier · Nov 14, 2015

Is it a vet job with those that do it?
Vet here thinks the tail end of my hfrs are picking up infection from the calving paddock, so would like the last 10 or so done.
Trouble is they think they should be the ones to administer it.

TheRanger · Nov 14, 2015

Tarw Coch said:
I'm pretty sure their average herd size isn't that much over 100 cows but they do have some very big set ups, there's getting a few of them over here too!

There's getting a few less of them over here too. Scotland's largest dairy herd (~2000 cattle) have just given up because they couldn't make it pay.

TheRanger · Nov 14, 2015

multi power said:
Lots and lots and lots of well under 100 cow herds in Canada, I'm guessing the USA would be similar

It's the quota system in Canada which gives them one of the lowest average dairy herd sizes in the western world. It's possible to make a decent living for one family milking 40 cows in Canada.

multi power · Nov 14, 2015

TheRanger said:
It's the quota system in Canada which gives them one of the lowest average dairy herd sizes in the western world. It's possible to make a decent living for one family milking 40 cows in Canada.

No quotas in USA then?

TheRanger · Nov 14, 2015

multi power said:
No quotas in USA then?

No

bovine · Nov 14, 2015

buffalo_soldier said:
Is it a vet job with those that do it?
Vet here thinks the tail end of my hfrs are picking up infection from the calving paddock, so would like the last 10 or so done.
Trouble is they think they should be the ones to administer it.

No reason a farmer can't do it, just must be done with strict hygiene.

Most farmers will tube far more cows than vets!

Irish NZ · Nov 15, 2015

multi power said:
When do you seal them? Is it not very difficult to get the seal into heifer small teats, without getting contamination? What would it cost in nz? Ten pound a cow here I think

3 weeks out from psc. Can be tricky but we just get the vet out now. Cotton buds and lots of meths. From memory it's like $12 a cow.

Princess Pooper · Nov 15, 2015

multi power said:
Lots and lots and lots of well under 100 cow herds in Canada, I'm guessing the USA would be similar

Ave dairy herd size USA = 115 cows (less than UK) nothing like as protected as Canada though.
http://www.dairyfarmingtoday.org/Learn-More/FactsandFigures/Pages/DairyFarmSnapshot.aspx

multi power · Nov 15, 2015

Princess Pooper said:
Ave dairy herd size USA = 115 cows (less than UK) nothing like as protected as Canada though.
http://www.dairyfarmingtoday.org/Learn-More/FactsandFigures/Pages/DairyFarmSnapshot.aspx

So there must be plenty of small herds. 2000 cow herds I belive are common as well, maybe that's just Dakoa

rob1 · Nov 15, 2015

buffalo_soldier said:
I thought the general consensus with American dairying is that it is ahead of ours. I mean you never hear much of them coming over here for study tours etc. Yet many from here seem to have a "when I was in America" opinion.

If this is true, why are they considered so behind when it comes to medicine use.

From my first hand view of visiting the USA THEY have the view that they are best at everything and are more than happy to tell the world that, however the truth is very different

Bruce Almighty · Nov 15, 2015

lazy farmer said:
you need to change supplier then.

http://www.farmacy.co.uk/products/410-orbeseal-dc-120pk

How much would a prescription cost ?

Our vet will be charging well over £300 for 120 Boviseal, I haven't had the bill yet

lazy farmer · Nov 15, 2015

bovine said:
No reason a farmer can't do it, just must be done with strict hygiene.

Most farmers will tube far more cows than vets!

would agree with that once went to a vets meeting held by the neighbouring practise.the vet tried to show us "best practise" pure comedy .............. the cow never got tubed!!!

bovine · Nov 15, 2015

lazy farmer said:
would agree with that once went to a vets meeting held by the neighbouring practise.the vet tried to show us "best practise" pure comedy .............. the cow never got tubed!!!

You can't cut corners when just using a teat sealant on its own. Cows died when they were dried off with filthy practice, when the product was first launched. If you sell to Arla you have little choice. The rest of the industry will be either led or forced down the same lines. You 'get away' with so much more throwing antibiotic into the mix.

Best practice is easy, but many will have to change and do better.

The role of the vet (in my opinion) is through training in what best practice consists of, and then perhaps coming onto farm to see some cows dried off - it's always useful to have an independent, critical eye on these important things. I have no intention to waste my time drying off lots of cows. I can't see that being an effective use of vet time on farm.

simplesimon · Nov 15, 2015

Can't say i've seen any ads for teat seal on UK TV.

lazy farmer · Nov 15, 2015

bovine said:
You can't cut corners when just using a teat sealant on its own. Cows died when they were dried off with filthy practice, when the product was first launched. If you sell to Arla you have little choice. The rest of the industry will be either led or forced down the same lines. You 'get away' with so much more throwing antibiotic into the mix.

Best practice is easy, but many will have to change and do better.

The role of the vet (in my opinion) is through training in what best practice consists of, and then perhaps coming onto farm to see some cows dried off - it's always useful to have an independent, critical eye on these important things. I have no intention to waste my time drying off lots of cows. I can't see that being an effective use of vet time on farm.

I totally agree with that, we are down to double tubing 17-18% of ours now. IT really does come down to attention to detail. I can't do more than 2rows(40 cows) a day as I find the concentration required to do a proper job means I'm too tired to do anymore.just goes to show how little thinking I do the rest of the time!

multi power · Nov 15, 2015

lazy farmer said:
I totally agree with that, we are down to double tubing 17-18% of ours now. IT really does come down to attention to detail. I can't do more than 2rows(40 cows) a day as I find the concentration required to do a proper job means I'm too tired to do anymore.just goes to show how little thinking I do the rest of the time!

I once done 50 or maybe 60 cows but that was far to many for one go

simplesimon · Nov 15, 2015

multi power said:
I once done 50 or maybe 60 cows but that was far to many for one go

was that on your own? I like to dry them all off on one day but there will be at least 4 people, sometimes 5. We had bad mastitis at calving last spring so perhaps we need to look at our drying off technique e.g allow more time.

bovine · Nov 15, 2015

Andrew ran through his best practise protocol for drying cows off in order to minimise the risk of introducing bacteria.

"Firstly start with a teat clean enough that you'd be happy to put it in your mouth!" he jokes. "Remove all signs of muck on the teats. Always remember to clean the teats furthest away from you first, followed by the near ones. When you're tubing the cows reverse this order. This reduces the risk of introducing infection by brushing your hands against, and contaminating, clean teats. Then do the following:

Pre dip and leave the udder for 30 seconds before wiping dry
Clean the teat with surgical spirit and cotton wool and leave to dry
Strip the teat to remove bugs from the milk canal
Clean the teat again with surgical spirit and leave to dry
Use the antibiotic on all four quarters
Clean the teat again, using surgical spirit, if you are going to use a teat sealant

http://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/news/techn...answer-isnt-in-a-tube-or-bottle/#.Vkj8_r9Q2fI

Pre-dip, with a proper pre-dip product is vital. Allowing to dry after cleaning with surgical spirit is also vital - wet surgical spirit is not a disinfectant. It kills bugs by drying them out.

It is vital to pinch the top of the teat when infusing teat sealant.

It is vital to re disinfect the teat after the antibiotic, if you are then infusing teat sealant.

It is vital if the cow moves or kicks the teats you START AGAIN at dipping.

Gloves must me worn and must be spotless throughout.

Post dip afterwards and stand the cows for 30 minutes.

Never do it in a foot crush.

multi power · Nov 15, 2015

simplesimon said:
was that on your own? I like to dry them all off on one day but there will be at least 4 people, sometimes 5. We had bad mastitis at calving last spring so perhaps we need to look at our drying off technique e.g allow more time.

No with one or maybe two helpers, but nobody does the tubes except me and I just go at my own speed. Helpers only milk them and spray etc.
Routine is cows in then spray them well, wipe, milk, spray and then wipe with a proper wipe and then I tube them

multi power · Nov 15, 2015

bovine said:
Andrew ran through his best practise protocol for drying cows off in order to minimise the risk of introducing bacteria.

"Firstly start with a teat clean enough that you'd be happy to put it in your mouth!" he jokes. "Remove all signs of muck on the teats. Always remember to clean the teats furthest away from you first, followed by the near ones. When you're tubing the cows reverse this order. This reduces the risk of introducing infection by brushing your hands against, and contaminating, clean teats. Then do the following:

Pre dip and leave the udder for 30 seconds before wiping dry

Clean the teat with surgical spirit and cotton wool and leave to dry

Strip the teat to remove bugs from the milk canal

Clean the teat again with surgical spirit and leave to dry

Use the antibiotic on all four quarters

Clean the teat again, using surgical spirit, if you are going to use a teat sealant

http://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/news/techn...answer-isnt-in-a-tube-or-bottle/#.Vkj8_r9Q2fI

Pre-dip, with a proper pre-dip product is vital. Allowing to dry after cleaning with surgical spirit is also vital - wet surgical spirit is not a disinfectant. It kills bugs by drying them out.

It is vital to pinch the top of the teat when infusing teat sealant.

It is vital to re disinfect the teat after the antibiotic, if you are then infusing teat sealant.

It is vital if the cow moves or kicks the teats you START AGAIN at dipping.

Gloves must me worn and must be spotless throughout.

Post dip afterwards and stand the cows for 30 minutes.

Never do it in a foot crush.

I see I have missed out on disinfection after any antibiotic tubes

Mixed messages from "experts"?

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

0 %

Up to 25%

25-50%

50-75%

75-100%

100% I’ve had enough of farming!

Share this page