Pneumonia Disaster

bruce9001 · Nov 14, 2017

Had terrible few days with Pneumonia!

We have never vaccinated as only ever had a few cases a year of pneumonia!

This year we have 160 calves!
We weaned them last week and got them all clipped and gave a pour on, also de-horned the few that needed done!

Come friday just passed had to jag 2 for pneumonia but they werent that bad and have responded well, same again on saturday and those 2 are fine!

On sunday had 2 that were really bad amd gave both Draxxin and Metacam, yesterday morning one was lying dead!
Had about 5 new ones showing signs so ran them thru race and jagged!
At night went into shed and found another one dead that before hadnt shown signs (that i had noticed)

This morning we pulled out 38 that were showing signs from slightly snotty noses right thru to ones panting heavily etc!

Decided time to call vet out!
Started going through them and even the ones that looked ok gad temperatures around 40celcius!

We done everything that had 40+ temp with draxxin and metacam and anyrhing from 39 - 40 with Hexasol!

Sent 2 deads for PM so hopefully find the virus cause so can vaccinate next year for the proper strain!

Sometimes the job makes you almost feel like giving up [emoji22][emoji22][emoji22]

GTB · Nov 14, 2017

Sorry to hear of your troubles. We have found in the past that it works well if you treat the first ones with draxxin/metacam or resflor etc and then jab all of the others with terramycin (alamycin/duphacyclin). It seems to stop it in it's tracks. Admittedly we don't have as many as you do.

Northeastfarmer · Nov 14, 2017

The weather is all over the place atm, one minute frost the next minute it’s mafting....bad year for lungworm as well, make sure you check the calves for IBR and bvd.....just going to vaccinate ours tomorrow

CopperBeech · Nov 14, 2017

It’s just real bad weather for it! Not quite the same, but we will have lost about 50 lambs across the farms in the last week to pneumonia, but all vaccinated animals!

CopperBeech · Nov 14, 2017

It’s just real bad weather for it! Not quite the same, but we will have lost about 50 lambs across the farms in the last week to pneumonia, but all vaccinated animals!

dannewhouse · Nov 14, 2017

how do people find vaccinating for pneumonia?
when I looked into it a lot of them were 3 month before covered think this was rispoval 4?

does it make all the difference?
I always want an infrared type thermometer where you just point it at the calf rather than having to put through crush anyone tried/ have one? any success?

Northeastfarmer · Nov 14, 2017

dannewhouse said:
how do people find vaccinating for pneumonia?
when I looked into it a lot of them were 3 month before covered think this was rispoval 4?

does it make all the difference?
I always want an infrared type thermometer where you just point it at the calf rather than having to put through crush anyone tried/ have one? any success?

3 months before covered? They’re get full immunity after receiving their second dose

bruce9001 · Nov 14, 2017

We are BVD clear but the 2 going for PM will show if it IBR etc!

Vet recommends if we have more than say 5 new cases tomorrow to blanket cover everything else with Alamycin and when taking temps anything above 39 with Hexasol!

As said the weather is a disaster right now!
Nights are freezing here yet the days are fairly mild and mix in rain and fog and mist!

Hopefully as the vet says we have hit the peak with it today!

dannewhouse · Nov 14, 2017

Northeastfarmer said:
3 months before covered? They’re get full immunity after receiving their second dose

how long after 1st do you give it? I cant remember exactly but I was suffering in an old shed when 1st calved and kept in for 2 weeks so I started throwing them outside as calved problem seemed to be solved. so it wasn't for me so I didn't take full notice.

Northeastfarmer · Nov 14, 2017

dannewhouse said:
how long after 1st do you give it? I cant remember exactly but I was suffering in an old shed when 1st calved and kept in for 2 weeks so I started throwing them outside as calved problem seemed to be solved. so it wasn't for me so I didn't take full notice.

3 weeks after the first dose....if you were getting problems in that shed then your ventilation is wrong

GTB · Nov 14, 2017

bruce9001 said:
Vet recommends if we have more than say 5 new cases tomorrow to blanket cover everything else with Alamycin

I would have done that on day one.

dannewhouse · Nov 14, 2017

Northeastfarmer said:
3 weeks after the first dose....if you were getting problems in that shed then your ventilation is wrong

I knew it was but the problem was couldn't do much about it, new shed now so fingers crossed open ridge Yorkshire boarding 16ft to eaves so hopefully not like the dungeon single pitch against a stone building max 16ft cant get tractor under lowest bit high block wall then asbestos sheeted to eaves not much going for it!

dannewhouse · Nov 14, 2017

Northeastfarmer said:
3 weeks after the first dose....if you were getting problems in that shed then your ventilation is wrong

do you rate the vaccination a lot?

what was your reason for going onto it and have you found it a lot better than before?

Northeastfarmer · Nov 14, 2017

dannewhouse said:
do you rate the vaccination a lot?

what was your reason for going onto it and have you found it a lot better than before?

No vaccine is 100% but yes have found it to help as have had IBR in the past... all calves are bvd tag tested and cows vaccinated...tomorrow they’ll have their first jab wormed and backs clipped

bruce9001 · Nov 14, 2017

GTB said:
I would have done that on day one.

With hingsight probably should have done!

Never really dealt wuth a big outbreak before so until now wasnt 100% sure best way to go about it!

GTB · Nov 14, 2017

bruce9001 said:
With hingsight probably should have done!

Never really dealt wuth a big outbreak before so until now wasnt 100% sure best way to go about it!

I think your vet should have been called in sooner? I know it's easy to be wise after the event though. Plus your vet should have advised blanket treatment sooner IMHO.

dannewhouse · Nov 14, 2017

Northeastfarmer said:
No vaccine is 100% but yes have found it to help as have had IBR in the past... all calves are bvd tag tested and cows vaccinated...tomorrow they’ll have their first jab wormed and backs clipped

I had a bit of pneumonia in old shed as described so blood tested a sample of calves and found IBR so I now vaccinate all cows for that (I suspected BVD) I was thinking of going onto tag and test but it works out cheaper to blood test a group together for IBR BVD Lepto ones taking bloods the extra tests are bugger all more ££ so I plan to do a group again.(blood test that is)

Northeastfarmer · Nov 14, 2017

dannewhouse said:
I had a bit of pneumonia in old shed as described so blood tested a sample of calves and found IBR so I now vaccinate all cows for that (I suspected BVD) I was thinking of going onto tag and test but it works out cheaper to blood test a group together for IBR BVD Lepto ones taking bloods the extra tests are bugger all more ££ so I plan to do a group again.(blood test that is)

Have you culled the IBR carriers?

dannewhouse · Nov 14, 2017

Northeastfarmer said:
Have you culled the IBR carriers?

Vet advised this wasn't needed like the other diseases such as BVD a PI you obviously have to cull they just advised do not keep heifers back out of this cow and as long as everything vaccinated it wont be a problem?

interesting to see your feedback as said cow has started getting later calving and has a few buddys that are getting later! so it wouldn't be much problem if there best gone!

edit just to clarify I don't keep any of my own heifers for replacements any way

willie waver · Nov 14, 2017

all I can say, is you're not alone, bruce

I had a similar thing happen to me a few years ago, i'd gone about a decade without a single case of pneumonia, then boom, had a whole years calves go down with it, lost a dozen out of a hundred, spent thousands on drugs and had loads of poor doers. I now vaccinate, which is another expense, but better than losing them

try and keep your chin up and puggle through it. I felt like chucking it and lucky not to end up in the funny farm with the stress at the time. good luck

Pneumonia Disaster

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