Bad year for Navel Ill

[RedRazok]

Don't know why but this year we are getting over probably 30% of our calves get Navel Ill.

We bed every second day via a bedder like we have done for years, no scrolling on straw thanks to the arable side so they never get mucky mucky!

Everything is iodinedat least 2 times sometimes 3 times and as soon as i can get to the calf really.
Photo attached of iodine we use and we dont dilute it down or mix with anyrhing else

Due to a lack of grass this year cows and calves have been in the shed a good 3 weeks + before I am able to get them out as going 1 field at a time so unsure if it is the extended period inside thag is causing it!

Majority you can feel after 24hour is starting to get a slightly hard navel tho ad end up as a big rock hard one within 2 days!
Any catch and feel slightly hard after 12 hour gets LA Betamox and any after 2 days which haven't had betamoxgo on a few days course of Pen Strep!

Only had one get into the joints and inflame up so far touch wood!

 

[RedRazok]

Pic of Iodine

 

[HillLuing]

maybe for next time if having to keep them in again longer try moving to bedding daily if it's possible

 

[RushesToo]

Not sure what it is - but it is important to try something different. The bugs have got used to what you are doing and have worked a way round - so if you keeping on doing what you have done will get you the same result.

It is worth going back through some posts on here:lime beds has been mentioned.- check for low trace elements and bolus them before calving - a blood test might be useful,

Do some reading and change what you are doing is the best advice I can give.

 

[puppet]

Get them out and cut the antibiotics

 

[sherg]

Are the cows licking the navels to get at the iodine? maybe try some terramycin spray

 

[Cluny]

sherg couldn’t agree more used Terramycin for years very little navel ill did health scheme with vet and said I should be using iodine cows lick it of not all but some back to Terramycin far better imo

 

[RedRazok]

Was told by neighbour to start using Terramycinspray first let it set for dry then dip in iodine or spray with iodine!

Wondering if it is just a general build up of nasty bugs etc in the courts due to us having to have kept calves inside alot longer after calving which is causing it as had no problem at start of calving!

Does anyone ever spread lime etc around there courts even once a week one day before they bed to try kill any bacteria??

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

Probably just another of my mad theories but I think they are born with the start of it. Somehow an infection in the placenta.
I know it's frowned upon nowadays but why not try a few with betamox la or such as they are born.

 

[AGN76]

We are very mindful of using terramycin after a cow chewed the cord off and I had to pinch the navel to stop it bleeding for 20 minutes until the vet got there to stitch it!

 

[Henarar]

Spray with terramycin and use plenty

 

[Werzle]

Are the cows licking the navels to get at the iodine? maybe try some terramycin spray

The iodine might be too strong. I had more trouble when i put anything on there navels, cows just wouldnt stop licking them . I put some disenfectant round the shed walls where the calves seem to lie once a month instead. I still get the odd one but a jab of Alamycin LA cures it.

 

[tr250]

Might sound silly but is it generally the bigger born calves?

 

[RedRazok]

Might sound silly but is it generally the bigger born calves?

No a bit of a mix!
Mostly bullocks but Heifers as well..

Had a small bullock born Saturday night, Iodined it at 11pm then when back at the shed at 6 it got dine again and around lunch time gave it another squirt! Only a small navel also, yet by Sunday night you coukd feel it starting to go slightly hard already!

 

[juke]

Had a bad year with joint Ill a few years ago , everything fully mucked out walls steel work all libreally disinfected haven't had any problems since , try to keep on top it

 

[aj13]

Spray calf navel with terramycin and inject with 5ml terramycin solution as well. (we use tetroxy vet but all same stuff) do this to all newborn calves

 

[nowtofajob]

Vet recommended using super 7 here .Had good results. Vetericyn Super 7+ Navel Dip - Livestock Care formulated with ...

 

[puppet]

Spray calf navel with terramycin and inject with 5ml terramycin solution as well. (we use tetroxy vet but all same stuff) do this to all newborn calves

Are you actually suggesting injecting every calf with tetracycline even before they become ill? Navels often feel hard over a few days but if the calf is fine does that mean they have infection?
I presume this is a dairy herd which is calving inside. If 30% have a proper infection- I presume your vet has looked at some - then the basic management is somehow wrong. That is what you should look at, not different navel dips or injections.

 

[aj13]

Are you actually suggesting injecting every calf with tetracycline even before they become ill? Navels often feel hard over a few days but if the calf is fine does that mean they have infection?
I presume this is a dairy herd which is calving inside. If 30% have a proper infection- I presume your vet has looked at some - then the basic management is somehow wrong. That is what you should look at, not different navel dips or injections.

We used to have the occasional calf getting navel/joint ill. Following discussions with vet he recommended to give newborn calves a shot of terramycin. This was around 2 years ago and we haven't had any problems since.

 

[milkloss]

We had some trouble last year. Calved a bit early and they were having to stay in crowded yards. Pen strep never touched it but noroclav sorted them out so I would try different drugs for treatment. To be honest I’d do your best to get them calving outside and prevent rather than cure.

Edit to add we use cyclo spray and this year haven’t had one navel go bad out of 70 so far and the cows don’t seem to bother.