Calves getting swollen navel’s and bedding with hay

[czechmate]

Does anyone think there is any link between the two?

 

[YELROM]

Yes

 

[Scholsey]

Always thought calves fed hay instead of straw suffered from bloated stomachs as hay is harder to digest than decent straw?

 

[Muck Spreader]

Does anyone think there is any link between the two?

Why are you bedding them on hay and are we talking newborn calves?

 

[sandywil90]

Are these calves getting navel infections?

 

[czechmate]

Why are you bedding them on hay and are we talking newborn calves?

no straw .
Yes new born

 

[czechmate]

Are these calves getting navel infections?

Some, yes

 

[JSmith]

Are you using iodine on the navel when born?

 

[czechmate]

Are you using iodine on the navel when born?

yes

 

[Muck Spreader]

no straw .
Yes new born

Can't think of any reason other than hay can heatup more than straw with a possibility of bacterial infection. If they are all getting joint ill that could be the reason, maybe get some sacks of gypsum power to spread a bit on the bedding every few days. If they haven't got joint ill have you checked they are not herniated?

 

[Extreme Optimist]

We had huge naval infection issues (bedded on straw not hay) and I think oncethe infection is there, it is a nightmare to get rid of. We started using Stanislan on top of the bedding and it has made a huge difference.

 

[czechmate]

Can't think of any reason other than hay can heatup more than straw with a possibility of bacterial infection. If they are all getting joint ill that could be the reason, maybe get some sacks of gypsum power to spread a bit on the bedding every few days. If they haven't got joint ill have you checked they are not herniated?

We buy a white powder product from bio 3G (do they call on you - annoying as hell).
So normally we bed with straw but harvest was worse than awful, grass harvest was massive (we still have over a thousand bales), so, before we ran out of straw we started mixing with hay.
My man here said “oh I’ve had trouble with swollen navel bedding hay and my vet confirmed the link”. Yea yea I think.
Calving started about four weeks back , after a few days our 21 year old pet cow needed putting down, so the vet was out and the first calf was unwell with swollen navel. Vet had a look and gave AB (for 10 days!). I asked about the link. “No link at all”, our vet says. Since then, some 15 calves and another with the swollen navel. Now we havnt had one at all in 8 years, so hence this thread.
Both calves recovered well

 

[czechmate]

Cows will be out in a blink now

 

[czechmate]

Oh, also we bought a bad bill (calving wise) and a difficult, miserable calving (from this herd) this spring. Maybe more related to that ?

 

[choochter]

Does anyone think there is any link between the two?

Using hay for bedding here, some average some poor quality, no issues with either Oct/Nov born calves or March born calves.

 

[Muck Spreader]

We buy a white powder product from bio 3G (do they call on you - annoying as hell).
So normally we bed with straw but harvest was worse than awful, grass harvest was massive (we still have over a thousand bales), so, before we ran out of straw we started mixing with hay.
My man here said “oh I’ve had trouble with swollen navel bedding hay and my vet confirmed the link”. Yea yea I think.
Calving started about four weeks back , after a few days our 21 year old pet cow needed putting down, so the vet was out and the first calf was unwell with swollen navel. Vet had a look and gave AB (for 10 days!). I asked about the link. “No link at all”, our vet says. Since then, some 15 calves and another with the swollen navel. Now we havnt had one at all in 8 years, so hence this thread.
Both calves recovered well

Yes, we get the powder from Vital Concept its cheaper.
Sounds like joint ill, I would keep a close eye on them even when you have finished the treatment as it can sometimes flare up again.

 

[czechmate]

Yes, we get the powder from Vital Concept its cheaper.
Sounds like joint ill, I would keep a close eye on them even when you have finished the treatment as it can sometimes flare up again.

they breath like puffing billies

 

[Little squeak]

We had huge naval infection issues (bedded on straw not hay) and I think oncethe infection is there, it is a nightmare to get rid of. We started using Stanislan on top of the bedding and it has made a huge difference.

What is Stanislan? I have never heard of it.

I always use my best straw for calving down and have never had a problem-so far. however that may not be enough if the infection gets established on your farm I know of 2 farms who calve outdoors solely to avoid joint ill.

 

[Extreme Optimist]

What is Stanislan? I have never heard of it.

I always use my best straw for calving down and have never had a problem-so far. however that may not be enough if the infection gets established on your farm I know of 2 farms who calve outdoors solely to avoid joint ill.

Sorry, the label is missing from my bag. It's called Stalosan https://www.bimeda.ie/media/k2/attachments/Stalosan_F_Brochure_1427808685.pdf