Cheapest way to mop up protein

[dowcow]

Straw is one thing, hay another if you can get it. My cows were very enthusiastic for hay last spring and I couldn't just fill the ring feeders every few days as they would just eat the lot instead of going off to graze, so ended up feeding them a bit every day. It helped stop them running out of grass to graze during the drought too.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

We had a bout of winter dysentery once, half the herd sh!t water for 48 hours then they were all fine again. I think it's a type of Corona virus.

If you've had one die I'd definitely be ringing the vet and I'd be concerned about salmonella.

 

[Mr Jones]

what’s the solution? Or is it just wait it out?

edit. Can you loose cows to it? We have just had one die, assumed johnes although negative on previous test.

Not being alarmist, but have CH vets tested for possible salmonella? 3 large dairy farms in Carmarthenshire, have had an outbreak this year.

 

[Headless chicken]

Not being alarmist, but have CH vets tested for possible salmonella? 3 large dairy farms in Carmarthenshire, have had an outbreak this year.

Will be up to do some test tomorrow. Cows seems a lot more content tonight which is a serious relief so fingers crossed it is a just a digestive upset and nothing more serious.

 

[Mr Jones]

Will be up to do some test tomorrow. Cows seems a lot more content tonight which is a serious relief so fingers crossed it is a just a digestive upset and nothing more serious.

Sounds exactly like my digestive issue with seafood.

 

[vantage]

Sounds exactly like my digestive issue with seafood.

Too much information!

 

[ollie989898]

I think the correct term is winter bovine dysentery. It’s a viral infection. Knocked our cows for 6 in June of our first proper yr of spring calving. Luckily the recovered to about 95% of previous production. The yield drop was scary as we didn’t know what we were going to produce that season anyway. But it needed to be higher than that

Did yours arrive from migratory birds??

 

[ollie989898]

Only use one of the above.

I disagree. I would get them both. Vet can sample and take bloods to give clues as to what is going one, hopefully to eliminate any infectious disease angle. Nutritionist can sample forages etc and get them sent away. If we are talking an entire herd getting messed up then it's £££'s at stake. Two weeks with the nutritionist tinkering will achieve fudge all if it's an infectious disease problem.

 

[dairydurham]

Did yours arrive from migratory birds??

Migratory Birds .Not as exciting as first thought ?

 

[lazy farmer]

Did yours arrive from migratory birds??

No idea. We were a closed
Herd with no head to head contact. So In theory yes.

 

[Headless chicken]

Results have come back. Perfect storm of things basically. The silage we’ve got left is hugely butiric in the bottom and wet. I suspect we had a few days where we were keeping them a bit too tight and they just weren’t getting enough intakes due to crap silage. We’ve been advised to add rumi buff by our nutritionist so I’ve sourced a similar product cheaper via @Adam@Rumen. Hopefully with better weather next week, the addition of the rumi buff and some extra blend we can manage the problem until the silage is finished.