Mica plasma in a beef herd

[beaconsboy]

We really struggle with pneumonia in young cattle and have done for years. We buy about 150 weaned calves in the autumn and run around 90 sucklers. Every year we test for what strains we have and vaccinate for it and Every year it seems to get worse . So last year we found mica plasma. So vaccinated for it this year along with a sniff up the nose. Still a real bad year for pneumonia. So we tested 5 of the autumn calving cows. And they all come back positive. We will start to calve the spring calvers in April. A top vet suggested vaccinating the cows with mica b now there in calve. Our own vet does not agree. But we have to try something. I've read on line about mica plasma in dairy herds and they cull the lot. I Don't really want to go down that road. But Don't want another autumn like this again. All advice please. And go steady

 

[mac]

We the same problem here buy a lot of stores in mostly forward stores and yearlings for grazing. All get IBR and We did some home bredwith mycoplasma vaccine and not convinced yet but on the advice of the vet we have done our cows 6 weeks pre calving so we shall wait and see.

 

[Jimfandango]

It's an expensive jab and something that i have been discussing. I would focus on eliminating as many aggravating pneumonia factors as possible first in the hope that the lower challenge would enable a stronger immune response.

 

[Paul E]

Whats your BVD status?

 

[Werzle]

I often think if i was buying in suckler bred weaned calves it would be best to jab them with a long acting antibiotic and then try and house them in a shed with free access to a well fenced/railed field while also feeding a very basic transition diet. I dont think auctioneers have a clue about pneumonia and they should be promoting vaccination . I havent got a clue about mica plasma but i wouldnt be culling the herd, i would be vaccinating the cows for scours, bvd and lepto in a effort to improve overall health and also keeping equipment and sheds disenfected etc.

 

[beaconsboy]

Whats your BVD status?

Last screening test was all negative. Cows all vaccinated

 

[beaconsboy]

I often think if i was buying in suckler bred weaned calves it would be best to jab them with a long acting antibiotic and then try and house them in a shed with free access to a well fenced/railed field while also feeding a very basic transition diet. I dont think auctioneers have a clue about pneumonia and they should be promoting vaccination . I havent got a clue about mica plasma but i wouldnt be culling the herd, i would be vaccinating the cows for scours, bvd and lepto in a effort to improve overall health and also keeping equipment and sheds disenfected etc.

Good call. Cows are done for bvd lepto and scours. The thing is that annoys me is every year we try harder and worse it gets. We haven't lost many but the 1s that make it.it knocks the crap out of them

 

[Matt]

We really struggle with pneumonia in young cattle and have done for years. We buy about 150 weaned calves in the autumn and run around 90 sucklers. Every year we test for what strains we have and vaccinate for it and Every year it seems to get worse . So last year we found mica plasma. So vaccinated for it this year along with a sniff up the nose. Still a real bad year for pneumonia. So we tested 5 of the autumn calving cows. And they all come back positive. We will start to calve the spring calvers in April. A top vet suggested vaccinating the cows with mica b now there in calve. Our own vet does not agree. But we have to try something. I've read on line about mica plasma in dairy herds and they cull the lot. I Don't really want to go down that road. But Don't want another autumn like this again. All advice please. And go steady

Don't know much about it.
But my first reaction is, can't see the point in testing and culling from your suckler herd, unless you stop buying in or can keep the bought in ones completely separate