Redwater

[cattleman123]

Got a field that cows get Redwater in about 8 acres not been grazed now for about 15mths, now I am thinking theres lots of old grass in there if I put my sucklers ...outwintered right beside this field... in now for a couple of weeks what would be the risk of them getting Redwater at this time of year be,i normally get Redwater in spring or summer.Iwould treat the cows with spot on about a week before letting them in....any thoughts Thanks

 

[goodevans]

My thoughts are what ailment is Redwater or is it a Devon thing from red soils

 

[C.J]

My thoughts are what ailment is Redwater or is it a Devon thing from red soils

Carried by ticks - most obvious symptom is blood in the urine.

 

[Farmer Fin]

Should be low. Depends how cold it’s been really for tick activity.

unfortunately they are finding that ticks are becoming more active at colder temperatures which is leading to a rise in things such as red water. As you said keep on top of spot on.

 

[exmoor dave]

Got a field that cows get Redwater in about 8 acres not been grazed now for about 15mths, now I am thinking theres lots of old grass in there if I put my sucklers ...outwintered right beside this field... in now for a couple of weeks what would be the risk of them getting Redwater at this time of year be,i normally get Redwater in spring or summer.Iwould treat the cows with spot on about a week before letting them in....any thoughts Thanks

If your sucklers are already next door than that reduces the risk as they are probably already exposed.

Good dose of spot on would help reduce the risk, but if the cows are pregnant there is a significant risk if there's history, again depends if they have immunity through exposure already.


The other option would be to graze non-pregnant, non- lactating cattle, if you had any that would suit, esp replacement heifers, providing they haven't been to bull, they'd then get immunity through exposure.

 

[cattleman123]

If your sucklers are already next door than that reduces the risk as they are probably already exposed.

Good dose of spot on would help reduce the risk, but if the cows are pregnant there is a significant risk if there's history, again depends if they have immunity through exposure already.


The other option would be to graze non-pregnant, non- lactating cattle, if you had any that would suit, esp replacement heifers, providing they haven't been to bull, they'd then get immunity through exposure.

Ah well that puts the head on the nail as they say...all due to calve from the end of March...Why are they more at risk if pregnant..

 

[cattleman123]

Should be low. Depends how cold it’s been really for tick activity.

unfortunately they are finding that ticks are becoming more active at colder temperatures which is leading to a rise in things such as red water. As you said keep on top of spot on.

Been so mild here in the South West...grass still growing...dammed Ticks

 

[exmoor dave]

Ah well that puts the head on the nail as they say...all due to calve from the end of March...Why are they more at risk if pregnant..

Weaker immune system, big risk of abortion!

 

[cattleman123]

Should be low. Depends how cold it’s been really for tick activity.

unfortunately they are finding that ticks are becoming more active at colder temperatures which is leading to a rise in things such as red water. As you said keep on top of spot on.

Been so mild here in the South West...grass still growing...dammed Ticks

Weaker immune system, big risk of abortion!

Oh dear...but thanks for that information

 

[exmoor dave]

Been so mild here in the South West...grass still growing...dammed Ticks

Oh dear...but thanks for that information

I should add that if your cattle are grazing the surrounding area they are probs ok.
We winter graze most of our pregnant cows on a heather moor where there is redwater, but the cattle do two winters as calves and yealings, so are naturally immune before getting in calf

 

[Treecreeper]

Lost a bought in cow last year to red waters, never had a problem before. Our vet suggested that it was from a naive herd. There is an antibiotic for treatment and prevention, it has a nine month withdrawal. If you get to the passing of blood stage it is the breaking down of the red blood cells, breathing problems and risk of organ failure follow quickly. High temperature due to infection at an earlier stage will lead to abortion. Home bred replacements should not have a problem due to natural immunity.

 

[cattleman123]

Lost a bought in cow last year to red waters, never had a problem before. Our vet suggested that it was from a naive herd. There is an antibiotic for treatment and prevention, it has a nine month withdrawal. If you get to the passing of blood stage it is the breaking down of the red blood cells, breathing problems and risk of organ failure follow quickly. High temperature due to infection at an earlier stage will lead to abortion. Home bred replacements should not have a problem due to natural immunity.

Thanks..i know how you feel over the years I have lost quite a few to redwater,its always been newly acquired cows or heifers,a lot of this land in years to come will be unfarmable in my view, with all these stupid schemes...ticks must love it,i did here a story that a good way to harvest ticks and clean the ground was to treat sheep with dysect or spoton and stock them on the land they harvest the ticks and the dysect kills them,but my problem is that the grass is very poor...seems its going to remain poor

 

[sheep&cows&stuff]

I lost a cow to red water last year.

Grzing with sheep is a good way of getting rid of it. Try grazing young heifers on it first - they have an ability to recover from red water on their own, where as an older cow does not. Then if you get it ate once, try and put the same heifers onto it as they become cows as they will have built up a natural immunity.

It is an annoying disease. Damn hateful

 

[penntor]

Do antibiotics work as I thought red water was caused by a protozoan and not bacteria. Bovines born on the farm are normally fairly immune to it but we would get a break down every so many years. Now always treat them with pour on to keep the ticks at bay when we put them on off ground. Tempting fate now but not had a case of red water for several years probably due to the use of pour on. Vet said it reduces the number of ticks on the cattle as well as the total number of ticks on the ground ( over a few years). An uncle of mine used to over winter Dartmoor ponies for some one on some off ground where there was a problem, using them to eat off the rough grass.