Stillborn calves

[matthew]

We are very low, had calf deaths after given cows boluses, tested bloods and iodine was very low still, now injectable iodine is used no more dead calves.

Is that product POM or available widely through ag. merchants? I can't find it - except in NZ!

 

[sidjon]

Is that product POM or available widely through ag. merchants? I can't find it - except in NZ!

Vet only product, imported from NZ.

 

[som farmer]

Is that product POM or available widely through ag. merchants? I can't find it - except in NZ!

like many posting on this thread, we learn't the hard way, feeding dry cows on kale, nightmare with the calves, then someone, not the vet, said iodine. The penny dropped, we always poured a bit of teat dip, down cows backs, when feeding kale, just 'forgot', as hadn't fed kale to dry cows/ or milkers, a lot for years, could have kicked myself, made up a 10% iodine solution, and got going, and that, sorted that out, didn't do much for the calves we 'saved' prior to dose, they were weak, and crypto hit them, that was awful, drenching 4 times daily, to try and keep fluids in them. We bought all new calf penning, and moved sheds, dosed everything at birth, with halocur, after diagnosing, with iodine at 'normal' levels, problem solved. Those that had had crypto, would have been better, and cheaper, and healthier, to have euthanised all of them, those saved, never did. That was 5/6 years ago, neither crypto, or iodine levels, have been any problem since.

 

[matthew]

like many posting on this thread, we learn't the hard way, feeding dry cows on kale, nightmare with the calves, then someone, not the vet, said iodine. The penny dropped, we always poured a bit of teat dip, down cows backs, when feeding kale, just 'forgot', as hadn't fed kale to dry cows/ or milkers, a lot for years, could have kicked myself, made up a 10% iodine solution, and got going, and that, sorted that out, didn't do much for the calves we 'saved' prior to dose, they were weak, and crypto hit them, that was awful, drenching 4 times daily, to try and keep fluids in them. We bought all new calf penning, and moved sheds, dosed everything at birth, with halocur, after diagnosing, with iodine at 'normal' levels, problem solved. Those that had had crypto, would have been better, and cheaper, and healthier, to have euthanised all of them, those saved, never did. That was 5/6 years ago, neither crypto, or iodine levels, have been any problem since.

From memory the EU reduced the amount of iodine in mineralised feed too. Which didn’t help.

Vets seem unaware of these problems. (Some vets anyway)

In the absence of an injectable, (30 years ago our vet used a human vial- it was glass,) we buy medicine grade pure iodine and dilute 10:1 with distilled water. That goes in the water troughs plus Brinicombe’s Aquatrace to cover selenium, Vit E etc. Before the heifers calve, we run about 30ml down their backs. Or if it’s been very wet, and the medicated water consumption drops. Seems to work….

 

[Dustyherefords]

If the vet hasn't suggested iodine is a possible problem by now, I reckon you need to get another vet !!


What is the TB status of the herd ? You don't put your location in your profile, so can't work it out.

The vets have suggested iodine amongst other things, we are in the south east and at this location yearly tb but down the road 4 yearly. We don't have any other large animal vets in the area, the we did have amalgamated.

 

[neilo]

From memory the EU reduced the amount of iodine in mineralised feed too. Which didn’t help.

Vets seem unaware of these problems. (Some vets anyway)

In the absence of an injectable, (30 years ago our vet used a human vial- it was glass,) we buy medicine grade pure iodine and dilute 10:1 with distilled water. That goes in the water troughs plus Brinicombe’s Aquatrace to cover selenium, Vit E etc. Before the heifers calve, we run about 30ml down their backs. Or if it’s been very wet, and the medicated water consumption drops. Seems to work….

Potassium Iodide powder, readily available on eBay, mixes well with water too. Costs pennies and supplements Iodine well, IF the stock are drinking water of course.

It should be noted that a lot of TE drench manufacturers have quietly removed Iodine altogether from their products that contain copper, to prevent problems with blocking drench guns. Nothing has been said, but it is suddenly missing from the ingredients list if you read it.