February 2024
Schmallenberg Virus
Schmallenberg Virus We are starting to see suspect cases of Schmallenberg virus within our area of work in the early season lambers. Schmallenberg is spread by Culicoides sp midges. It does not spread directly from animal to animal. Its spread is closely linked to the numbers of midges, which typically peak in late summer/early autumn (August/September) and drop sharply once frosts begin. The recent winter season and the fact that we have seen midges up until Christmas is a possible reason for a spike in suspect cases alongside waning immunity which tends to be 3-5years. The risk will be higher in warm years with high midge numbers and in years where the national herd seroprevalence (previous exposure) is low. Malformations observed include bent limbs and fixed joints, which may be all limbs and spine or only some limbs or joints, brain deformities and damage to the spinal cord. Persistent flexion/ fusion of the joints (contracted tendons) is a very common birth defect with Schmallenberg virus. Some animals are born with a normal appearance but have nervous signs such as a 'dummy' presentation (blindness, ataxia, recumbency, an inability to suck, and sometimes seizures). The foetal deformities vary depending on when infection occurred during pregnancy. In sheep there may be only one lamb out of a multiple birth affected with the others normal.(information from NADIS uk – A useful information tool to find out more – link below) The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has confirmed there is a spike in cases in cattle and sheep this winter, particularly in early lambing sheep flocks. The Defra executive agency is offering free testing for the virus where lambs, kids and calves are born with deformities. To take advantage of the offer, farmers are being urged to contact their vet, as sampling of foetus and placenta may be preferable and can enable investigation of other causes of abortion without further charge.
End of maternity leave Emily is coming back off her maternity leave in February.
Emily and Neil welcomed their gorgeous boy Sidney, into the world back in July. We are looking forward to Emily coming back to work, no doubt everyone else will be too!
What is the colostrum and why is it vital?
The colostrum is the nutrient-rich first milk, containing fat, vitamins, minerals, lactose, essential proteins. More importantly, it contains antibodies from the mother with the main type being IgG. The antibodies are thus transferred directly to the vulnerable newborns to give them passive immunity. It has been shown by research that the colostrum can greatly reduce the risk of the watery mouth disease in lambs and pneumonia in calves, whilst improving survival rate of piglets. 3Qs of feeding colostrum Quickly The colostrum needs to be provided to the newborn as soon as possible, preferably within two hours of birth. The antibodies within are best absorbed by the newborn’s gut in the first few hours of life; this drastically drops after 10 hours, and almost none can be absorbed after 24 hours. Quantity For calves, the legal requirement in the UK is to provide colostrum within 6 hours. However, it is recommended that 3L is given to the calf within the first 2 hours of birth, (or split into two, if necessary, particularly for smaller breeds), then another 3L within 12 hours of life. For lambs and kids, 50ml/kg should be given within 2 hours of birth, and a total of 10% of bodyweight within 24 hours. Quality Only colostrum with a high amount of IgG antibodies should be given to the newborn. Specifically, it should contain at least 50g/L of IgG. It is important to test for the concentration every time the colostrum is collected, which can be done in two easy ways. Using a Brix refractometer –– just placing a few drops of colostrum onto the glass surface and take a reading – above 22 indicates sufficient amount Using a colostrometer: pouring the colostrum into a measuring cylinder and the colostrometer floats in it; take a reading, if the colostrum surface is level with the green region, it indicates a sufficient concentration Collecting colostrum The colostrum is best collected from the cow as soon as possible after parturition, and only from healthy cows. Preferably, it should be used within one hour, but it can be kept in the fridge at 4°C for up to 7 days and be frozen for use within 6 months. Visit AHDB or RUMA (colostrum is gold) for more information.