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Health Requirements For

Over the last few years the demand by certain countries for dairy heifers has been very strong and economically beneficial to many producers.

By Department of Primary Industries - 11th June 2003 - Back to News

Most of these heifers are from farms that have surplus home bred stock or are purchased as calves or heifers and then reared to export size and age.

In many instances the stock are purchased without any property of origin health checks. This leaves the purchaser in the unenviable position of possibly introducing cattle to their properties with unwanted diseases, in particular Johnes disease.

Introducing calves or older stock from Johnes disease (JD) infected properties may change the status of your herd to suspect and limit your ability to trade overseas and interstate.

Recently a consignment of 60 heifers for China was rejected from a property that had a 16 month old heifer react to the JD blood test prior to export. The heifer was investigated and further tests confirmed the presence of the disease.

The Chinese protocol states that if there have been no cases of Johnes disease in the herd of origin in the last three years then they are eligible for export.

This heifer was introduced with heifers from another three properties but their origin was not recorded and as a consequence all cattle were rejected.

Countries that buy dairy heifers from Australia have their own specific health requirements. The Department Primary Industries (DPI) has to certify that all heifers in each consignment meets the requirement of the importing countries.

When resourcing cattle to rear for export either from saleyards or from producers it is important that the origin of the herd, and its disease status is known.

The disease status of the property of origin must also be known and this can be obtained direct from the vendor or from the DPI after the vendor has given permission for the DPI to release this information.

NEW CHEMICAL TOXICITY POSTERS

Chemical Standards is producing a number of chemical toxicity posters. These posters list a range of useful information on chemicals commonly used in various types of agricultural enterprises. A series of these posters was produced back in the 1990’s but as the types of chemicals used in these enterprises changes over the years it’s time for an update.

Two types of posters have been produced so far, one for pome and stones fruit and one for the vegetable industry. Posters for cropping, nursery and grazing industries are also not far away. The posters list the poison schedule, mode of action chemical group and toxicity to fish, bees and birds for each chemical.

The posters can be a useful tool when assessing the hazard to human health and the risk to the environment of a particular chemical.

If you are interested in getting one of these posters please contact the CHEMICAL INFORMATION SERVICE (03 92109379). These posters will also be distributed to chemical resellers throughout Victoria

Visit www.nre.gov.au/chemical standards

· For information on

· Chemical Use

· Application forms

· Code of practice for farm chemical application

· Previous Issues of Chemical Industry News

GRASS TETANY

Mike Terry, District Veterinary Officer, Bairnsdale.

In recent weeks Animal Health staff have had reports of deaths in cattle from grass tetany, particularly in the high country following the fires. This is one of a group of metabolic diseases of ruminant animals that is associated with low blood levels of magnesium. It most commonly occurs 4 – 6 weeks after calving in cows grazing grass dominant pasture. It is more common on pasture that has been top-dressed with nitrogen and potash fertiliser to promote grass growth rather than clover growth. Grasses generally contain less magnesium than clovers. A possible factor in the latest outbreaks may be excess potash on paddocks that has resulted as a residue from the burning of dry feed during the fire. It has been shown during the seventies in S.A. that excess intake of potassium coupled with insufficient intake of dry matter can predispose cattle to clinical grass tetany. Grass tetany may also occur simultaneously with hypocalcaemia (milk fever) and ketosis (acetonaemia). It can also affect calves.

Clinical signs range from rapid onset often leading to sudden death through to slight signs. Severe symptoms include prostration with tetanic spasms of limbs, convulsions, very rapid heart rate audible feet away from an affected animal, head thrown back and death quickly if left untreated. Less severe signs include rapid heart rate, twitching, muscle spasms, aggression, and falling if disturbed.

All affected cows should be treated as soon as possible after signs occur. Treatments are sub-cutaenous injections of "4 in One" solutions which contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and dextrose in conjunction with magnesium sulphate 20 –40% solution, 350 mls also given by injection under the skin. Veterinary attention is needed once a cow is down and showing convulsions.

Prevention can be achieved by feeding hay with Causmag added. Causmag is crude magnesium oxide and is added to hay by opening the bales and spraying on with water. Doses recommended are 500 grams of Causmag in 2 litres of water per bale, fed every second day. This dose rate refers to small square bales. Other preventatives are the administration of magnesium bullets which can release magnesium for up to 90 days, magnesium blocks which contain mollasses and salt, licker drum rollers containing 1 part epsom salt, 2 parts mollasses and three parts water can help. At all times sufficient dry matter usually in the form of hay is necessary.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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