Some things should be stopped before they start, and pinkeye is definitely one of them. It’s nasty for your cattle, painful for your wallet and it can be a real pain to treat. In serious outbreaks, 80% of the mob can be affected. It can severely reduce growth rates, especially of weaner cattle, with some losing up to 10% of their bodyweight when infected.

A single preventative dose of Piliguard should be administered 3-6 weeks before the pinkeye season. In combination with:

• Reducing the spread of the bacteria by controlling fly numbers. This is best done using pour-ons.

• Prompt segregation of affected animals for treatment and isolation.

• Avoiding unnecessary yardings during the dusty months.

Piligard is an effective way of reducing the risk of pinkeye seriously taking hold in your cattle mob. Some producers strategically vaccinate the most susceptible animals only - this is the calves and weaners. This is one approach which has a lot of merit. Calves can be vaccinated from 1 week old onwards.

Don't wait for pinkeye to appear. Vaccinate early and give yourself one less thing to worry about this season.

There has been a considerable amount of press regarding Q fever in the last few months. For those of you who missed it, Landline featured this issue in July.

In the past, we have discussed various zoonotic diseases (diseases which can be transmitted from animals to humans). These include leptospirosis and Hendra virus to name a couple. Q-fever is a disease transmitted primarily from cattle, goats and sheep, which can have life long impacts including post Q fever fatigue syndrome. Every year there are hundreds of reported cases of Q fever, and it is likely the disease is under reported.

We do see clinical cases of Coxiella (the bacteria which causes Q fever), particularly in ruminants. Most of the time, an animal infected with Q fever shows no signs, however it can cause animals to go off feed and will also cause late term abortions. Coxiella has also been shown to cause sub-clinical mastitis in dairy cows.

As your vet, we aim to promote a healthy and happy lifestyle shared with your animals. The last thing we want to hear is that one of our clients has caught as disease from the stock on their farm which could have been prevented. If you’re working in the meat and livestock industry, or on any farms in Australia, it is worth considering vaccination.

Some good information is available in the Department of Health's Immunisation Handbook.

Eye problems in horses are common and can be severe. Severe cases can result in vision loss or requiring removal of a chronically painful eye. Quickly recognising the signs of eye pain is crucial in maximising the chances of effective treatment and speedy recovery.

Horses with painful eyes appear to be squinting as the muscles controlling the eyelids spasm, closing the eye. Discharge or weeping can often occur with damage to the surface of the eye, or conjunctivitis. An ulcer is an area where the protective surface of the tissue is missing.

We all know how painful a sore eye can be, especially if something is stuck in there. Only the most cooperative of horses will let us thoroughly examine the eye without sedation. Grass seeds and other foreign bodies can become lodged deep under the eyelids (including the third eyelid) making them difficult to find and remove.

After sedating the horse we will thoroughly examine the eye and under the eyelids. Staining the eye with a fluorescent dye will allow us to see defects to the surface not otherwise visible. A special tool called an opthalmoscope may be used to see the internal structures of the eye, which are important for vision. 

After thoroughly assessing the eye a treatment plan can be begun. Treatment often involves application of ointment or drops containing antibiotics and atropine. Antibiotics are used to prevent or treat any infection that can develop on or below the surface of the eye. Atropine helps to dilate the pupil, aiding treatment and providing pain relief. Some horses will become very difficult to treat and in some cases a treatment tube can be surgically placed to make treatment much easier.

Uncomplicated eye injuries or ulcers often improve quickly with the above treatment. In addition to topical ointments or drops we will often prescribe pain relief. Severe complications are rare with eye injuries but given the importance of the eye to a horse we should be proactive in seeking prompt veterinary attention.

Please contact us if your horse’s eye remains painful after treatment.

Pregnancy rates in cattle herds vary from very good to very bad. Some of the poorest results are achieved when bulls fail and pregnancy rates can drop well below 50% for any given joining period. To help avoid this scenario, BULLCHECK™ was devised to screen bulls prior to a joining to identify issues which are high risk of causing reproductive failure.

What is a BULLCHECK™?

The BULLCHECK™ is a relatively quick and economical procedure ($70-100/bull) for screening bulls prior to sale or use. The Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV) have developed world-recognised procedures and standards for conducting BULLCHECKs and for computerising the relevant information.

What does it involve?

Usually, a BULLCHECK™ includes these procedures:

1. A general physical examination
2. A reproductive examination (including measurement of testicle size, and palpation of the testicles and sex glands).
3. Collection and examination of semen (particularly for sperm motility and morphology).

In addition, a serving ability test may be carried out, as may special tests for diseases (e.g. vibriosis or trichomonosis). Although these procedures add predictive value to the BULLCHECK™ and may be indicated in some situations, they are not mandatory.

Following these tests, bulls are placed into one of four categories;

  Satisfactory: All factors assessed were consistent with ACV standards. No risk factors for reduced fertility identified.

  Unsatisfactory: Some factors assessed were not consistent with ACV standards. E.g. Lameness, penile injury or semen morphology defects.

  Classification Deferred: Although not all factors met ACV standards, this probably would not preclude using the bull under certain conditions. E.g. Mild post-leg – likely to develop arthritis prematurely.

  Not tested: Factor(s) could not be adequately evaluated. A retest is often recommended.

In Summary

Where natural breeding bulls are employed, BULLCHECK™ should be an integral management tool for optimising herd fertility, genetics and profitability. If done pre-joining, 1-3 months prior to the joining is ideal.