Bargrove Veterinary Group

10/04/2015

Dear Clients
If any producer would like semen drawn for sale and/or use across properties then please contact me. The plan is to enter quarantine in early May and be finished by end of June.
Bulls go into Quarantine for 30 days. They are tested for diseases that are known to be spread by semen during quarantine. After this semen is collected weekly until the required doses are collected.
best regards
Doug

Dr DOUGLAS BRUCE BVSc (Pretoria), MRCVS
Bargrove Veterinary Group
Borrowdale Park Veterinary Hospital
Borrowdale, HARARE
E mail: douglas.bruce@zol.co.zw
Cell: 0772 337 721
Office: 0713 728 568, 0777 223 325.

30/03/2015

March 2015
Dear BVG BeefPlan Client

Most of you have ended your highveld BREEDING SEASON and the day of reckoning is approaching-PD time!! Time to see how your herd has performed and plan you cash flows, bull purchases, heifer replacements , culling programmes, vaccine, dosing and dipping requirements and winter maintenance
needs.

Pregnancy diagnosis-it is now time to check what conception has been achieved by doing re**al pregnancy checks. These can be done from 6 weeks after the end of the breeding season. Please contact me directly or via Candice at the surgery to book dates.

Breeding season monitor sheets-using these we can see if monitoring bulling activity and intervening early can help achieve better conception results. Bring the form to the crush at PD time.

Breeding Soundness Evaluations on bulls-these are done on bulls after the breeding reason to know which need culling so you can plan and budget for your bull replacements. Remember, wear and tear on bulls is high so plan on a 25-30% annual bull replacement rate.

Weaning-do this diligently and evaluate each cow and her calf one by one-is the cow good enough for my herd? Select your heifer replacements if you have that luxury from a good weaning percentage.

Make sure you have your vaccines purchased ready for weaning-QE, Anthrax and Botulism and BVD,IBR and Leptospirosis for replacement heifers if you have had abortion problems plus Contagious Abortion(Brucellosis) for heifers only [which
is required by law].

Body condition score-cows should wean in BCS 3.5 which you should aim to maintain until calving. Weigh cows or BCS score them and do not allow them to lose weight before starting winter supplementation

Winter supplementation-urea supplementation of adult full grown cows that have access to unlimited fodder is sufficient to maintain condition. When fodder volumes decline [due to overstocking or burning] then bulkier foods will need to be fed to provide the fibre. Growing animals need protein supplements and here cotton seed cake or meal is ideal.

Cattle farming is all about managing Body Condition Score and getting it correct at the different stages of the breeding cycle. Now is the time to plan and mark your plans on a calendar.

Best regards

Doug

16/03/2015

Lumpy skin disease (L*D)
Lumpy skin disease was first identified in cattle in Zambia in 1929 after which the disease was seen in Botswana and then South Africa by 1944. The disease occurred in cattle along water courses and pandemics occurred during wetter months leading to the theory that the disease was transmitted by insects. Research indicated that the virus concerned was a pox virus called the Neethling strain and although the virus would grow in sheep and goat tissue in the laboratory no clinical infection has been seen in sheep and goats. A similar milder lesion was seen in cattle and that virus was identified as a herpes virus which is not pathogenic and was named the Allterton virus but could it cause a diagnostic confusion in the field. The incidence of the infections has been correlated with the rainfall and so during dry years the incidences of the disease has declined leading to the decline in the use of the vaccine and an increase in susceptibility in the cattle population.It is notable that higher rainfall patterns have resulted in the spread of lumpy skin into the Western and Eastern Cape last seen in the 1950's. TRANSMISSION OF L*D : Transmission of the virus is via bitting flies called STOMOXYS CALCITRANS commonly called stable fly. This fly is also capable of transmitting gallsickness to cattle. /it is not known how the virus is carried from season to season as the vector fly does not live long enough. Wild animals have been thought to carry the virus but there is only flimsy evidence that buffalo may play a role as a reservoir. CLINICAL SYMPTOMS : The virus infection causes an initial temperature reaction with cattle showing moist red eyelids with lacrimation. The animals may not eat and appear lethargic. Limbs may swell and animals move with difficulty. It takes about 10 days for the lumps to appear on the skin but the lumps may also appear in the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose and ge***al regions around the p***s and sheath, udder and teats. The lumps give way to ulcers which become infected and painful. The infection in the mouth and nose may become so severe as to cause suffocation and breathing distress which may become permanent due to scarring in the respiratory system. Udder infections lead to mastitis and ass the effect of the temperature reaction and anorexia the effects on milk yield whether beef or dairy cows the effect on productions will be catastrophic. TREATMENT : Can be discussed with your Veterinarian who will prescribe appropriate antibiotics and pain killers. BE AWARE that this is a virus infection and treatment addresses the secondary infection only.CONTROL : The only practical approach to controlling this disease is by the regular use of the L*D vaccine. Be aware that vaccinating in the face of infection may be futile as it takes 2/3 weeks for the vaccination to become effective. Also if one vaccinates in an infected herd it is possible that the vaccinators needles may transfer infection from animal to animal and vaccination may well spread the infection !! Vaccinate all susceptible stock on October / November before the rains. Ensure the vaccine is kept at 2-8 degrees C prior to and during the vaccination process. Note that vaccinating cows induces a good immunity in the colostrum of cows which is transferred at calving. Calves only need to be vaccinated at 6 months of age. Be aware that a small percentage of calves do not receive an adequate immunity from their dams for reasons which remain unknown and therefore calves may succumb before 6 months of age.

11/03/2015

Unusual visitor at the surgery.

11/03/2015

AI course at CC sales in January. Next course will be in June please contact us if you are interested.

11/03/2015

Great new product available, and it is not an insecticidal product so safe for all in the house.

16/02/2015

Dear Sheep Client
I have been running a “Study Group” for my pig clientelle for a few years and we meet regularly and discuss issues to do with the market but mostly technical issues. We usually have invited speakers at most of these Study Group meetings. They have been fun and well attended.
I will host the first Sheep Study Group meeting at my surgery on Borrowdale Road on Friday 27th February.
The Agenda is as below:
10am-10.30-TEA
10.30-11.00-More information on Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis(the organism responsible for cheesy gland abscessation.) .Parasites-cases of Wireworm, Liverfluke and Conical fluke.
11.00-11.30-Presentation on a new option for pen feeding lambs.
11.30-12.00-Slaughter checklist to monitor your flocks disease status.
12.00-1.00-Lunch
Venue: BVG Surgery
Date: Friday 27th February,2015

Dr DOUGLAS BRUCE BVSc (Pretoria), MRCVS
Bargrove Veterinary Group
Borrowdale Park Veterinary Hospital
Borrowdale, HARARE
E mail: douglas.bruce@zol.co.zw
Cell: 0772 337 721
Office: 0713 728 568, 0777 223 325.

02/02/2015

We are a Live stock Veterinary practise.

19/01/2015