North Coast cattle producers are being warned of reproductive losses directly attributed to outbreaks of highly infectious yet preventable diseases.
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Dr Elizabeth Bolin, District Veterinarian, said “There are three diseases identified as causing major losses to production at the moment include Pestivirus, Vibriosis and Neosporosis and we are advising cattle producers to be aware of the symptoms and options available for treatment and control.”
Pestivirus (Bovine viral diarrhoea virus) causes a variety of syndromes, ranging from early embryonic loss to abortions, to the birth of weak or deformed calves. Sometimes infection leads to the birth of persistently infected calves.
Pestivirus can be controlled using vaccination, test-and-cull protocols to identify and remove infected animals and improved biosecurity practices.
Vibriosis (Campylobacteriosis) is a bacterial disease of cattle that can be spread in herds where natural matings occur. Generally non immune cows become infected after being mated by an infected bull.
Herds affected by this disease can experience a range of outcomes including, increased returns to service, low pregnancy testing percentages and occasionally abortions. There is currently an effective Vibrio Vaccine available in Australia.
Practices that can increase the chances of this disease affecting the reproductive performance of a herd include; failure to vaccinate bulls prior to service, hiring or sharing of bulls between properties, long breeding seasons and poor fence integrity allowing the access of straying cattle.
Neosporosis (or “Wild Dog Abortion”), is a protozoal cause of abortion, stillbirth and the birth of weak, or, abnormal calves. Cattle can become infected by either ingesting the infective stage of the organism (oocyst) in canine faeces or, through an infected cow passing the infection on to her calf in utero.
Strategies to minimise the spread of Neospora include wild dog and fox control on your property, ensuring that domestic dogs don’t have access to afterbirth or aborted foetuses.