—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, June, 4, 1977 98 Extension veterinarian offers herd health tips By DIETER KRIEG LANCASTER - When buying cattle, always insist on health charts, but don’t trust them, Penn State Extension veterinarian Larry Hutchinson advises. Some health certificates aren’t what they should be, in other words they’re falsified - and a purchaser’s best insurance is to have the animals retested 30 days after they have entered his herd. Such precautionary measures are especially important with respect to BVD, brucellosis and tuberculosis which are “really tough to protect against in case of an outbreak.” Hutchinson informs dairymen that brucellosis “is still with us and something to be concerned about.” Calfhood vaccination has been downplayed in recent years, but is now becoming more popular againt due to some outbreaks. Nevertheless, “vaccination is at best only a partial answer,” says Hutchinson. 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Frystown RDI Myerstown, PA 17067 717-933-4138 USED HARVESTERS NH Fox ih 737 F-546 50 are that he introduced it with a purchased animal, Hutchinson suggests. That’s why he stresses the importance of testing and retesting. Regarding vaccination programs, the Extension veterinarian says age recommendations should be followed closely. “Some European cattle will not accept vaccinated cattle,” he goes on to say. When buying bulls, Hutchinson says it’s better to buy young ones which have never been in service. That lessens the chances of introducing diseases into the herd. In addressing himself to infertility questions, Hutchinson says that problems along that line are often secondary to a disease or nutritional shortcomings. A cow - lacking in the proper -proper amounts of TON, for example, will not come in heat. That’s especially true if she’s a heavy milker or first-calf heifer. A lack of vitamin A or phosphorus will lessen breeding efficiency. The same may bold true for selenium deficiencies, although that has not been Dr. Larry Hutchinson definitely established. It is known, however, that selenium levels are associated with retained placentas. On anemia, Huchinson says “we’re finding out there are a whole lot more anemic cows around the state than we used to think.” Admitting that researchers can’t always tell for sure what the cows are lacking, he advises nonetheless that dairymen run some blood counts, check their feeding programs and have feeds analyzed if anemia is suspected. Poor conception rates are closely tied to instances of anemia. Hormonal imbalances are another area which concern livestock specialists. Improper hormone levels are thought to be responsible for cystic ovaries and weak heats. Breeding problems aren’t entirely related to herd health and nutrition. A closed circuit TV study has shown that a good herdsman only catches 60 per cent of the cows coming in heat in his herd. Most heat signs take place at night, which explains why' so many are missed. Nevertheless, Hutchinson says watching for heats is often a management practice which is neglected. Thus cows are neglected, especially in loose housing situations. ' Researchers still don’t have all the answers for repeat breeders, but a few pointers suggested by Hutchinson earlier this year at Dairy Day meetings include: 1. Pinpoint the start and end of each heat as closely as possible. Heat periods vary in length from hours to even days. Knowing the individual cycle of problem breeders could be a key to changing their status. 2. Use high fertility bulls on problem breeders. 3. An examination by a veterinarian shortly after heat or during its late stages may help suggest a solution to the problem. 4. Double breeding may help. Metritis, an infection of the uterus, may be connected to other reproductive problems, Hutchinson tells dairymen. Some suggestions to lessen occurrences of the illness include: 1. Clean calving areas; straw is preferred to sawdust and provides better protection against pathogens. 2. A cow 'which is nutritionally sound stands a ALFALFA: Can be used as folier or ground spray on tobacco, corn, soybeans, tomatoes, potatoes, fruit trees, etc. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF AND YOUR FARM FOR PROVEN RESULTS. FOR ALL CROPS and SOILS better chance for overcoming stress periods and avoid illness. But overly fat cows are a potential hazard. 3. If an animal has already contracted metritis, avoid over-treating her. Two' possible problems could develops, infections could be taken into the uterus when pills are introduced, and b. some medications cause inflammations. The main thing to remember when handling semen is to do it carefully, says Hutchinson. He urges every WEDNESDAY IS mf- DAIRY day AT NEW HOLLAND SALES STABLES, INC. New Holland, PA If you need 1 cow or a truck load, we havelrom 100 to 200 cows to sell every week at your price Mostly fresh and close springing Holstems. Cows from local farmers and our regular shippers including Marvin Eslileman, Glenn Fite, Kelly Bowser, Bill Lang, Blaine Hoffer, Dale Hostetter, H.D. Matz, and Jerry Miller. SALE STARTS 12:30 SHARP Also Every Wednesday, Hay, Straw & Ear Corn Sale 12:00 Noon. Ail Dairy Cows & Heifers must be eligible for Pennsylvania Health Charts. For arrangements for,special sales or herd dispersals at our barn or on your farm, contact Abram Diffenbach, Mgr 717-354-4341 OR Norman Kolb 717-397-5538 MEDINA* Yon Need It Now INCREASE YIELDS, BRING BACK FERTILITY TO YOUR SOIL Apply 1 gal. Medina plus up to 7 or 8 days after cutting. Eliminate scald spots and get bigger yields each cutting. Contact Your Dealer John Lutz & Sons, Inc 823 Fritztown Rd. Sinking Springs, Pa. 19608 215-678-5009 Medina Agriculture Products Co., Inc P.O. Box 309, Hondo, Texas 78861 (512) 426-3011 Copyright Medln*® that close attention be na . to details, noting that 2 kept records are essenf when attempting to pJS problesm or sou rc ? Wt problems. “I don’t know),, you could breed Co ' without good record,’’ Hutchinson said. s The Extension sp t advises dairymen to willing to cull some of k problem animals, addu that the big loss assocut with breeding difficulties not the loss in days on calving schedule, but i, production. IW( X $
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