IN Andrew Long’s last column on these pages he mentioned vaccinating his cattle.
This practice is becoming more common amongst dairy farms, particularly for the two diseases he mentioned – leptospirosis and BVD. Both infections are common and can create major problems with cattle fertility.
As a cow has to have a calf every year to produce milk, any delay in getting them in calf is a loss to farm profits. They are a good example of how farming and farm vetting has changed over the years.
Most work on farms is now spent in health planning. This can involve the correct timing for vaccinations, but also includes a lot of work on the proper feeding of cattle. It’s not just a question of providing lots of food, but getting the exact balance of forage and high energy concentrates just right.
On some days we spend as much time on the computer as on the farm.
Iain Richards is a South Lakeland vet
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