Drie Dae Stywe Siekte
Drie Dae Stywe Siekte is ’n insekoorgedraagde, nie-aansteeklike virussiekte van beeste en waterbuffels wat in Afrika, die Midde-Ooste, Australië en Asië voorkom. Onopvallende infeksies kan
Farming sustainably is not easy. Profit margins are often so small that careful planning is needed to keep the farm afloat. Diseases are one of the biggest setbacks on a livestock farm, but in most cases, they can be prevented.
Dr Schabort Froneman, a veterinarian and technical manager at Zoetis, emphasizes that herd health cannot be overstated, and that sustainable farming requires a good vaccination program.
Vaccination, he says, is like insurance. “You pay a premium when you don’t need it, but when you do, you’re extremely grateful for the ‘coverage’. Waiting until the problem arises can be fatal for your herd.”
“When we vaccinate, we empower the animal’s immune system to fight diseases. This can lead to protection against disease when exposed, to ‘softening’ symptoms if the animal does get sick, and to limiting the spread of pathogens or organisms. Vaccination is therefore a part of the herd health program; the ultimate goal is not just the protection of a single animal, but of the entire herd.”
A good vaccination program, however, is not a standard document that can be applied randomly. Each producer needs a custom program for their specific farm. “Every region and farming system comes with different risks. Herd management practices (like intensive vs. extensive), availability of labor, breeding goals, and many other variables must be considered for a sustainable vaccination program.”
Dr. Froneman says it’s always necessary to enlist your herd veterinarian’s help to compile the vaccination program, as many factors must be considered. It’s also important to involve, for example, your nutritionist and vaccine supplier(s), so that the program can be adapted as circumstances change. However, the herd veterinarian is the key player in assembling a vaccination program.
“A farm is a broad concept. Factors such as the farm’s geographic location will greatly influence the composition of a vaccination program. Certain diseases are only present in specific parts of the country and animals must be vaccinated against them. It also depends on your farming system. Is it a cow-calf operation where calves are sold at weaning, or a feedlot system where calves are bought in and later sold again? Assuming it’s the former, there are important stages to focus on: before birth, newborn calves, pre-weaning, and post-weaning, to prepare heifer replacements for the herd.”
The fetal and neonatal health of the herd is the foundation on which herd health is built. This includes the cow’s health from the third trimester of pregnancy to six weeks after the calf’s birth.
Good nutrition and a proper vaccination program will enable the mother to provide healthy colostrum (first milk) to the calf. The importance of colostrum cannot be overstated; it protects the calf from viral and bacterial infections, and intestinal diseases like coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis.
No antibodies are transferred via the cow’s placenta to the calf, so antibodies must be ingested via colostrum within the first 12 to 24 hours after birth, so the calf can develop immunity. Your pre-calving vaccination program must aim to ensure healthy and high-quality colostrum for the calves.
“Many beef producers often overlook or take the importance of colostrum for granted. As beef producers, we must ensure that our cows maintain good nutritional status and have sufficient immunity (including via vaccination) to ensure the calves get enough high-quality colostrum.”
To implement a resilient vaccination program on your farm, it’s essential that your veterinarian tailors the program to your farm’s specific conditions.
“Resilient means having room for change and movement. A spring can be stretched or compressed but still has the ability to return to its original position. Livestock farmers who want to build resilience into their animal health programs must be dynamic and flexible. Today is not yesterday, and tomorrow is not today. Adapt as circumstances change and use the expert knowledge at your disposal to make those adjustments in time.”
Article by Koos du Pisanie
Special thanks to Plaas Media for the permission to publish articles.
For more information, or if you have any concerns or need assistance with disease prevention, treatment protocols, or selecting the correct products, don’t hesitate to reach out to our resident livestock vet, Dr. Izak van Rensburg, at:
WhatsApp: 081 031 4694
Email: izakjvr@hotmail.com
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