Cattle

Fertiliser application rate and mineral content of grass

As a valuable source of minerals to livestock it would be advisable to have fresh grass analysed for mineral content, as well as analysing grass silage later in the year.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
16/03/2022

Schmallenberg update and testing

There has already been a diagnosis of malformations due to Schmallenberg virus in a sheep flock in Scotland in 2022.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
03/03/2022

Listeria diagnoses

January and February have seen multiple diagnoses of listeriosis in both sheep and beef cattle this year.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
25/02/2022

Reminder about PM sampling for respiratory disease

Respiratory disease in any cattle production system remains a very significant cause of poor welfare, reduced production efficiency and increased antibiotic use. We have fielded a number of calls regarding what samples to take if you have the opportunity to perform an on-farm postmortem when investigating respiratory disease problems. …

SRUC Veterinary Services
01/12/2021

Tick borne fever in suckled calves

Recently we were presented with a four week old suckled calf for investigation of excessive calf mortality. Although it has only been recorded a handful of times during the last few years, it was confirmed to be tick borne fever.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
01/12/2021

Higher risk of ergot in feed stocks this autumn

Our SAC Consulting colleagues have warned of a higher risk of ergot contamination of grain and headed grass this year. This is as a result of the 2021 growing season, weather conditions and seed availability.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
01/12/2021

Silage subjects

A number of animal health issues related to winter feed stocks may be relevant on some farms.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
05/11/2021

Fodder Beet

Fodder beet is a highly palatable, very digestible crop which has increased in popularity on Scottish farms over the past few years as a livestock feed. However, there are several animal health issues to be aware of.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
04/11/2021

Coccidiosis due to Eimeria alabamensis

Eimeria bovis, zuernii and alabamensis are the most pathogenic coccidial species of cattle. Eimeria alabamensis is less well known and is associated with diarrhoea in calves one to two weeks after turn out. …

SRUC Veterinary Services
01/11/2021

Using the liver fluke antibody test

Now that we are at a time of year when liver fluke can be a problem, here is some information on the liver fluke ELISA and how it can be used. …

SRUC Veterinary Services
28/10/2021

Autumn liver fluke update

Liver fluke risk will not be high this year, but infection will still occur on some farms.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
12/10/2021

Lungworm alert

We have seen a few cases of lungworm in cattle in the post-mortem room this autumn, possibly precipitated by the recent rainfall that followed a rather dry summer.…

SRUC Veterinary Services
11/10/2021