Farmers warned of heightened clostridial disease risk

are black disease, blackleg, malignant oedema, tetanus and botulism. In sheep, they include lamb dysentery, tetanus, pulpy kidney, black disease, blackleg, struck and braxy.

important factors, but control by vaccination is widely considered best practice, added Dr Lovatt.

Two leading livestock vets are urging farmers to vaccinate livestock for clostridial diseases in the run up to lambing and calving as more animals are outwintered and vaccine boosters missed. As sheep and cattle are grazed for longer periods, and on crops such as fodder beet and swedes, the risks may be increased, according to vets Joe Henry of Black Sheep Farm Health and Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd. This is due to exposure to the soil where clostridial spores are often present.

Vaccine supply issues over the past year could also put stock at increased risk if vaccine boosters have been missed.

Most farmers rst realise they have a problem when an animal is found dead. Mr Henry said: "Death from clostridial diseases is still a reasonably common cause, which is frustrating when there are relatively cheap vaccines available to protect stock."

Pulpy kidney (Clostridium perfringens B) was the third most common cause of lamb death found in 2,733 lamb carcasses examined by Farm Post Mortems Ltd over a veyear period up to 2019 (SHAWG report 2020/2021). In the same period, pulpy kidney and lamb dysentery were among the top seven most common diagnoses in young lambs up to seven days old submitted to Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) over the same period.

Some of the most common diseases from clostridial spores in cattle

EnduraBol Pre-Calver and EnduraBol High Iodine provide tailored supplementation for pre- and post-calving cows and heifers.

Spring calving beef and dairy herds are approaching a critical period for trace element supplementation, says Emily Hall, product manager for Nettex.

“The majority of foetal development takes place in the six to eight weeks leading up to calving. A huge amount of nutritional stores are going to go towards foetal development, requiring supplementation during this period of essential trace elements and vitamins to support adequate growth, health and reproduction of both the dam and her calf,” explains Ms Hall.

With the addition of EnduraBol Pre-Calver and EnduraBol High Iodine to Nettex’s EnduraBol Cattle bolus range, cattle farmers have new options for their trace element supplementation programmes.

EnduraBol Pre-Calver consists of

The Livestock Vaccination Guidelines, published recently by the National O ce for Animal Health, categorise vaccination for clostridial diseases as one of the highest priority vaccinations for beef and sheep (category one). This means herds and ocks should be vaccinated as a default unless appropriate justi cations have been clearly identi ed by the vet and farmer working together.

Mr Henry added: "Vaccination has a good cost versus bene t ratio. If one cow is saved every 16 years in a 100-cow herd, the vaccine will have paid for itself. It's hard enough making money from suckler beef and sheep, and with single farm payments disappearing, farmers have to do everything to safeguard their stock.”

Good ock management and feeding practices are also considered

Vaccines are available that cover 10 di erent strains, such as Covexin 10 from Zoetis. Stock should be given two doses in their rst grazing season 4–6 weeks apart. From then onwards, all animals should receive an annual booster. Mr Henry recommended speaking to your vet about timings, particularly in spring calving herds.

For animals giving birth this spring, the next few weeks are critical for vaccinating pregnant stock to ensure o spring receive protection, said Zoetis vet Ally Ward.

"Giving cows and ewes a booster 2–8 weeks before calving and lambing will increase antibody levels in the colostrum and help to protect youngstock over the rst few months of life, as well as the mother for a year."

There is no milk or meat withdrawal for Covexin 10; it can be used for all types and classes of stock over two weeks of age. FG two boluses that provide a sustained release of six trace elements and three vitamins for up to 120 days. Nutrients include high levels of copper, zinc, iodine, cobalt, selenium, manganese and vitamins A, D3 and E.

“For dams, the balance of these nutrients will reduce calving issues, aid in quicker recovery after calving and support hormone production for better conception rates,” she explains. “Unborn calves will optimise growth and development and have support in developing a healthy immune system.”

For cattle on primarily forage diets, especially those consuming brassicas and legumes, EnduraBol High Iodine is recommended. Also consisting of two boluses, EnduraBol High Iodine contains high levels of copper, zinc, cobalt, selenium, manganese and vitamins A, D3 and E, and has an average daily supply of 17.60mg of iodine to overcome likely de ciencies.

“Iodine is not stored within the body, therefore a continuous supply from the diet is required for normal production of the thyroid hormones, which control energy metabolism and metabolic rate. If de cient, calving can be delayed and slowed, calves can have poor vigour and the risk of still-births increases,” says Ms Hall. “Pastures and forages are often de cient in iodine, while brassicas and legumes contain compounds that block iodine absorption –therefore requiring a higher level of supplementation in some circumstances.”

EnduraBol bolus technology features ‘single point erosion’ that ensures consistent and reliable delivery of trace elements and vitamins for extended periods. This slow and steady release allows the animal to optimise absorption while ensuring consistent trace element delivery over a long period, explains Ms Hall.

“This is a much better option than drenching or relying on feed consumption for trace element delivery. Drenches provide a large pulse of nutrients in a short amount of time that won’t be fully absorbed and feeding has varying intakes which often result in de ciencies spotted throughout the herd,” she says. “However, a bolus ensures every animal gets a consistent amount of trace element supplementation.”

EnduraBol boluses should be administered at least six weeks before calving using the EnduraBol gun. Each pack contains 20 boluses to supply 10 cows. FG

“Independent trials have demonstrated significant increase in blood trace element status.”

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References are available on request.