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from Farmers Guide March 2023

from Farmers Guide March 2023, page 248

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and can be transported by the wind for up to 11 miles, so slurry spreading on windy days should be avoided. The bacterium can also live for ve months in soil and up to two years at minus 20ºC and it thrives in dry environments. Rain and wet conditions can stop it spreading so easily.

spreaders – the Micro – a compact model that is aimed at farmers with smaller loaders and material handlers. It has proved highly popular since its launch last year, according to sales manager David Bull.

C. burnetii mainly through birth or abortion products, but also in vaginal mucus, faeces and milk4 health and production.

Do

To

On Livestock

Weak newborn Abortion

Infertility

Stillbirth

Retained placenta

Premature calving

If you are seeing these signs in your herd without an obvious cause ask your vet about Q fever and diagnostics

DID YOU KNOW?

• Q Fever is endemic in GB dairy herds1

• It causes reproduction and fertility issues to cattle, sheep and goats2

• It is also a zoonosis, risking the health of those working with livestock

• It is caused by the bacterium

Coxiella burnetti

• Infection is generally via inhalation but also via faeces, milk and vaginal mucous

• Coxiella b. can be carried on the wind3,4,5

• Coxiella b. is persistent, surviving up to 5 months in soil6

Speak to your vet about diagnosis and vaccination if you are concerned about Q fever.

This information was provided by Ceva Animal Health Ltd, makers of Coxevac®

Diagnosing Q fever can be challenging as infected dairy cattle generally do not display symptoms, however signs include severe hyperthermia and rapid pneumonia in the acute phase with spontaneous recovery over seven days. In the chronic phase, Q fever primarily a ects reproductive performance in cattle and presents a serious threat to productivity. Symptoms include infertility (poor conception or increased calving interval), metritis, retained placenta, abortion, stillbirth and weak newborns. Infection may cause an increased calving to conception interval, as well as increased early pregnancy loss.

Most human cases are asymptomatic but 40% of people will experience acute disease which occurs as a u-like syndrome, and miscarriages can occur in pregnant women. Two per cent of cases become chronic and can lead to hepatitis and/or endocarditis.

The cornerstone of Q fever control is vaccination and a vaccine called Coxevac is available that signi cantly decreases the excretion of Coxiella burnetii, decreases abortion rates and helps improve fertility in dairy cattle. The vaccine can be safely used in pregnant animals and can help to minimise shedding from infected cows and protect naive animals, Renzo Di Florio concluded.

New

Compact Bale Spreader

The new machine is ideal for 5ft round bales or half a rectangular bale, and is suitable for smaller 1–2-tonne lift capacity loaders. It features a single horizontal rotor that throws straw up to 15m on a 595kg lightweight steel chassis. Despite the new design, all mechanical mechanisms are proven components on existing M range machines.

2022 was the rst winter the product has been in the marketplace and David said sales have been very good both in the UK and the European market.

Also on show was the popular Midi HR machine, which has a single horizontal rotor that delivers straw in linear spread pattern, 1.2m wide up to 15m throw. Key bene ts of Spread-a-Bale machines include straw savings, as longer straw makes for a longer lasting bed; and time savings, reducing manual labour. There is also minimal dust, reducing the risk of pneumonic conditions, eye infections and injuries from foreign object missiles.

Green bedding separator exhibited

Bauer’s best-selling green bedding separator was among the range of products being exhibited on the company’s stand this year. Area sales manager Adrian Tindall explained that he introduced green bedding to the UK around 12 years ago, allowing farmers to recycle their slurry by taking out the undigested bres and using it for bedding dairy cow cubicles.

“ideal