Page 15 - ACV Journal DECEMBER 2015
P. 15
Scientific
“Prior to the purchase of the Riley Tipping Crush all the lame cows I “With more Digital Dermatitis being seen we are starting to use
treated were through conventional cattle crushes, usually by tying the topical Oxytetracycline sprayed on the lesion for 3-5 days. I tend
cows leg up using a pulley system. The pulley system was purchased not to use antinflammatories much, mainly due to the use of blocks
from a local Taylor Marine store and the pulleys were sourced from elevating the affected claw off the ground and reducing pain that
Ronstan. Unfortunately over the years the types of pulleys I was using way. Some farms routinely give NSAID’s to lame cows now, I think
were phased out and other pulleys were sourced from Ronstan. Each it makes the people treating the cows feel better that they are
time, the pulleys were more robust and usually more expensive. But they providing pain relief, it still doesn’t make them pick up the foot and
worked well and still continue to be used if there is only 5-10 lame cows check for a stone which would be more beneficial to the cow. It
to see at a farm. I made some other Pulley type devices for restraining seems easier to grab a bottle of medication, draw up a syringe full of
the cows leg to the crush which made using an angle grinder safer. I will goodies and jab it in the cow than actually examine the animal and
attach some photographs of the pulley systems I have used. Now, we determine the best course of treatment. We have used Metacam,
use the Riley Crush for routine trimming and lame cows. So long as you Flunixon and some Ketoprofen for NSAID’s in lameness.
can get into the dairy yards somewhere it makes for a relatively easy job.
I usually try to make sure the farmer has at least 5 lame cows to justify Tips: Learn to sharpen a hoof knife properly. Buy good quality hoof
towing the trailer out, but if the crush or race is especially rubbish at some knives, I tend to use the Genia Loop knife now as it stays sharp and it’s
farms we will use it for smaller numbers of cows. The tipping crush makes easy to handle. Learn to use an angle grinder with cutting type discs
front feet really easy to do as the feet are exposed and restrained well.” with well restrained feet. Practice on big tree trunk size blocks of wood,
usually cypress pine or something soft for a start. Hog Discs are great
“I use wooden blocks, usually extra hard ones and extra large so they and can be purchased from Peter Best at Innovative Farm Imports.
fit well on the larger Holstein cows in our area. The glue I tend to use is Maybe invest in a chest strap if you lift a lot of cows legs, it can make
the Bovibond glue, it works well if warmed up in cold weather and when the front legs easier to do and save cows falling down in the crush.”
you are putting on blocks on multiple feet it is the quickest way to block
a cow. Cow slips seem to be used more by our newer graduates due to “Some thoughts on lame bulls: We always used to knock bulls over with
packaging of the boxes. It seems to be easier to have a box of Cow Slips xylazine and ropes. This was exciting but somewhat dangerous for bull,
in the ute than an assortment of Bovibond, mixer tips and blocks, which if client and vet. We would treat most lame bulls in a crush now that we
you don’t become comfortable with the Bovibond glue can be a bit of a have better equipment. So for bulls we use a heavy duty leg rope pulley,
mess. Antibiotics are used most of the time, especially if there is a lesion a chest strap and maybe 10-20 mg xylazine. For bulls that have a neck
caused by an infection. The main types of lesions we see are Axial Wall thicker than their head it is important to put a halter on and tie their head
Cracks, White Line Disease especially in the heel area and Interdigital forward so they cannot pull their head backwards out of the head bale.”
Infections or Footrot. We predominantly use Procaine Penicillin, mainly
due to effectiveness and cost. Cephalosporins would be a great idea as “Some thoughts on lame cows: A block or cowslip is much more
far as milk WHP goes but most farmers now run a hospital herd separate effective than NSAIDs. Mainly use penicillin but only if there is evidence
to the milkers so putting hospital milk in the vat is a very scary thing. With of infection ( a swollen foot). A bandage is rarely useful. Good gear
most farms being staffed with employed labour the idea of putting some makes an enormous difference - cordless angle grinder, leg pulley,
milk in the vat from cows treated with antibiotics is a bit worrying.” chest strap, good sharp knives. If you have a dodgey back a foam pad
sold at good gardening stores for kneeling on can make life easier”
www.ava.com.au/cattle The Australian Cattle Veterinarian | volume 77 | December 2015 15
