Every farmer’s biggest nightmare is the abrupt death of cattle. It’s not only distressing and stressful, but it’s also highly expensive. Despite this, productive animals are lost on a regular basis to Clostridial infections. The good news is that this does not have to be the case. It is possible to protect your sheep and cattle from harmful Clostridial toxins in a simple, practical, and cost-effective manner.
What exactly are Clostridia?
Clostridia are bacteria that can cause a wide variety of livestock diseases. These germs are common, persistent, and extremely hazardous. Clostridia, for example, can live in soil for years before killing a healthy cow or sheep in hours.
Clostridia’s toxins are among the most dangerous known. When you realize one of your animals is sick, it is sometimes too late for treatment. In fact, Clostridial illnesses can be so lethal that an animal may die before symptoms appear.
Where can you find Clostridia?
Clostridia bacteria are quite common in the natural environment. They are present in soil, rotting plants, decomposing animal debris, surface water, and ruined animal feed. Clostridia bacteria of various sorts are also found in the intestines and other tissues of healthy cattle.
Clostridia bacteria cause sickness in what ways?
Clostridial bacteria are not intrinsically toxic, which explains why an animal may live properly with the bacteria in its stomach. Toxins secreted by Clostridia when they reproduce fast cause sickness. Simple variables such as unhealed wounds, internal bruises, or even dietary changes are examples of triggers.
Clostridia can induce a wide range of deadly disorders. Cattle can become infected with blackleg, tetanus, malignant oedema, and redwater. Clostridia can cause all of the following symptoms in sheep, as well as pulpy kidney, braxy, and struck. Even with immediate veterinarian assistance, these infections are virtually invariably deadly.
Impact
Your animals are one of your most valuable assets as a livestock farmer. The loss of a productive animal has a direct impact on your bottom line. There’s also the cost of new animals to consider, as well as carcass disposal expenses. It is not implausible that the death of a single productive cow might cost far over $800.000.
Of course, lost cattle has an emotional impact as well. Working on a farm where animals are at danger of suffering or dying from avoidable illness is challenging. Farm workers will have deep emotional relationships with the animals they care for, and lost stock will undoubtedly have a detrimental influence on employee morale.
Early warning indicators
Unfortunately, by the time you identify symptoms of a Clostridial illness in one of your animals, it will be too late to treat. However, there are certain early warning indications on rare occasions. In cattle with blackleg, for example, the thighs may seem bloated and the tail may be elevated. Meanwhile, a lack of coordination may be observed with the commencement of pulpy kidney in sheep, but this is not always the case, and a dead animal is the first sign.
How to Protect Your Animals from Clostridia Disease
Effective vaccinations are available for most common Clostridia. Covexin 10®, for example, protects sheep and cattle against ten important Clostridia bacteria, giving active protection for up to a year.
Cattle and sheep require two subcutaneous injections in the side of the neck four to six weeks apart to guarantee adequate Clostridia protection. Following that, each animal will require a booster shot every 12 months in order to remain protected.
Young calves and lambs are vaccinated by colostrum from vaccinated moms or can be vaccinated as early as 2 weeks of age.
Newborns will be protected against Clostridia through colostrum if cows and ewes are given a booster between eight and two weeks before birth. Passive immunity will be provided for up to eight weeks in calves and up to 12 weeks in lambs. Following then, a primary vaccine round will be required for sustained protection.
To put it succinctly…
Clostridial infections are exceedingly contagious and almost invariably lethal. It is as easy as delivering an effective vaccine to keep your animals safe, with Covexin 10 providing the broadest available range of protection. It’s a tried-and-true, low-cost method of preventing many of the illnesses that cause unexpected death, and it helps farmers safeguard their livelihoods.
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