WITH spring around the corner, vets from the Riverina Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) are warning sheep and cattle producers that grazing livestock which are not protected against pulpy kidney may succumb to the disease in the upcoming season.
Dan Salmon, Riverina LHPA senior district veterinarian, said springtime in the western Riverina is not always the time of prolific growth that was seen last year, but it is usually a time when there is enough fresh green grass to kill grazing livestock.
“Lambs and calves less than a year old are particularly likely to die. Grown sheep and cattle are less likely to die unless they have never been vaccinated and never experienced a good season,” he said.
“We have a very good vaccine to prevent pulpy kidney, and most producers vaccinate their lambs and calves at marking. The problem is that the immunity from this single dose of vaccine will only protect the animal for a month or so.
“To get really robust protection from pulpy kidney a booster dose of vaccine four to six weeks after the first dose is needed.”
Dr Salmon said the loss of any animals can be significant but when boosters are missed the lambs or calves will die at the time when they are just starting to offer a return on investment.
“All sheep and cattle breeders are advised to give their calves and lambs a full course of vaccinations against pulpy kidney.
"These vaccines can be 3-in-1, 5-in-1, 6-in-1, 7-in-1 or 8-in-1 depending on which other diseases are likely to cause problems,” he said.
“For lambs that usually means a booster at weaning. As a rule that will give them lifetime immunity against pulpy kidney although some of the other parts of the combined vaccines need annual boosters and ewes will need annual boosters if they are to give good immunity to their newborn lambs.
“Calves are usually weaned a bit later so they will have to be handled specifically for their booster vaccination. The immunity in cattle does not last as long as that of sheep, so calves will need more boosters, every three to six months.”
Dr Salmon reiterated the importance of vaccination as a cheap and easy way to prevent diseases.
“They don’t need much management to produce an excellent result but they do need a little bit of thought. The good thing is that any effort put in is paid for many times over,” he said.
For more information on vaccinations contact your private veterinarian or LHPA district vet.