Mid North Coast veterinarians are warning producers of an outbreak of Blackleg in the area after almost 20 head of cattle were killed in two separate cases.
Recently, Wauchope Vets surgery attended a dairy and beef cattle farm within a few kilometres of each other where 13 and six young heifers and steers were diagnosed to have died of Blackleg.
The infectious disease, mostly in young cattle, results in the release of a fatal toxin causing sudden death.
The spore-forming bacteria can lie dormant in soil for years and remain potent.
Veterinarian Sue Harvey was called to the first dairy farm incident at Beechwood where cattle hadn't been vaccinated in some time.
At least 13 animals died on the property as a result of the disease.
Dr Harvey said the increase in cases was potentially related to the dry conditions, but could be prevented.
"People just get complacent," she said.
"You can't see your benefits of your vaccination, you only see the downside when you stop doing it.
"Unfortunately it can catch up with you and it can be quite devastating. They are your young animals, the future of your herd."
It is recommended calves are vaccinated with 5in1 or 7in1 from two or three months of age while beef breeders are given a booster before calving to put immunity into their colostrum.
While the outbreaks were reason for concern, Dr Harvey said it was important that producers vaccinated correctly.
"Unfortunately when the people who had the dairy picked up the vaccine from the produce store the advice was they need a booster in three months," she said.
"Boosters have to be four to six weeks after the injection so do follow the instructions on the insert in the vaccine, otherwise it's not worth doing."
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
