At Chelford Farm Supplies, Cheshire, we understand the importance of a happy, healthy and productive herd. We supply a wide range of pour-on and spot-on fly control, wormers, disinfectants and medicines for high-risk diseases in cattle and calves. Our extensive range, selected by our AMTRA qualified team, includes leading animal health manufacturers Elanco, Kilco, Norbrook and more.
What are the main worming challenges for grazing cows? Cattle are naturally immune to gut and lungworms. Despite this, Cooperia oncophora is the most common gut worm during the first grazing season, which can cause diseases such as gastroenteritis which can have a significant impact on the growth rate of young stock. A dose of Dectomax at turn out time, and again eight weeks later, will manage gut worm burdens in your herd out at pasture. This will allow for optimum growth rates while enabling them to have some exposure to these worms to stimulate immunity for the following year.
Cattle are at risk of ectoparasites such as lice and manage when housed, so treating all housed animals whether they are scratching or not is key. Pour-on wormers such as Taurador will treat not only ectoparasites, but other harmful species such as gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, eyeworms, warbles and horn flies too.
Milk fever is a common disease in dairy cattle and will affect between five and ten percent of cows around calving time. Cows have an increased demand for calcium and colostrum production at calving, as the colostrum their young drink after birth will determine their immune system. Signs of milk fever include a loss of appetite, weakness, weight shift, nervousness and hypersensitivity. How do you treat milk fever in dairy cows? Hypocalcaemia in cattle is to be treated with an intravenous supply of calcium. Calciject number 2 40% Solution corrects the low blood calcium status. Our Kerbl ColostroStart Bags are also ideal for feeding new-born calves during their first crucial days of life.
Flies cause stress, irritation and can seriously affect cattle productivity time. Between May and August flies will become the biggest problem facing cattle farmers. Face flies don’t bite, but they breed quickly forming numbers causing herd irritation and spreading harmful diseases. We supply a wide range of cattle fly control including pour-on and spot-on options such as Swish, Spot On, Spotinor and Fly Pour as well as many applicators.
What are trace elements in cattle? Trace elements are essential for health and nutrition in cattle and include cobalt, selenium, iodine and copper. Low levels of these elements will result in a poor growth rate and milk yield. Copper deficiency is commonly seen in young stock, and signs of this will include poor growth, speckling on dark coats, scour and poor fertility. A deficiency of Selenium can cause a muscle disease in growing calves, and will be visible if calves are stiff and unable to stand. A lack of iodine will cause a reduced milk yield in dairy cows, infertility in cattle and weak or stillborn calves. Cobalt deficiency sings include reduced appetite, poor growth, anaemia and poor coat quality. Our range of Agrimin boluses contain all the trace elements and vitamins needed for healthy and happy dairy cows and calves, which will optimise calf growth rate and milk yield in cows.