CALF_News_April_May_2019

23 CALF News • April | May 2019 • www.calfnews.net E vEn thE S mallESt C omponEntS C an h avE a B ig i mpaCt Micro-Cell® probiotics are a small yet critical component and help your cattle maintain an ideal intestinal balance. According to research trials, the strain Lactobacillus acidolphilus BT-1386 found in Micro-Cell probiotics has been shown to: • Decrease shedding of E. coli O157:H7 1 • Reduce re-infection of Salmonella 1 • Increase average daily gain 2 • Improve feed to gain 3 Ask your nutritionist about including Micro-Cell in your ration today! Learn more at Micro-Cell-US.com. 1 Tabe ES, Oloya J, Doetkott DK, Bauer ML, Gibbs PS, Khaitsa ML. Comparative effect of direct-fed microbials on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in naturally infected feedlot cattle. J. Food Prot. May 2008; 3(71): 539-544. 2 Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Unpublished. United States. 1996. 3 Hutcheson D and Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Unpublished. United States. 1986. www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com Tel: 1.800.541.5598 Email: LAN_NA@lallemand.com ©2019. Micro-Cell is a registered trademark of Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Not all products are available in all markets nor are all claims allowed in all regions. Symptoms This is the part where my own per- sonal experience steps in. We have had several abomasal impactions over the years in backgrounding calves, and have, through experience, finally been able to cope. Look for calves standing stretched out, like a rocking horse; calves that kick at their belly and are bright-eyed but not coming to the bunk. Some may lay on their sides periodically as they attempt to rid themselves of pain. Digestive dis- comfort looks the same in horses, cattle, sheep and people. You’ll know it when you see it. What is going on? Abomasal contents can swell or distend the fourth stomach to eight times its normal size. Calves will dehydrate the impaction prevents water from making its way to the intestine for absorption. When these calves are examined postmortem, the rumen and reticulum are likely to appear normal. The omasum may also be impacted, the abomasum completely shut off, and the intestines will be empty. Calves are beyond hope when the abomasum tears or ulcers perforate the abomasal tissue. Peritonitis sets in, and the unfortunate victim dies shortly thereafter. When impaction is fatal, the timeline from first symptoms to mortality is three to six days. What to do When you see the first sign of symp- toms, act immediately . Keep mineral oil on hand at all times – our calves will get one gallon per day for three consecutive days. We also dose with flunixin meglu- mine, and NSAID, for pain. With any luck, on the fourth morning you will see a calf eating happily at the bunk, having passed what seems to be an ocean of waste. Timing is of the essence. Dr. Ron Clarke wrote that impaction happens over time and some cattle are beyond help even as the first symptoms occur. The use of an ionophore in feed will help decrease the incidence of impaction, as well as feeding ground hay twice daily instead of only once. The best eaters with the most voracious appetites are most likely to get themselves into trouble by overeating, so regulating intake by spreading out feedings can do wonders. To illustrate the frustrating incon- sistencies, we have had steers impact in various situations; the weather was mild in all cases. Our last experience was a 600-weight black baldy steer winter grazing on stockpiled grass with long- stemmed alfalfa hay supplementation. A couple others in the past were being fed good-quality ground hay with three pounds of corn and wet distiller’s grains. Water sources are always clean and accessible. The Merck Veterinary Manual admits the cause of abomasal impaction is basi- cally still an unknown. You can see the variants are all over the board. The more cattle you handle, the more likely you will experience these compli- cated problems. Keep your vet on speed dial and your mineral oil handy. 