Ethnoveterinary formulation for udder oedema

Ethnoveterinary formulation for udder oedema (புதிதாக கன்று ஈன்ற மாட்டின் ஏற்படும் மடி வீக்கம் குணமாகும் மருந்து)

Caution:
Rule out mastitis before using the formulation.

Credits:
Dr. N. Punniamurthy

 

The hidden dangers of silage made with diseased corn

The wet field conditions we saw last year across much of the U.S. have contributed to an increase in fungal diseases – in particular, a rise in the incidence of smut.

Corn smut is caused by the growth of Ustilago maydis, which thrives in conditions of high humidity coupled with plant stressors like poor pollination or damage from insects, weather or equipment.

Once the plant is infected, the fungus grows rapidly, leading to large gray galls that contain black spores, typically on the corn ear tip (Figure 1).

The resulting galls decrease grain yield anywhere from 9 to 40 percent. While producers may see a drop in corn yields due to smut contamination, the crop is still nutritionally valuable and can be successfully ensiled. The fungus that causes smut does not produce any known toxins, and studies in sheep have shown that it does not affect feed intake.

In fact, corn infected with smut has a higher content of protein, particularly a higher amount of the amino acid lysine, compared to regular corn.

Nevertheless, feeding silage made with smut-infected corn can decrease feed efficiency, since the fungus uses some of the more readily digestible nutrients to fuel its growth.

Research has shown that total digestible nutrients, net energy for maintenance and net energy for gain decreases the value of corn silage by around 0.5 percent, 0.02 Mcal per gram and 0.02 Mcal per gram, respectively, for each 10 percent rise in smut-infected plants compared to healthy ones.

The nutrient and fermentation profiles of these contaminated silages are likely to be more variable than normal. It’s important to have samples analyzed regularly – at least once a month – so adjustments to the ration can be made as necessary.

When corn contaminated with smut is ensiled, the rate and extent of fermentation can be restricted due to the loss of nutrients because of growth of the smut fungus, which can then predispose the silage to further mold growth and the production of mycotoxins. Treating the corn with a dual-purpose inoculant at the time of ensiling is an important part of the management program.

Dual-purpose inoculants contain strains of both homolactic and heterolactic bacteria to overcome the limitations of using a product that has only one type of bacteria.

During early stages of the ensiling process, homolactic bacteria (e.g., Pediococcus pentosaceus) used in “traditional” silage inoculants convert simple sugars to lactic acid, a strong fermentation acid that leads to a faster rate of acidification, thus maximizing the recovery of dry matter and nutrients, and inhibiting the growth of detrimental microbes.

Homolactic bacteria are very efficient, but natural populations are not as prevalent on the plant material, giving a very strong recommendation for use in an inoculant. However, lactic acid does not have strong antimycotic properties or lead to improvement in aerobic stability (e.g., preventing silage heating during feedout) and are inconsistent when using homolactic bacteria alone.

The heterolactic bacterium Lactobacillus buchneri produces moderate amounts of antimycotic acetic acid. The acetic acid is produced by converting small amounts of lactic acid during the initial active phase of fermentation to acetic.

There is a considerable amount of published research supporting the use of the high application rate of L. buchneri 40788 (400,000 colony-forming units per gram of forage), which reduces or prevents heating and spoilage in a wide range of silages by reducing the population of spoilage yeasts.

Corn smut generally is not an animal health threat but can easily be confused with other corn ear rot fungi that can produce dangerous mycotoxins. Species of aspergillus, fusarium, gibberella and penicillium are most commonly associated with production of mycotoxins that can negatively impact animal health and performance.

There is evidence that smut-infected ears are more susceptible to a secondary infection by fusarium and aspergillus. The smut fungus may not directly produce mycotoxins but can potentially create a window of opportunity for organisms associated with mycotoxin production to cause a secondary infection.

Spoilage yeasts are directly responsible for the majority of heating events in silages. Controlling their growth also has a significant impact on the development of secondary or opportunistic spoilage micro-organisms, especially in silages made from diseased crops.

Yeasts destabilize the silage and raise the pH, allowing molds and bacteria to grow, resulting in spoiled, potentially hazardous feed. A high load of detrimental micro-organisms that come from the field at the time of ensiling means more challenges during feedout.

Last season, there were also higher reports of rust infestation, both southern and common rust, stimulated by the long, wet growing season. Similar to smut corn, the rust fungi utilize nutrients from the plant, reducing its nutritive value and yield, and predisposing it to spoilage, mold growth and mycotoxin infestation.

Researchers at the University of Florida looked at the efficacy of treating rust-infested corn with a dual-purpose commercial inoculant with P. pentosaceus 12455 and L. buchneri 40788.

The study involved a corn crop that was naturally infested in discrete patches in the field at the time of the harvest (Figure 2).

After 97 days of storage, dual-purpose inoculation reduced mold counts in rust silages 80-fold and increased aerobic stability by about 75 percent.

Most importantly, aflatoxin was detected in untreated, rust-infested silage at the level of 5,000 parts per billion – considerably higher than the FDA action level at 20 parts per billion – while there were no aflatoxins detected in the inoculated silage made from the same material.

Well-preserved, stable silages have low pH, driven by lactic acid production by homolactic bacteria plus a good amount of an antimycotic compound, e.g., acetic acid produced by L. buchneri, to prevent the growth of undesirable micro-organisms.

Consumption of low concentrations of aflatoxins by sensitive animals can lead to death in 72 hours; animals that ingest feed contaminated with non-fatal levels of aflatoxins can suffer impaired health, reproductive dysfunction and productivity loss.

In addition to causing palatability issues, reduced animal performance and respiratory problems, molds can produce specific mycotoxins under certain circumstances. Some mycotoxins mimic sex hormones and therefore can disrupt normal reproductive physiology in the cow, leading to problems with conception and abortion, while others can cause serious health issues in addition to negatively impacting performance.

It is therefore very important to implement management practices that will reduce the risk of mycotoxins in your silages.

Corn silage is an important component of the diet fed to ruminants, and feeding poorly fermented or contaminated silages needs to be carefully managed. Take samples properly to obtain accurate test results and find the specific cause of the problem. Use good silage management practices to prevent silage deterioration and to ensure you produce top-quality, hygienic preserved feeds for your herd.  

Bob Charley has a doctorate in applied microbiology from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Renato Schmidt has a doctorate in animal nutrition from the University of Delaware and is employed by Lallemand Animal Nutrition as a forage products specialist.

Thanks : Progressivedairy.

KRISHI MELA 2017

University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, will organise the annual four-day Krishi Mela on their campus here from September 22nd to September 25th 2017.

www.uasbangalore.edu.in/krishimela/about.html

Besides organising an exhibition-cum-sale of agriculture-related products, seminars will be held to provide space for discussing farmers’ issues and ways to solve them. Different stakeholders, including producers and manufacturers of agricultural inputs, distributors, dealers, extension functionaries of government and non-governmental organisations, and scientists will participate.

Semen stations of Indigenous breed of Cattle

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Sexed semen for desi cattle breeds

For the first time, dairy farmers will now have the option of sexed semen for desi cattle breeds like Sahiwal, Gir and Red Sindhi cows and Murrah buffaloes. Sexed genetics, which is used to produce offspring of a desired sex, was not available for these breeds till now.

ABS India (ABS), a division of Genus Plc, on Thursday launched `sexed dairy genetics' in Chandigarh.The technology is designed to deliver more high-value pregnancies to dairy herds countrywide. Priced differently for different genetics, ABS Sexcel will be available to the Indian dairy farmers at approximately 3040% less than the import price of the sexed semen. At a press conference to announce the launch, British deputy high commissioner, Andrew Ayre said, “It is an important day for the UK and the Indian dairy industry to extend Sexcel benefits to Indian dairy farmers, helping them to double their income by 2022 as targeted by the government.“

Arvind Gautam, managing director, ABS India said it would give farmers a new option for achieving their desired genetic blueprint and would help them profit through genetic progress. “We have a unique product and trial results are very effective. For the first time, sexed semen of indigenous cattle breeds like Sahiwal, Red Sindhi and Gir cows and Murrah buffaloes is available in India.“

Ref: Sep 01 2017 : The Times of India (Chandigarh)

Click timesofindia

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination month March and September

A special camp to administer vaccine to protect cattle from foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious viral disease affecting all cloven footed animals.

Blisters inside the mouth and on the feet of the cattle are symptoms of the disease.

The disease can be transmitted easily between animals under unhygienic surroundings, improper sanitation in the cattle shed, and through saliva of the affected animals. The virus is shed through secretions and excretions of infected animals, according to the release.

Virus can travel 250 KM over the water as reported in France 1981 and 10 KM over the land. 

The disease causes heavy economic loss owing to reduced milk production, infertility and drop in the value of skin and hides. It also brings down the working efficiency of the animals and results in high mortality in calves.

Points to be noted during vaccination

• Animals should be in good health at the time of vaccination.
• The cold chain of the vaccines wherever prescribed should be maintained till the time of administration to the animal.
• The manufacturers’ instruction on the route and dosage should be strictly followed.
• A minimum vaccination coverage of 80% of population is required for proper control of the disease.
• It is beneficial to deworm the animals 2-3 weeks before vaccination is carried out for better immune response.
• Vaccination should be carried out at least a month prior to the likely occurrence of the disease.
• Vaccination of animals in advanced pregnancy may be avoided even though in most cases nothing untoward may happen.

For further information, farmers can contact the nearest veterinary dispensary, veterinary hospital, polyclinic, Assistant Director of Animal Husbandry, Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry and Joint Director of Animal Husbandry.

All farmers are advised to vaccinate their cattle free of cost.