Sam Mitchell, Veterinary Surgeon at Wyvern Farm Vets
Fluid Therapy Is A Gamechanger To Herd Health
6 days ago 
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Providing a high volume of fluids quickly to sick, fresh or cows with low rumination can reduce metabolic challenges and accelerate recovery resulting in better herd performance.
“Under normal conditions, adult cattle can drink around 80 litres of water per day; in warm conditions this can increase to 100 litres per cow per day, so recent hot weather presents exaggerated challenges if cows are not drinking sufficient water,” explains Sam Mitchell, Veterinary Surgeon at Wyvern Farm Vets.
“Being proactive and rehydrating challenged cows with oral fluids can have significant benefits, especially when we are experiencing warm weather,” he explains. “Stomach pumping can supplement around 50% of the cow’s daily requirements in under 5 minutes. It’s a gamechanger for herd health.”
Combining this with targeted electrolyte ‘recipes’ is recommended by Mr Mitchell who trains farmers to use the Selekt system; with a range of formulae for tackling specific health issues.
“Fresh cows, for example, are provided additional calcium and yeasts to assist normal function and prevent milk fever or ketosis. Cows that are sick or with low rumination are given a balanced electrolyte aimed to maximise absorption and distribution, whilst replacing sodium, potassium and chloride ions lost through sweating. The added benefit of dextrose sugar can be beneficial to providing the short burst of energy cows need to eat or drink during heat stress, crucial for kick-starting the recovery process.”
In the UK, heat stress becomes a significant risk to cows when environmental temperatures exceed low- to mid-twenties. “At this time, a cow can no longer regulate its internal body temperature below 39.5oC, and the natural response is to maximise heat loss and minimise further heat production.”
Sam explains the cow achieves this though reduced activity, which can lead to lower feed and water intakes; panting and sweating which encourages heat loss, or selective eating, so favouring smaller amounts of higher energy, moist feed over dry forages. The result of which can be reduced milk production, metabolic issues, and in extreme cases, death.
Overall, the cost of heat stress is estimated at £200-£400 per cow per year depending on severity.
“Milk yield can reduce by around 15-20% during heat stress, conception rates can reduce by as much as 50% in some cases during periods of heat stress, and a higher number of cattle ‘not-seen bulling’ in the herd can extend service periods, at a cost of approximately £4 per cow per day,” he says. “Cattle in the first half of gestation also have approximately 10% higher risk of abortion during heat stress, not only resulting in loss of a viable calf but also fertility and milk losses of the cow.”
A preventive approach is clearly favourable and there are some simple, practical steps all dairy farmers can take. “Pump cows early. Administration of oral fluids to cattle flagged with reduced appetite, activity or rumination by on-farm herd management systems. If possible, feed in an evening rather than morning to maintain dry matter intakes during cooler overnight temperatures. Also look at the environment; provide shade, improve ventilation or if workable, add fans or a fan/sprinkler combination,” he concludes.
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