Page 4. Farming Express
Farming Express
New website helps minimise calf losses
A new website has been launched by Zoetis
(formerly Pfizer AH) for registration of
calves on the SureCalf pre-sale pneumonia
protection programme. Last year, about
5,000 suckler calves were enrolled and the
numbers are set to grow again in 2013.
Using a simple registration process on the
website (www.surecalf.co.uk), sellers enter
the number of calves, dates of birth of the
oldest and youngest in the group, sale date
The Effects of
TB and How TB
Busters can Help
With TB spiralling out of control and
costing farmers an average of £12,000
+ for each TB Break down and Defra
statistics showing that the situation
is only getting worse with 5103 new
out breaks in 2012 while Defra is
still failing to act. We as farmers are
all left with only one choice to do
nothing or to act our self.
So what can you do? Studies by
FERRA show that badgers are
constantly coming to farms to
feed this is because when badgers
gets TB there internal organs start
shutting down so there bodies can’t
process there food as effectively
as they should so the badger needs
food sources with higher energy
and mineral contents to survive this
encourage them to come to farmyards
to eat maze, corn, livestock feeds
and mineral buckets. When the
badger eats from these food sources
they contaminate the feed with TB
from saliva and urinating on the
feed (badgers do this to mark their
territory). Then when your livestock
eat from the same feed source or
container that badgers have eaten
from the cattle have a higher chance
of catching TB.
So we survey your farm and suggest
ways to stop badgers getting in to
your feeds reduce the chance passing
TB to your cattle though our badger
proof produces. Such as badger proof
farm yard fencing and mineral bucket
stand.
TO
ADVERTISE
IN THE
FARMING ESPRESS
PLEASE CALL ON:
01823 257689
and vet details. The site generates dates
within which pneumonia vaccinations are
required. When the seller confirms these
have been met, SureCalf certificates are sent
to the seller for presenting to the auctioneer
on sale day. For farmers selling multiple
batches of calves on different dates,
the system allows a separate entry and
certificate per batch.
The website aims to make is as easy as
possible for farmers to follow SureCalf
requirements, according to Zoetis vet
Carolyn Hogan. She says the programme is
designed to improve cattle productivity and
welfare by helping minimise the incidence
of respiratory disease after sale.
"Mixing calves from different farms
and the stress of transportation increase
exposure and susceptibility to respiratory
pathogens," she explains. "For sellers,
the programme validates to buyers
that they invest in vaccination against
respiratory disease to protect calf health
post-sale. Correspondingly, it also helps
buyers protect their investment against
the potentially devastating effects of
pneumonia on calf health, welfare and farm
profitability."
The SureCalf programme is free of charge
to users and a free helpline is open 8.30am
to 5.30pm weekdays on 0800 668 1886.
Please visit www.surecalf.co.uk for more
information.