Large animal

Optimising herd-vaccination programmes: timing is key
Isabelle Truyers DVM DipECBHM, area veterinary manager, Zoetis, discusses basic principles of bovine immunology and vaccinology as well as factors impacting on the immune system function of periparturient cows that can affect the optimal timing for vaccination

Feedback of slaughterhouse information (part 1)
In the first part of this article, Pat Kirwan MVB Cert Pig Medicine will focus on the feedback of slaughterhouse information and its significance from the perspective of the pig practitioner and the pig farmer

Feedback of slaughterhouse information – practical steps (part 2)
In the second part of this article, Pat Kirwan MVB Cert Pig Medicine, looks at the slaughter process as it applies to the pig industry and the information that can be gathered at both ante- and post-mortem by the temporary veterinary inspector at pig-slaughter facilities

Colostrum-period management: impact on goat kids’ body weight and immune system
The effect of colostrum-period management on the mmune system of small ruminant neonates, from birth to slaughter, is outlined by Anastasio Argüello DVM PhD and Noemí Castro DVM PhD, members of the Animal Production and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain

Beef-cattle production: feed efficiency
Mark McGee BAgrSc PhD, Eddie O’Riordan BAgrSc PhD, David Kenny BAgrSc PhD, and Aidan Moloney BSc PhD, Teagasc, AGRIC, Grange, Dunsany, Co Meath, outline the recent developments in cost-efficient feed for beef-cattle production

Communication in the veterinary practice
Frank O Sullivan MVB MSc (applied food science) MRCVS; and Cillian O Sullivan BA MSc organisational psychology graduate, discuss communication skills and the vets changing role in society

Welfare issues during the dry period in dairy cattle
The dry period is critically important for the welfare of dairy cows and their production in the following lactation; Eva Mainau BVSc MSc PhD Dip ECAWBM, Deborah Temple BVSc MSc PhD Dip ECAWBM, Pol Llonch BVSc MSc PhD Dip ECAWBM, Xavier Manteca BVSc MSc PhD Dip ECAWBM, Farm Animal Welfare Education Centre, Barcelona, Spain, present an overview of the risks and issues associated with animal welfare in relation to this period

Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation of the foal
Post-partum cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation of the foal is outlined by Emma Conlon, veterinary nursing student and Karen Dunne MA CertEM (StudMed) MVB, veterinary nursing lecturer, Dundalk Institute of Technology

Mastitis control in robotic milking systems
Peter Edmondson, UdderWise Ltd, Shepton Mallet, UK, outlines how robots are becoming more common as a way of milking cows improving the farmer's quality of life and helping with labour issues

Calf rearing: the first 60 days
Charles Chavasse BMVS CertDHH MRCVS, area veterinary manager, Zoetis, discusses the importance of the first 60 days in a calf's life and how private veterinary practitioners can help

Large animal use in science and education
Jane Lenehan, veterinary officer, Health Products Regulatory Authority, discusses the regulation of the use of large animals for scientific, research and educational purposes

Pain management in cattle
Maura Langan MVB, veterinary adviser, Norbrook Laboratories Ltd, Monaghan, discusses identifying, managing and grading the different types of pain in farm animals

Investigating poor reproductive performance in suckler herds – are we missing a trick?
Isabelle Truyers DVM DipECBHM, area veterinary manager, Zoetis, discusses the stepwise investigation of poor reproductive performance in suckler herds, bovine venereal campylobacteriosis as a differential diagnosis, and how to optimise success with synchronisation and artificial insemination

Mycoplasma bovis
Catherine Carty MVB MRCVS, resident in bovine health management, section of Herd Health and Animal Husbandry, University College Dublin’s outlines the prevalence of Mycoplasma bovis in cattle in Ireland

Pneumonia in calves
Novel bacteria potentially associated with pneumonia in calves is examined by
Dayle Johnston,1,2 Paul Cormican,1 Gerard Murray,3 David Kenny,1 Sinéad Waters,1 Mark McGee,4 Alan Kelly,2 Matthew McCabe1 and Bernadette Earley1

Hyperlipaemia and the asinine patient
The role of the veterinary nurse in the ongoing blood analysis of an asinine patient with hyperlipaemia is outlined by Owen Levins, veterinary nurse, Dundalk Institute of Technology

Ovine abortion: an overview
Emmet Kelly MVB, ECAR (European College of Animal Reproduction) resident in farm animal reproduction in University College Dublin (UCD) gives a detailed over view on ovine abortion

Geriatric dentistry
Neil Townsend MSc BVSc Cert ES (Soft Tissue) DipECVS DipEVDC (Equine) MRCVS
Three Counties Equine Hospital, Tewkesbury, UK presents an overview on geriatric dentistry in horses

Effective risk communication for the food industry
The importance of effective risk communication in the food industry is outlined by
Frank O’Sullivan MVB MSc, large animal editor, Veterinary Ireland Journal; and Cillian O’Sullivan BA MSc, organisational psychology graduate

Molybdenosis in calves
The pathophysiology of molybdenosis in both dairy and suckler calves is outlined by Conor G McAloon PhD MVB DipECBHM MRCVS, Catherine Carty MVB DipECBHM MRCVS, and Finbar Mulligan MAgrSc PhD Ass DipECVCN, University College Dublin

Low milk fat in grazing dairy cows
Optimising milk solids output per cow during the lactation period is a key driver of farm profitability, writes Catherine Carty MVB, resident in bovine health management and Dr Finbar Mulligan, BAgrSc, MAgrSc, PhD, senior lecturer, Section of Herd Health and Animal Husbandry, University College Dublin

Mastitis and the link to infertility
Mastitis and infertility are the two most common disease complexes in dairy cattle worldwide. Both are major reasons for culling and have profound negative effects on the profitability of a farm, writes Lucy Metcalfe BVSc DipECEIM GCertVPM MRCVS

From traditional farm practitioner to herd health advocate: key principles
Mastitis and infertility are the two most common disease complexes in dairy cattle worldwide. Both are major reasons for culling and have profound negative effects on the profitability of a farm, writes Lucy Metcalfe BVSc DipECEIM GCertVPM MRCVS

In what sense does animal welfare have an economic value?
Improving animal welfare has an inevitable economic cost, so it is important to confront decisions about the standard of their conditions, writes John McInerney OBE BSc (Agric) Hons MA PhD NDA FRSA FRASE, Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Exeter, with acknowledgement to Boehringher Ingelheim

The role of the veterinary laboratory in achieving and maintaining improved herd health
Improving animal welfare has an inevitable economic cost, so it is important to confront decisions about the standard of their conditions, writes John McInerney OBE BSc (Agric) Hons MA PhD NDA FRSA FRASE, Emeritus Professor of Agricultural Economics, University of Exeter, with acknowledgement to Boehringher Ingelheim

The incidence and importance of milk leakage in the dry cow
Ana Isabel de Prado, Corporate Technical Manager, Ceva Santé Animale, France, outlines risks, management and udder health when handling milk leakage in the dry cow

The unpredictable epidemiology of Dictyocaulus viviparus lungworm infection of cattle
Neil Sargison, University of Edinburgh, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Roslin, Midlothian, UK, discusses the debilitating effects, management and treatment of lungworm

Understanding the environmental impact on animal housing and health
Jamie Robertson, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Aberdeen discusses diagnosis in animals where their living environment is a risk factor

Milk Quality Academy Review
Catherine Carty MVB and Lucy Metcalfe BVSc DipECEIM GCertVPM MRCVS review the recent inaugural Milk Quality Academy meeting

Prevention of neonatal calf diarrhoea on beef suckler farms
W Mark Hilton DVM PAS DABVP (beef cattle practice), Elanco Animal Health, US, outlines the causes and prevention methods used to prevent neonatal calf diarrhoea

Minimising stress of weaning of beef calves
Improving animal welfare via understanding the physiological stress of weaning of beef calves, is outlined by Dr Bernadette Earley and Dr Mark McGee, Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Grange, Co Meath

Transition cow management
Catherine Carty MVB and Professor Finbar Mulligan, School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, outline the critical period before and directly after calving for the health of the dairy cow