FAQs: Tick & Fleas
-
Grenade is recommended for ticks and fleas in animals.
-
Check on dosage/concentration of the acaricide, technique of application and history of use. In order to get best results, it is important to follow the recommended spraying intervals strictly. Seek assistance from your Vet if you suspect resistance. Responsible use of any acaricide will help in preventing and/or managing resistance.
-
Clean the dusty environment; spray the calf and the pen with Grenade. Exposing the beddings to sunlight is also recommended. Ensure any dogs in the compound are also sprayed with Grenade.
FAQs: Pregnant Cows & Calving
-
A pregnant cow can be dewormed safely but both late and early pregnancy times are sensitive to trauma and stress. It's advisable to deworm between the 4th month - 7th month, avoiding first and last trimesters.
-
Nilzan, Nilverm and Nefluk are safe for use in pregnant cows. Dose must be administered as per confirmed body weight. However, use of Nefluk is only recommended after the first trimester.
-
Call a vet for proper diagnosis. There are many causes that would lead to a downer cow.
-
When cows are off feed after birth this could be a systemic infection or a metabolic disease. Call a vet to examine and advise on treatment.
-
You should stop milking a pregnant cow at the end of the 7th month. This is called drying off. It’s also the time to switch from Maclik Super to Maclik Dry Cow.
-
Steaming involves supplementation with high concentrate diet towards the last 4 weeks of pregnancy.
-
Steaming should start when the cow is four weeks to calving (9th month).
-
Steaming up is supplementation with high concentrate diet at the last month of the pregnancy to prepare the cow to have enough energy for during and post calving.
-
Call a Vet to check for systemic infection, trauma or metabolic disease and follow the treatment regime as advised.
FAQs: Beef Animals
-
Deworm animals regularly, feed with right quantities of Maclik Beef and high-quality fodder.
-
Ensure that the diet has enough of energy, protein and mineral sources. Free choice clean water should be provided i.e. the animals should have access to water at all times.
-
High concentrate diet with balanced energy and proteins (Beef ration) and high-quality Pasture grass would make a good diet.
-
Maclik Beef has all the minerals required by the bull. Feed the right quantities as stated on the pack depending on the age of the animal.
FAQs: Calves
-
Weaning is largely dependent on weight and rumen function rather than age. You should achieve weaning weight of >80kgs by day 63 or 9th week from when the calf was born, or double the birth weight by second month .The quantity and quality of milk/replacer will determine the growth rate and the weight gain.
-
Stop giving milk when the calf has properly transitioned to solid feed. This is largely dependent on rumen development which should be functional by second month.
-
Find out the cause of diarrhea and address it e.g. Diarrhea (scours) in calves can be as a result of poor hygiene (dirty water, contaminated feeding bottles or buckets, overfeeding milk, giving cold milk, (a calf should be given warm milk all time), depending on severity you can give Carbovet on 1st sign of diarrhea. If this persists, engage a clinician for treatment.
-
You can start deworming after the second month when calves start feeding on fodder and other soil contaminated feeds.
-
Introduce minerals to the calves from the second month.
-
Maclik brick has all the mineral elements required by the calves. At the age of 6 months, Maclik Plus should be given to help in musculo- skeletal growth.
-
Nefluk is safe for calves. Start with Nefluk 2.5%. Observe weight before deworming and dose with appropriate amount of dewormer. To estimate the weight, use a weighing band.
-
Trilk has well-balanced nutritional components- (fats, proteins, energy). It has digestible proteins that are more bioavailable and this helps the calf grow health and faster.
-
You can start feeding on day 5 or immediately after colostrum clears to normal milk.
-
The calf should be left to suckle until they are full. Normally it will take 20-30 min. Check on the dam’s teats to ensure that milk flow is normal, no teat blockage.
-
A diet high in Protein and Energy is preferred. The Nutrients should be easily digestible. Sweet potato Vines, Soft quality Hay, Calf pellets and minerals are key.
FAQs: Deworming
-
You can use a weighing machine or weighing band for weight estimation.
-
The difference between the two is the concentration of the active molecules. Nilzan Super is double concentration of Nilzan Plus. This makes it easier to administer especially for large animals e.g. a 500kg cow only takes 125ml Nilzan Super.
-
Use Nefluk or Nilzan against fluke’s infestation.
-
You can use Nilzan (Plus or Super) or Nilverm in pregnant cows. Care should be taken to avoid mishandling of the animal during deworming.
-
It’s ok to deworm during pregnancy but it’s recommended to avoid during early pregnancy (1st 3 months) and late pregnancy (Last trimester).
-
Liquid dewormers are recommended for drenching.
-
It’s advisable to deworm early in the morning, immediately after milking.
-
This is an indication of a systemic infection or deficiencies. Call a vet for further diagnosis and treatment.
-
Records are important in maintaining the deworming schedule. Deworm your animals every 3 months. Some of the symptoms include diarrhea, low production, poor body condition, rough hair coat, teary eyes and coughing.
-
Weigh the animal, calculate the dosage and drench the animal while firmly holding the head in a slanting position.
-
Nilverm/Nilzan /Nefluk
-
Yes you can deworm pregnant goat but it’s recommended to do it after kidding.
-
Kids and calves can be de-wormed from the second month immediately they start feeding on pastures/grass/fodder.
FAQs: Heifers
-
Check on weight and height as these two are key indicators of puberty/maturity. Even though height is also determined by the breed, a dwarfed heifer will not mature at the right time. At 14-15 months, when they are ready for service, a heifer should be 270-350kg bodyweight. Use of a good mineral supplement is key. Maclik Plus given from 6 months age helps to achieve musculo-skeletal growth and maturity of the reproductive system. Good nutrition (proteins, energy, vitamins and minerals) should be provided from weaning.
-
Give Maclik Plus at the rate of 80-100g per day (5-6 tablespoons).
-
About 5 -7 table spoons should be ok depending on the age.
-
Ideal age should be 14-15 months.
-
Seek a qualified Vet’s help to check on body condition score, mineral supplementation or systemic infections. Other factors that play a major role in this are:
-
- Timely heat detection
- Quality of semen
- Quality of AI services
-
FAQs: Lactating Cows
-
You should use Maclik Super. It has both macro and microelements that are key in milk production, health and fertility of the cow. Give at least 200gm per day but ad libitum (free choice) is highly recommended.
-
A healthy cow will cycle a month after birth, but it is always advisable to wait and make the 1st insemination by day 55 or second cycle.
-
Maclik Super should be used in milking cows. Give at least 200gm per day. Maclik Mineral Bricks for licking should also be provided to ensure adlib supply to the cow.
-
Prevent Mastitis by ensuring high levels of hygiene of the udder and the environment. Use CKL Milking Salve when milking, dip teats in Mastrite after milking. Ensure complete milking and proper milking techniques to avoid teat injury. Mastitis can be treated using a combination of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory through a qualified technician.
-
Milk increase can be achieved by feeding a quality balanced diet to the cow. The quantity should be enough to meet production requirements of the cow. A balanced diet has proteins, energy and minerals sources.
-
A dairy cow should be fed with Maclik Super. A dairy goat can be fed on Maclik Plus.
-
Check on energy levels of the diet. A good diet should have enough energy giving feeds like good quality hay and/or silage, nappier supplemented with high quality dairy meal. Minerals supplementation should be reviewed too. Use a good quality mineral supplement like Maclik Super ad libitum (free choice) is recommended. Seek a Vet’s advice if the cow has not shown heat signs 2 months after calving.
-
For 200gm daily of Maclik Super you need 8-10 full tablespoons.
-
Ensure the goat has enough of good quality fodder. Hanging fodder is preferred as goats are browsers. Supplementation with concentrates such as Kupakula Gold and Dairy meal is recommended. Maclik Super at a rate of 40gm /day is advised (about 2 spoons).
-
Ensure that you feed a well-balanced diet that has proteins from good quality dairy meal or supplements like Kupakula Advanced, energy sources such as good quality hay, maize silage, mineral supplements like Maclik Super and free choice clean drinking water. The quantity and quality of feeds is key in ensuring high milk production.
-
Check on energy levels of the diet. A good diet should have enough energy-giving feeds like good quality hay and/or silage, nappier supplemented with high-quality dairy meal. Minerals supplementation should be reviewed too. Use a good quality mineral supplement like Maclik Super ad libitum (free choice) is recommended. Seek a Vet’s advice if the cow has not shown heat signs 2 months after calving.
-
Ensure that your cow is healthy and in right body condition. Fertility is a factor of body condition (neither too fat nor too thin), health (absence of any disease, infections, parasites such as ticks, worms, flies etc.) and good management (record-keeping, proper feeding, hygiene, parasite control etc).
-
High concentrate diet like Dairy meal and Kupa Kula Advanced are recommended. At the same time make sure to continue using Maclik Dry Cow (this should start in 8th month).
FAQs: Disease Management
-
Signs of Anthrax include bloody discharge from mouth, anus, reproductive organs, nostrils and sudden death. Anthrax is a notifiable disease meaning it must be reported to the sub county veterinary office. It’s also a highly contagious disease to other animals as well as to humans and care should be taken in handling the suspected animals or their carcasses. There is a vaccine for Anthrax called Blanthax which is administered to prevent the disease. A qualified Vet officer should be able to administer this.
-
Notify the government veterinary officer in your locality. Separate the cow from the rest. Call a vet for treatment and further advice. Restrict movement of persons to the farm.
-
Drop in milk production, difficulty breathing, high fever, frothing, swollen lymph nodes are common signs.
-
Call a vet for further examination and treatment. This is an indication of a systemic infection.
-
Consult a qualified Vet. ECF can be treated with Butalex ® .
-
Calves also contract ECF. Remember ECF is transmitted by ticks (specifically the Brown Ear tick) which can also bite calves.
FAQs: Herd Fertility
-
Insemination should be done 12-18hrs after showing heat signs. You can also apply the AM-PM rule. Cows that show heat in the AM hours (morning) should be inseminated in the PM (afternoon).
-
This is called silent heat. It’s an indication of energy deficiency. High energy diet and mineral supplementation should be provided ad lib. I recommend a vet for diagnosis and further advice.
-
Wait for 21 days to confirm conception. Observe for heat signs. The bloody discharge does not signify a failed conception.
-
Sexed semen has 95 % chances of getting a female calf. There is a 5 % chance of a bull calf. This is rare but it can happen.
Soil Nutrition
-
No faqs for this category have been defined.