With these mild, wet days having detrimental effects on animal health, the Irish Farmers Journal contacted vets around the country to identify the main problems. The vets are recording issues arising from viral diseases, which increase and survive longer in the warm, humid conditions. Vets are advising farmers to keep animals in well-ventilated sheds with adequate air flow, while maintaining a good vaccination and dosing programme.

John Gilmour Roscommon

“Mainly viral diseases are the problem, while pneumonia always seems to increase this time of year. We are seeing more IBR and RSV cases up our way the last few weeks. We are also seeing some fluke; this would be related to the bad weather throughout the year. We’ve seen one or two cases recently of neosporia, which is leading to spring-calving cows now starting to abort.

Advice: “We’re seeing an increase in IBR – the vaccination starts looking very cheap when you have cattle that are very sick or dying.

“Seeing that the days are mild, and sheds are getting hot throughout the day, some of the problem is the sheds being inadequately ventilated. We’ve advised a few of our clients to improve air flow throughout their sheds.”

Andy Mayne Jubilee Vets, Belfast

“Pneumonia is the biggest thing we’ve seen over the last few weeks. Very warm weather during the day with wet spells are increasing this. It is not only viral pneumonia – there are large amounts of bacterial also.”

Advice: “Keep a close eye on cattle, look on how to improve ventilation and do not have houses overly stocked if at all possible.”

Tommy Vaughan Kanturk, Co Cork

“There has been a big increase in coccidiosis in weaning stock. In my opinion the main factor is more intensive farming, increasing stress factors throughout the year. Pneumonia is staying pretty static.

“There seems to be a slight increase of coughing cow in the dairy sector.

“We are not seeing IBR as around 60% of our clients are vaccinating. There is a bit of RSV, but again there is a large amount vaccinating for that.”

Advice: “We’re telling people take a step back in their dosing programme, treat calves with white drenches and save the ivermectin for the cows. Do not overdose – think strategic dosing. Don’t dose to such time where the animal has a slight cough. We’re also advising to keep up the IBR live vaccine programme as we’re seeing a better immune response.”

Diarmuid O’Sullivan Bunclody, Co Wexford

“We are starting to see an increase in pneumonia – a lot down to the mild days we’re experiencing. There is a lot of mycoplasma as well, especially in dairy herds.”

Advise: “This time of year, a good flukicide should be used. There are a lot of immature fluke about, mainly down to the dry summer. This goes for cattle and sheep. The key is ventilation. Lambing ewes should be in on a dry bed.”