Test results....relief

[hoperefuge]

I started out as one of those naive types, who didn't worry much about what diseases animals might be bringing to my property.  But as I learned more over the years, it started to concern me a bit.  Then a few years ago, I bought a cow from a well-known breeder, that ended up aborting twice.  After the second time, we ran an abortion panel on her, and she came back positive for neospora. (cow was butchered) I had several discussions with other cattle folks, a vet friend, and our own vet, and was dissuaded from testing my entire herd at that time.  The reasoning being I wasn't having any problems with other cows, but it's common to find low positives who don't have any problems from it...and then what are you going to do with the info.

Last year, I got tired of being continually worried that somebody might abort & trying to watch all my cows like a hawk.  Too much stress not knowing if anybody else had been exposed or not.  So over the winter, I decided I need to do the right thing & get my cows tested, not only for neospora, but also BLV, BVD, and Johne's, the big four that family milk cow types worry about.  So last week, the vet came out & drew blood from all my girls 2yr+, which included all the ones that were here at the same time as the neospora pos. cow.

I got my results yesterday, and everybody is negative for everything!   What a relief!!

Kim

[legendrockranch]

For the most part I have always been overly concerned about diseases that can be spread. Animals that come on my property HAVE to stay in their trailers, and never near or on the pastures my cattle are on. I do not show my Dexters.
Many years ago when Chris Odem was alive a few of his Dexters contracted neospora. Aborted calves and after that the cows were destroyed. It was terrible.
From what I remember several animals like dogs, fox, coyotes, raccoon plus others can be carriers. Also infected streams.

So glad you can breath a little easier.

For those not familiar with neospora
www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/generalized_conditions/neosporosis/overview_of_neosporosis.html

Barb

[zephyrhillsusan]

Great news, hoperefuge! I tested ours about two years ago and was SO relieved when they came back negative, so I understand your relief. I didn't test for neospora on our vet's recommendation that we didn't need to, but we did test for the other "biggies." I quit using a vet after finding out that he had a cow with Johne's on his property. Having (unknowingly) had him on our farm was one of the factors that prompted me to test our animals, including the bull and steers. The vet I use now sprays his boots when he leaves a farm, which I really appreciate.

[carragheendexters]

You must be feeling so relieved. In Australia the main vector for Neospora is foxes. We trap and kill as many as we can but it freaks me out when I see fox poop out in the paddocks, I pick it up and dispose.
Do you have a Johnes programme in US. We have a MAP program where you register and have property inspections, then your cattle are tested regularly to make sure you are free of it.
Some large studs use it as a marketing tool.
It causes a lot of work and headaches, you can only purchase other cattle from monitored herds, at shows you are stalled separately and have separate wash bays.

[legendrockranch]

Louise, I'm glad I'm not the only one that traps and kills the varmints, including foxes.
We cover our hay that is underneath the barn with tarps. The coons or whatever, still manage to get underneath the tarps and defecate on the top sides of our round bales.

Barb

[zephyrhillsusan]

  There's always something to be on top of, isn't there?!

[hoperefuge]

Well, we don't have too much trouble with varmints getting on our hay, anyway.

My vet was so surprised that all my cows were totally negative.  He's used to these things being so prevalent.

Kim