Dexter losing weight? - Advice on drench....

AndyHarvey · Post by **AndyHarvey** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 12:32 am

Thanks for reading - my 4 yr old Dexter seems to be losing wieght - she has enough food. I thought it may be a wormy thing? Any suggestions for a good, general drench please?

Thanks

Andy

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:18 am

Is this your only Dexter? If not are the others all doing well? It is unusual for roundworms to cause clinical disease in adult cattle unless there have been unusual circumstances preventing exposure to worms in their earlier years. Is she scouring? If so you should maybe have her tested for Johnes disease. If not maybe treat her for fluke (Fasinex or Tribex) and if there is not a good response have your vet look at her. Maybe she is not ill but not getting enough food for suckling a calf and carrying one inside as well?

Duncan

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:08 pm

Are you feeding hay?

There can still be a good deal of grass around but the quality at this time of the year is very poor.

Is she happily grazing/eating hay?

Does she have a good supply of drinking water?

What are her droppings like is she very loose or constipated?

Is she in calf? Perhaps she is carrying twins.

Like Duncan I wonder if she is with other cows of any type and how are they coping?

Is she showing any signs of illness?

If she is with others is she being bullied, perhaps pushed off the food?

Stephanie

AndyHarvey · Post by **AndyHarvey** » Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:34 pm

Really helpful replies - thanks. I think my first course of action will be to 'Fluke' her - she shoudl be in calf and has one at hoof. Foolishly I hadn't thought of this (novice!) and will add some cow nuts to her hay and grass diet.

She and her calf are the only cattle in a 2 acre field with 3 ewes so the competition for food is low.

Thanks again.

Andy

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 9:28 am

Andy, be very carefull as although she may be in a 2 acre paddock with very little else to compete for grass, what grass is there? At this time of year there will be very little substance in whatever grass you have, so you should be feeding hay anyway. I try to judge the quality of grass that my animals have and hope to give hay before they start to lose condition. If I am in any doubt at all I will feed hay. If you are going to feed nuts, introduce them slowly and do not feed too much. How old is the calf? Should it be weaned already? If you find it difficult to reverse the weight loss maybe you should find a local tame farmer to give you some advice, or you may find a Dexter breader within easy distance that would advise you. Don't be afraid to seek advice, remember we where all novices at some time. As you can see from this site, we like to help too.

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:21 am

Also make sure that the cow and calf eat all the nuts you put as cow concentrate has too high level of copper for sheep and can kill them.

I am sure one or two nuts that they miss won't hurt at all but many years ago I found out the hard way that a reasonable quantity can kill a sheep. I think it is the liver that is affected from what I remember.

Stephanie