[Serum gammaglobulin titer in goat kids after colostrum administration: effect of commercial colostrum replacers]. / Serumgammaglobulineconcentratie van geitenlammeren als maat voor biestvoorziening: effect van commerciële biestvervangers.

Seven commercially available colostrum replacers were tested for their ability to substitute for goat colostrum as a source of gammaglobulin for goat kids. One hundred kids were fed with goat colostrum or colostrum replacer after separation from their mothers at birth. Blood samples were taken from ten kids at birth, and from all kids at 48 hours after birth. Samples were used to measure the total protein content and gammaglobulin concentration of serum. Kids fed with goat colostrum had higher gammaglobulin concentrations than newborn kids or kids fed with replacer. For three replacers, the gammaglobulin concentrations were the same as those of newborn kids. For three other replacers, the gammablobulin concentrations were similar but higher than those of newborn kids. For one replacer, the levels of gammaglobulin were higher than those of in newborn kids and higher than those measured after feeding of the other replacers. None of the replacers was an adequate substitute for goat colostrum as a source of gammaglobulins.

[Serum gamma globulin concentration in goat kids after colostrum administration: effect of time of administration, volume and type of colostrum]. / Serumgammaglobulineconcentratie van geitenlammeren als maat voor biestvoorziening: effect van toedieningstijdstip, volume en biesttype.

In this study, which was performed on a Dutch dairy goat farm, several aspects of the administration of colostrum to new-born goat kids were examined. Time of colostrum administration and amount and type of colostrum administered were compared. Effectiveness was measured as total serum protein content and gamma globulin fraction. No significant differences in serum gamma globulin titre were observed between kids that received colostrum at 30 or 60-90 minutes post partum, respectively. Titres were significantly lower in kids that received 100 ml of colostrum instead of 150-200 ml. The effect of sheep colostrum replacer or cow colostrum was also examined. Gamma globulin titres were significantly high with goat colostrum than with cow colostrum or sheep colostrum replacer, and titres were higher with cow colostrum than with sheep colostrum replacer. Based on the results of this experiment, the following protocol is suggested for colostrum administration to goat kids: single administration of 150-200 ml of goat colostrum within 90 minutes of birth. Use of cow colostrum is not advised because it may lead to transmission of paratuberculosis. Use of sheep colostrum replacer as a source of passive immunity is not recommended.

An attempt to control lungworm disease and parasitic gastroenteritis on commercial dairy farms by the use of an adaptation of Michel's dose-and-move system.

On seven dairy farms an attempt was made to control lungworm disease in calves by turnout on a pasture grazed earlier by cows, followed by a move to aftermath and ivermectin treatment 2 months later. Transmission of lungworm was observed on all farms. Lungworm disease occurred on four farms at treatment. Coughing re-occurred on three of these farms in some animals 2 months later. Owing to poor performance between turnout and treatment, weight gain was below the norm on the farm with the highest infections and most severe respiratory signs. On the other farms respiratory signs did not result in poor weight gain. Gastrointestinal nematode infections remained low on all farms. The conclusion is that this dose and move scheme cannot be recommended for the control of lungworm.

[Pseudotuberculosis in goats also in the Netherlands. A literature review]. / Pseudotuberculose bij de geit, ook in Nederland. Een literatuuroverzicht.

Pseudotuberculosis or caseous lymphadenitis in goats is marked by superficial abscesses and was recently observed in the Netherlands. The literature on this disease is reviewed, concerning the incidence, aetiology, pathogenesis, symptoms, diagnosis, therapy and preventive measures. The damage which the disease could cause to goat husbandry in the Netherlands, is discussed. Although the losses from death and diminished production will probably be small, treatment is time-consuming and requires much labour. The greatest damage will possibly consist in the fact that breeders will not be able to sell their animals when caseous lymphadenitis occurs in their herd. Particularly, the export of breeding stock could be menaced by this disease.

[An investigation into the use of rubber shoe blocks to avoid undue pressure on the feet of cattle (author's transl)]. / Een onderzoek naar de bruikbaarheid van een rubber klauwblokje ter ontlasting van runderklauwen.

A brief review of the advantages and disadvantages of the various methods of avoiding undue pressure on the affected feet of cattle is followed by a report on a study of the use of a new shoe block in dealing with this problem. This new shoe was developed in the ambulatory Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. It was nailed under the feet of thirty cows which were not lame and were housed on a concrete slatted floor. Despite adverse housing conditions, the feet and shoes were still firmly connected three weeks later in 76.7 per cent and forty-nine days later in 50 per cent of the animals. The wear on the rubber shoe block was so slight as to be negligible and untoward side-effects were not observed. This type of shoe block would therefore appear to be a useful aid in avoiding undue pressure on the feet over a prolonged period.

[Use of the computer in herd health programmes (author's transl)]. / Het gebruik van de computer in de veterinaire bedrijfsbegeleiding.

To ensure efficient management, a continuous flow of information should be available to the farmer. This can be achieved by external or internal data-processing systems. In external systems, farm data is automatically processed by a central computer in the majority of cases. The practical drawback to internal data-processing systems is that analysis has to be done manually. This disadvantage can be overcome when the computer is brought to the farm. However, this development is currently hampered by a lack of tested programmes. It is essential that effective programmes should be developed quickly. In addition, it would be advantageous if external and internal information could be complementary and interchangeable. This would warrant the establishment of a nation-wide data bank.