We have had our herd for about 5 years and we have always sprayed navels with iodine shortly after birth. Until this year we used a 1 or 2% iodine solution because that was the only option at our farm store. This year I did some hunting and got a 7% solution because I thought it was better. Well...we are currently treating 4 of our 17 calves for infected navels! 3 of them seem mild (so far) but 1 calf also has a swollen knee. All are getting penicillin (vet said give for 5 days) and the worst one also got Nuflor yesterday.
I am pretty involved with the calves and look them over multiple times everyday. I am so frusterated by this because until now, we have never had any of our calves get infected navels and I don't understand why so many are getting it! The herd spends most of their time out on grass pasture. They do have acess to a shed but it is dry as well. If they were all in mud I would understand it more. Also confused because the one calf is almost 7 weeks old...maybe I'm wrong but I thought navels are sealed up by now?
I appreciate any insight on the subject...treatment opinions, ideas behind the outbreak, etc.
Is it likely that they will get over this? The 3 mild ones act fine...just have larger navels and dripping some puss. The 1 with the swollen leg is also acting good (seemed a little down a few days ago before we started meds)...limps but was running around with the others tonight.
Thank you!
I am pretty involved with the calves and look them over multiple times everyday. I am so frusterated by this because until now, we have never had any of our calves get infected navels and I don't understand why so many are getting it! The herd spends most of their time out on grass pasture. They do have acess to a shed but it is dry as well. If they were all in mud I would understand it more. Also confused because the one calf is almost 7 weeks old...maybe I'm wrong but I thought navels are sealed up by now?
I appreciate any insight on the subject...treatment opinions, ideas behind the outbreak, etc.
Is it likely that they will get over this? The 3 mild ones act fine...just have larger navels and dripping some puss. The 1 with the swollen leg is also acting good (seemed a little down a few days ago before we started meds)...limps but was running around with the others tonight.
Thank you!