Are you bloat prepared?

With many properties in the area experiencing a good 'clover season' the Mid Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority vets are encouraging producers to take steps to counteract pasture bloat this spring.

Ian Poe, Mid Coast LHPA senior district vet, says there are a number of options available to producers to prevent or reduce bloat cases.

"There is no single method or combination of methods that is 100% effective at preventing bloat, and the option/s chosen will depend on labour availability and cost," he said.

"A simple preventative option involves feeding hay, silage or grazing alternate lower risk paddocks prior to introducing stock to high risk pastures, so they are not overly hungry.

"Alternatively limit grazing time or employ strip graze to restrict pasture intake. This can be a successful management tool provided alternate feed sources are available.

"The downside of this option is the labour costs involved in moving electric fencing if strip grazing is used. It is also important that grazing is not limited to a point where productivity may be affected and pastures are still utilised when at their greatest nutritive value.

"Another option includes daily spraying of pastures with oils/surfactants which may be suited to strip grazing operations whereby the day’s grazing area is sprayed. Problems may arise if heavy rain is encountered as this may wash the products off the pasture."

Dr Poe said there are other effective options available to producers which are more labour intensive and costly including drenching, anti-bloat preparations, surfactants and ionophors such as Monensin.

"Drenching animals twice daily with anti-bloat preparations is an effective measure, however it is labour intensive and may not be viable in most situations," said Dr Poe.

"Spraying or brushing the flanks of animals with anti-bloat preparations could be considered for smaller herds. For this to be an effective measure, the preparation needs to be consumed (licked) by the animal during the day.

"Adding surfactants to the water troughs may be an option provided it is the only source of drinking water, otherwise they may be provided via licks or blocks. This involves considerably less labour input, however, there can be considerable variation in intake between individual animals, resulting in variable results within the herd.

"Another option involves dosing cattle with Monensin boluses to prevent bloat for up to 100 days. These capsules also have the added benefit of improved production. They need to be given at least one week before access to high risk pastures."

For more information on managing bloat this spring, contact your local LHPA vet or your private vet.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378