At this time of year, the word bloat can strike fear for many cattle producers, but Bloat-Drench and Bloat Pasture Spray from Vicchem can help, says Vicchem’s Dugald McFarlane.
“Bloat can happen when gas develops from eating high-protein forages that ferment. Foam becomes trapped inside the rumen, the rumen swells, causing severe discomfort and can even kill the animal within an hour if not treated.
“With a wet winter and ongoing spring rains, with high levels of medic, clovers and lucerne in many pastures, conditions are ideal for an increased risk of cattle bloat,” he said.
“With high cattle prices, the financial risk of bloat from decreased weight gains, milk production or livestock death is even greater. I use Bloat-Drench on my own stock, it’s easy to use and safe, with the lush pasture growth and high cattle prices at the moment, it’s a huge loss if even one dies from bloat.
“I calculate the daily water use of my cows and then apply the required rate to the cattle’s only bulk water supply to ensure they are getting the right rate, which makes it all so easy.”
Mr McFarlane said Bloat-Drench is a ready-to-use oral drench that can be used by mixing with molasses in bail feeding or drum rollers and can also be metered into drinking troughs.
Drenching individual animals with 21mL of Bloat-Drench twice daily will prevent bloat. A suitable time for dairy animals is after each milking. In extreme bloat risk situations, it may be necessary to increase the dosage rate to 42mL twice daily.
Where facilities are available Bloat-Drench may also be mixed at a ratio of 1:1 with molasses and fed at the rate of 55mL per head twice daily in the bail.
Mr McFarlane said another convenient option where livestock have restricted access to water and to adequate metering devices, is to apply Bloat-Drench by adding to drinking troughs or drum rollers to provide cattle with an intake of 42mL of Bloat-Drench daily.
“Where no metering devices are available, allow 42mL per 15 litres of water trough capacity. As cattle water consumption is variable, it may be necessary to adjust the level of Bloat-Drench added to the drinking trough.
“It is vital that no other source of drinking water be available to ensure that stock gets the full rate when drinking. Wet conditions may mean fields have laying water, meaning cattle may not drink from troughs and be at increased bloat risk.”
Mr McFarlane said Vicchem’s Bloat Pasture Spray is another option that can be used to protect cattle when Bloat-Drench cannot be effectively applied.
“Vicchem’s Bloat Pasture Spray is a certified allowable organic input. Using 85mL of Bloat Pasture Spray per cow per day, 4.5 litres will protect 50 cows per day.
“For typical grazing situations, Bloat Pasture Spray can be made up as follows: mix 4.5 litres of Bloat Pasture Spray with 95 litres of water to cover the area to be grazed by 50 cows in one day.
“To ensure adequate penetration on idle pastures with heavy growth, the amount of Bloat Pasture Spray used may need to be greater than 4.5 litres in 95 litres of water. Conversely, less Bloat Pasture Spray than 4.5 litres per 95 litres of water may be required on paddocks with a lower animal feeding capacity.
“Alternatively, Bloat Pasture Spray without dilution (neat) as a drench at the rate of 113mL per cow, could be an option for organic cattle production,” Mr McFarlane said.
