Displaying items by tag: swede toxicity

The unusual pattern of disease and mortality that affected dairy cows grazing on swedes last winter in Southland and Otago was a topic for discussion at the recent New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) dairying conference held in Queenstown.

A talk at the NZVA Dairying for the Future Conference in Queenstown on Friday presented findings on last winter’s swede related deaths.

As in-calf data accumulates across Southland it appears the winter’s widespread swede problem hasn’t had a major impact on reproduction rates.

It is now four months since Rural News first reported on the deaths of Southland cows on swedes so I thought it would be a good time to determine that the investigation is on track and the correct questions are being asked.

Blood and autopsy samples from cows that were sick or died after grazing swedes in Southland last winter have confirmed liver damage but the role, or not, of the HT strain of the crop in the epidemic is still unclear.

LIVER DAMAGE is indicated in a DairyNZ analysis of the blood and autopsy samples the industry body collected from dairy cows experiencing ill-health after grazing on swedes in Southland.

DAIRYNZ says it is “finalising the findings” from initial blood and tissue samples from cows affected by what appeared to be swede toxicity problems last winter in Southland.