Every year at disbudding along with checking the teats, we also check navels and find a number of infected navels
Often these are still in the early stages, but some will progress to more severe cases.
Risk factors for developing navel infections are
Inadequate colostrum antibody uptake by the calf
Calving in pugged paddocks
Dirty pick-up trailers
Delayed picking up of calves when in muddy conditions
Dirty bedding in calf sheds
Calves sucking each other's navels
While it is easy to just think about navels discharging pus and later on abscesses at the navel, in reality, the bacteria introduced at the navel can be spread around the body and produce more serious signs.
These can include:
Septicaemia
Meningitis- can be less responsive, head-pressing or seizuring
Cloudy eyes
Multiple swollen, infected joints
Infection of the urachus - a duct between the bladder and umbilicus that closes off at birth
How can you influence the incidence of navel ill?
Gold standard colostrum management
Spraying navels with Iodine at birth
Calving on clean pasture
Clean, dry calf sheds
A Multimin injection at birth
If you have further questions about how to reduce the incidence of navel ill on your farm, please let us know.
