#Farming columnist - Hazel Mullins

#Farming columnist - Hazel Mullins

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p> My standard treatment approach to an Ecoli mastitis case is always lots of fluids, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics.</p>

farming

Hazell Mullins: How to treat toxic mastitis, known as 'The Felon' by some farmers

Always call your vet if you have any suspicion of a cow with E-coli mastitis, time is a huge factor in prognosis.

<p>The fundamental concept of AMR is that bacteria that infect animals carry genes that become resistant to antibiotics that can then pass to bacteria that infect humans. </p>

farming

Hazell Mullins: One Health, one welfare - everyone's role in limiting AMR

<p>The importance of silage testing should not be overlooked on farms. Knowledge is power when it comes to winter feeding, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.</p>

farming

Hazell Mullins: Cows are what they eat - so make sure you know what's in their feed

Fatmilking of cow utter before milking

farming

Dry off preparation - the essential shopping list

Hazell Mullins: The TB test - the anxious wait

farming

Hazell Mullins: The TB test - the anxious wait

Veterinarian giving vaccine to cows

farming

Uterine Prolapse - the "quiet" Sunday morning on call

row of cows being milked

'A new era in drying off' — my take-home points from the cell check conference

Channelling Taylor Swift herself the conference was aptly named 'Drying off in the New Era', the era of course is that of responsible use of antibiotics on farms

Wed, 25 Sep, 2024

Hazell Mullins: The lack of summer sun hasn't just been bad for us humans

Hazell Mullins: The lack of summer sun hasn't just been bad for us humans

UV rays help to kill fungal spores that may be present at pasture, especially on wooden fence posts, one of their favourite hiding spots.

Thu, 12 Sep, 2024

Cow, calf

Hazell Mullins: Pneumonia vaccine planning - timing is everything

The start of September is my reminder that the vaccine course needs to be started, writes large animal vet Hazell Mullins.

Mon, 02 Sep, 2024

blood draw on a horse

Hazell Mullins: Equine parasite resistance — it's not just confined to cattle and sheep

A hot topic of conversation at this year's Dublin horse show

Wed, 21 Aug, 2024

Paris 2024 Olympic Games - Day Ten

The River Seine — a timely reminder for Irish farmers to check water quality

I for one won't be going for a swim any time soon in the River Seine, the headlines have brought the topic of water quality to the forefront and is a timely reminder of the importance of clean fresh water for our livestock on farms

Wed, 14 Aug, 2024

Calf at Dairy Farm Cow Pennsylvania Holstein Cute Baby Animal

Watch out for Clostridial disease: It's not all about blackleg

A case of a seven-month-old calf that was off-form, dehydrated and appeared to have blood in her faeces, appeared to be a mystery at first.

Wed, 07 Aug, 2024

liver fluke under light microscopy

Are worms winning the 'Parasite Olympics' — The science behind the race to resistance

With dairy cows mid-lactation, Eprinomectin is our only non-milk withdrawal dose available and it is vital we protect its efficiency by using it sparingly, writes Hazell Mullins

Tue, 30 Jul, 2024

Dairy cattle eye check

Hazell Mullins: The SI that could change the future of Veterinary

Other EU countries have enforced this law since 2007, when Ireland received a derogation as there was no scientific evidence of resistance; this situation has changed dramatically.

Mon, 22 Jul, 2024

Cow's snout nose close-up

Lungworm strikes again - 'Reinfection Syndrome' explained

Unlike stomach worms, for which selective targeted treatment can be used in some instances, lungworm is better treated as a whole group due to its complicated immunity story, advises farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Mon, 15 Jul, 2024

New vets on the block: Working environment for Paramount graduates of the highest standard

New vets on the block: Working environment for Paramount graduates of the highest standard

Many vets leave clinical practice before they are eight years qualified, and this needs to change, writes Irish Examiner Farming columnist Hazell Mullins.

Tue, 02 Jul, 2024

Calf at Dairy Farm Cow Pennsylvania Holstein Cute Baby Animal

The "wandering" calf - CCN Season

Like clockwork, last week I received a call out of hours to a calf found collapsed in a field, CCN immediately sprung to mind, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Sun, 09 Jun, 2024

Hazell Mullins: Don't take your eye off calves at grass

Hazell Mullins: Don't take your eye off calves at grass

I am determined to try and keep summer scour syndrome at bay this year.

Tue, 04 Jun, 2024

Limousin bull and cows in a field

Bull pre-breeding boot camp for Scott the 8th

There can be an over-expectation of how many cows a bull can serve. Be realistic with how much he can do, and make sure he is set up for success, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Wed, 15 May, 2024

Senior farmer examining earth on his farm

Blackleg: The preventable killer you need to consider this spring

Unforunately Blackleg is often fatal, so prevention is key writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Tue, 07 May, 2024

Holstein cow walking over an automatic slurry scraper

Hazell Mullins: Ketosis — the spider's web of cow diseases

In cows, ketosis can cause them to not eat, which worsens the problems — the nausea of the cow world

Tue, 16 Apr, 2024

New born lambs on a farm in springtime

Toxic shock and FMA Syndrome on the farm

The newborn lamb's stomach has a neutral pH, which allows the perfect conditions for E. Coli proliferation when ingested, warns farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Wed, 03 Apr, 2024

Veterinarian listening to cow heartbeat

Hazell Mullins: Prioritising high-risk cows for pre-breeding scans

Pre-breeding scans can be useful to identify and solve some of the biggest fertility issues for cows.

Tue, 26 Mar, 2024

cow

Disbudding and the clear benefits of added pain relief

More vets in Ireland are beginning to offer knock-down sedation for dehorning, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Mon, 18 Mar, 2024

Baby calves in a barn

Respiratory disease can strike both calves and vets

I failed to see the warning signs of my health deteriorating while monitoring the calf's health

Mon, 11 Mar, 2024

Cows Walking

The five animal health topics vets are talking about this spring

Large animal vet Hazell Mullins shares some of the animal health rearing their heads this spring.

Mon, 26 Feb, 2024

Hazell Mullins: Schmallenberg virus cases confirmed in Ireland — how to recognise the signs

S Hazell Mullins: Schmallenberg virus cases confirmed in Ireland — how to recognise the signs

Virus can cause deformities in newborn lambs and calves

Thu, 15 Feb, 2024

Dairy calves drinking milk

Calf feeding 101 – back to basics

Calves are arriving steadily on the farm now; it’s the best part of early spring, as the joy is still very much there before the tiredness creeps in later in the month.

Fri, 02 Feb, 2024

Brown cow in a field

Milk fever: A vet's tips for prevention and cure

A cow goes from needing approximately 20g of calcium a day whilst dry to needing over 80g when calved - that is a four-fold increase in the demand.

Fri, 26 Jan, 2024

Cow scratching on pole

Lice alert - a consequence of a longer housing period?

It’s that time of year when I tend to notice patches of hair loss on the cattle while I'm out testing. They may even delay going into the crush in exchange for a good scratch on the shed wall.

Mon, 15 Jan, 2024

Cow bonding with her newborn calf

Heifer hygiene is extremely important for mastitis control

The immune system is naturally suppressed around the time of calving adding to the risk factors

Tue, 09 Jan, 2024

newborn calf

New year - Time to think about scour prevention

Correctly timing vaccinations mean calves can be protected before they are even born.

Tue, 02 Jan, 2024

The holly and the ringworm - more than an old wives' tale?

The holly and the ringworm - more than an old wives' tale?

The festive season was in full swing in the weanling shed in Ballylanders, with fresh branches of Holly hanging from the roof, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Tue, 19 Dec, 2023

Hazell Mullins: The Santa 'spring essential' list for healthy calves

S Hazell Mullins: The Santa 'spring essential' list for healthy calves

Getting 2024 off to a healthy start

Wed, 13 Dec, 2023

Why you should channel your inner scout on the farm this week

Why you should channel your inner scout on the farm this week

'Be Prepared' comes to mind when calving season comes around

Mon, 04 Dec, 2023

Cow eating in a milk production farm

Pneumonia was calling last weekend- How to prevent mid housing season

Last weekend was my first full weekend on call since September, and like all weekends on call, you just never know how they are going to unfold - it keeps you on your toes.

Wed, 29 Nov, 2023

Dairy cow in cubicle shed

Are you cudding me? - The sign in the cubicle house that something's not right

Silage which is too acidic can lead to poor intake and digestive upsets, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Sat, 18 Nov, 2023

Pregnant Cotswold Sheep

Bluetongue confirmed in Kent - the signs to watch out for

One lesson I learned from my vet school reunion in Nottingham last week was that despite what we think we are certainly not 22 anymore and my body let me know of this rude truth all too well on Sunday morning.

Tue, 14 Nov, 2023

Serene atmosphere: Flock of Merino sheep grazing in the cloudy pasture.

Make sure you're ready as season's first fluke cases emerge

Time truly flies, it only feels like yesterday that I was boarding the plane to Nottingham as a vet student but now I am about to get that same flight for our 10-year reunion.

Fri, 03 Nov, 2023

Disinfectant on dairy cow's teats

Vet on the Moove: Cell Check - you’ve got mail

It was such a surreal experience to visit Venice last week, knowing that Cork was morphing into its duplicate. We had a wonderful holiday, yet it was hard to stitch off entirely from the news of the flooding horrors occurring in Cork.

Fri, 27 Oct, 2023

Vet on the Moove: Creating our own dry cow "Spa Shed"

Vet on the Moove: Creating our own dry cow "Spa Shed"

Stress can play havoc with a healthy immune system, writes farm vet Hazell Mullins.

Sat, 14 Oct, 2023

Holstein Dairy Cows

S Abomasal ulcers in milking cows — the mysterious disease

Last week was busy with Dad away on his holidays in Dingle but I can confirm the farm is still standing. The cow's cough is improving, it will take a week to 10 days for it to settle.

Mon, 09 Oct, 2023

Lungworms, the dreaded 'Re-infection syndrome' - and what to do about them

Lungworms, the dreaded 'Re-infection syndrome' - and what to do about them

Storm Agnes was a reminder of how the weather can have such an influence on both farming and vetting. Luckily, it fell on a Wednesday so it meant the extreme sport of "Storm TB testing" was avoided.

Mon, 02 Oct, 2023

Nguni cow being checked and treated for ticks

Late autumn marks a peak in 'tick season'

Ticks thrive in warm, humid conditions so Ireland’s climate lends itself nicely to encouraging their population to multiply

Tue, 26 Sep, 2023

veterinarian at farm cattle

Now is the time to think about vaccinating for salmonella

Our Indian summer has come and gone, I had forgotten the “joy” of TB testing in non-breathable waterproofs. It was such a lift for everyone’s mood and it was a great time to get jobs done on the farm without having to shelter from the rain.

Mon, 18 Sep, 2023

Veterinarian with syringe on farm

With thoughts of housing, it is also time to think about when to vaccinate

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet for pneumonia prevention.

Tue, 12 Sep, 2023

Dairy cow and Sheepdog

Breaking the dog-to-cow transmission cycle of Neospora

Last week as I received an unexpected message from a farmer that I used to be their vet for many years, wishing me well on my marriage but also asking a favour.

Tue, 05 Sep, 2023

How St John’s Wort can cause sunburn in cattle

How St John’s Wort can cause sunburn in cattle

The status quo has returned this week. I am back to my beloved cows with a busy week of TB testing in the shadows of Galtee mountains in Mitchelstown. The natural beauty of the area is remarkable.

Tue, 29 Aug, 2023

Horse

Vet on the Moove: Be aware of the risks when co-grazing horses with cattle

There is so much talk about mixed species swards, it’s time to talk about mixed species grazing and the risks that need to be kept in mind

Mon, 21 Aug, 2023

calves in the field

Summer Scour Syndrome should be renamed "the frustration syndrome"

Summer scour syndrome is the disease that leaves me baffled on a regular basis in practice. Although we haven’t seen much of summer weather-wise, cross the country, calves are suffering from this complicated disease.

Tue, 15 Aug, 2023