Wazzzaaaaaaaahh.....!!! O.K. , it's childish I know, but I can't really get myself into the swing of "Yuletide Felicitations", "Merry Christmas", "Compliments of the Season" and all that jazz just yet. I suppose Christmas might well be seen as a time for reflection on the year past, assessment of goals and objectives achieved (or not) and re-dedication of our commitment to new ideals to be striven towards in the new year (or millennium, if you belong to the school of thought that says we were a tad premature with our extravagances of last year). Apropos of all that, was anybody bitten by the millennium bug ? Did anyone hear of any fatalities attributed to this much maligned organism ? Nope, thought not. Great scam though, wasn't it ? Even Santa managed to cope, though on reflection, his operation may not be computerised yet. 
On a personal note, I managed to implement my usual quota of New Year Resolutions i.e. not a single one. To wit : still smoking, still late with, well, just about everything, still virtually computer illiterate, still can't dance (although brave efforts were made to correct this shortcoming during a week on Collanmore Island in Clew Bay), and finally, despite that wonderfully intensive week of expert instruction, still couldn't tell you where the wind is coming from even with a weather vane welded to the mast. I hope you all did a little better. 
Next year I resolve to set more realistic targets : try to have eaten breakfast before meeting my first customer, try to read at least one book that owes more to literary merit than mass market hype, ditto for at least one film, try to expose myself to at least one live performance of , well, anything ; and if I achieve half of the above, I will have improved my hit rate by amounts heretofore unrecorded. 
It will undoubtedly not have gone unnoticed that I have made no mention of my commitments to Pharmachem ; I would refer you now to the word "realistic" strategically positioned in front of targets, and let that be an end to it. 
This is not to say that the rest of my colleagues will not be beavering away as usual on all our behalves. At this point I will take the opportunity to do a little bit of proselytising (most unlike me, I hear you chorus). In the absence of any volunteers to ritually humiliate themselves on a (nearly) monthly basis, may I suggest a resolution worthy of adoption by all concerned : try to use Pharmachem more than you have done ; if they annoy you, complain. Bitterly, irritably but above all, constructively. It's the only way to improve the service. But, if we don't use Pharmachem it will certainly wither, and with it will go any cohesively structured representation of our interests as veterinary pharmacists. 
That's it then, lecture over. It remains only to wish all our readers a happy, prosperous and resolution fulfilled new year. (I'll see you both in French's lads. It's my round). Anyone looking for me, I'll be "heaving with pain, eating my pud...........true.." 
Regards, Ian Mc etc.
 

PEVAPRLENT DISEASES
The Irish Farmers Journal November 4th 2000 Winter Animal Health supplement highlights the increase in certain diseases:

Salmonellosis, Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Calf Diarrhoea and the respiratory diseases such as IBR, RSV and P13.  There has already been a 20% increase in the sale of vaccines this year,  with the three peak months to follow December, January and February.
In order to be adapt and have a clear understanding of the many questions that will be forthcoming members are advised to refer to their Pharmachem Handbook and update themselves on the relevant sections, i.e. 
Respiratory Vaccines - Bovine Respiratory Disease   - Pneumonia in cattle.
These two articles cover in detail IBR, P13, RSV. Calf Diarrhoea  - Neo-Natal Calf Diarrhoea where the four main causes of calf scour are covered,
Nutritional
Bacterial  -  E-Coli, Salmonella
Viral  -  Retlovirus, Coronavirus
Protozoans  -  Cryptosporidium, Eimeria

the 1999 incidences are outlined in Figure 1 and the losses and gains in vaccines in Table 1.
Losses:  Scourguard, Bovivac, Bovivac P
Gains:    Lactovac, Bovival S
Grovax remains but availability is not dependable.

Bovivac S                                                                                  *                        6 & 3                  2             POM
                                                                                                                             weeks 
Imcoclibov                                                   *                                                     6 to 2                   1              LM
                                                                                                                             weeks                 
Lactovac          *                   *                     *                                                     6 & 2                   2              LM
                                                                                                                             weeks
Rotovac            *                                          *                                                     1 to 3                   1              LM
                                                                                                                            months 
Trivacton 6     *                  *                      *                                                    4 & 2                   2              LM
                                                                                                                            weeks 
*POM  -  prescribing only medicine; LM  -  licensed merchant (pharmacy, licensed premises, vet)
 

CRYPTOSPORIDIA

An area where prior to this season no product was available and of major concern was Cryptosporidia.  Cryptosponidia is likely to cause one third of all calf scour.  Transmission is by faecal oral route.  There was no treatment for infected animals until the arrival of Halocur on the market this year.  Halocur (halofuginone lactate) (POM) Intervet;  For the prevention of diarrhoea caused by Cryptosporidium Parvum is new born calves on farms with a history.
It also treats cryptosporidiosis reducing severity and duration of diarrhoea.  Halocur has been demonstrated to reduce oocyst excretion.
Administration:
For oral use in calves after feeding
Calves 35kg—45kg:  8ml of Halcur once a day for 7 consecutive days
Calves 45kg—60kg:  12ml of Halocur once a day for 7 consecutive days
Treatment should start within 24—48 hours of birth.  Dosage @ 2ml/10kg body weight (toxicity @ 2 times dose)      Package—490ml
 

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)

Clinical Syndromes:
Diarrhoea Syndrome
Immunosuppression
Pregnancy related disease  (i)    repeat breeder syndrome 
                                             (ii)   embryonic death
                                             (iii)  chronically infected calves

Mucosal Disease:  The calves born with BVD display-
(a)  Profuse watery diarrhoea
(b)  Lameness
(c)  Slobbering of saliva
(d)  Fever
And ill thrift

Diagnosis-
Blood sampling can be used to detect antibody and virus.  A bulk milk test can be used to screen the herd for BVD antibodies

Treatment:

Triangle BVD           - For use in healthy cattle
POM(E)                    - Inject I/M or subcutaneously
10 Dose                     - Initial cause pregnant animals 2x2ml 14 days apart
                                   - Calves vacinated under 6 months redo at weaning
                                   - booster annually                                   

Bovilis BVD              - Active immunisation of cows and heifers 
POM(E)                     - Inject I/M
5 Dose                        - Initial course 2x2ml 4 weeks apart
                                    - Second vaccine mus be given 4 weeks before gestation