Iodine deficiency

Re: Iodine deficiency

Alan Tevendale — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 15:51:22 GMT

In reply to your comments James, total protein, albumin. globulin, BHB, Urea, Ca, Phos, Mg, GPX, NEFA and Cu are all within normal range.

I would agree that energy balance is playing a roll here but I get the feeling it's not the whole picture. Sending a dead calf for PM may help but isn't really an option right now. There doesn't seem to be a whole heap of loss of condition around calving (just fat throughout!) although I agree that again this has to be taken into account.

Re: Iodine deficiency

krob3457@hotmail.com — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 15:30:59 GMT

I have been working on this case with alan and I need help!

I measured PII and they both came back low 15 and 95 (115 - 287). This is all very well but they bolus with high iodine given (I am assured) according to the manufacterers recommendations. They have had 2 x two lots of bolus each 6 months apart. We are only 4 mths since the last bolus so how can I get results like this?!

Is it worth then measuring T4 although as they feed Kale this result is going to be not as accurate I would think? HELP!

Re: Iodine deficiency

James Kerr — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:40:21 GMT

Oh I see - big pairs of trousers fastened precariously with baler twine kind of scenario, is it?

Is it worth getting a dead calf off to a lab if the opportunity arises? Might give you more of a handle on the iodine situation.

With the summer as it has been, we have seen some pretty poor fertility in our dairies, and I would suspect energy balance is high up the list in a lot of these cases. Not quite so straight forward in your case, but if these are still essentially dairy cows, calving over-conditioned, then eating not enough forage of dubious quality... you see where I'm going. Did your fertility profile include BHB/NEFAs?

Re: Iodine deficiency

Alan Tevendale — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 15:41:21 GMT

I tested PII and calves were being born alive but died very soon after birth/still born. Unsure whether goitre present.... The cows are all on the heavier side of things!!! Also mentioned as a possibility for poor fertility.....

Turned to beef two seasons ago, so still dairy cows present (majority are ex milkers). Feeding management has been changed since then and these problems started potnetially in the last year of being a dairy herd (but heat detection was blamed initially because the herdsman had changed and did seem to slightly improve afterwards). Definately problems though since started being a beef herd. Concentrates given regularly as far as i can tell.

I reiterate that these people are not the easiest (or most fully clothed) clients!

Re: Iodine deficiency

James Kerr — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:51:08 GMT

It's a quiet-looking afternoon here, so nice to have something to think about Alan!

The iodine/fertility thing is a bit hard to nail down I believe, have there been any other signs in calves (e.g. goitres)? And how long since he turned beef, are these now suckler cows or ex-dairy cows, how has he changed their feeding management, how long has he been aware of poor conception rates? Iodine levels in blood are pretty short-lived I believe, and variable depending on feed intakes etc, is he regularly/consistently feeding concentrates? Should be fairly easy to maintain iodine levels if he is, although may need higher iodine content if goitregenic compounds are around (if eating lots of kale then quite possible) - maybe 1-2mg/kg rather than 0.5mg/kg. Boluses take a bit of work and are quite expensive, but should provide easily enough iodine.

Don' know if this is any use, possibly more questions than answers, let me know if I can muddy the waters any further!

Re: Iodine deficiency

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:40:52 GMT

I hate iodine in cattle, because I'm not sure how much faith we can have in the testing. Did you do PII or T4?

If 2 Cosecure boluses don't improve things (I really not trying to teach you to suck eggs, so please take this in the right way) it's been a weird year with hardly any nutritional value to forage. I'm seeing a lot of animals in much poorer body condition than I should. Also diagnosing a lot of fluke.

I think you could have a number of factors at play. Not convinced just fixing iodine will get you results.

(unless you have some dead calves with goitres then I retract that statement)