|
|
|
|
|
May
2005 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
VACCINATION OF FAZENDA TAMANDUÁ’S HERD |
|
|
|
|
|
Even in organic production systems, vaccination is an essential tool
for the success of the cattle business, because it reduces the risk
of diseases attacking the animals, and consequently the use of
drugs.
This type of procedure does not present any risk of contamination to
the products (meat and/or milk), because it simply provokes an
immunological response in the individual animal. Following this line
of thought, Fazenda Tamanduá considers vaccination an important ally
in ensuring the health of its animals, and has therefore adopted the
following vaccination schedule: |
|
|
|
Vaccination
against
Foot-and-mouth disease |
|
|
|
|
Vaccine
|
Period |
Category |
Intervals |
Notes |
|
Anti-rabies |
January |
Animals from 3 months on |
Yearly |
|
|
Foot-and-mouth disease |
April and October |
Animals of all ages |
Half-yearly |
In
accordance with the State Program |
|
Brucellosis |
Year round |
Female calves between 3 and 8 months old |
Single dose |
In
accordance with the Agriculture Ministry’s program |
|
Clostridioses (Symptomatic
Carbuncle, Enterotoxaemia etc.) |
Year round |
Calves between 30 and 60 days of age |
Single dose |
|
|
Bovine Respiratory Complex |
Year round |
Calves between 30 and 60 days and pregnant females in the 8th
month of gestation |
Single dose |
|
|
Neonatal Diarrhea and environmental mastitis |
Year round |
Pregnant cows and heifers in their last month of gestation |
Single dose |
Immunizes the young through the colostrum |
|
|
|
|
The
year starts with the anti-rabies vaccination of the herd, when
animals from 3 months of age on are vaccinated. Animals receiving
their first vaccination receive a second dose 21 days later, with a
view to increasing the immunological response. In the months of
April and October, we administer the vaccination against
foot-and-mouth disease, in accordance with the official schedule of
the State Government’s eradication program. |
|
|
|
|
The
same happens in the case of the vaccination against brucellosis,
because even though the risk of this disease appearing on the farm
is low, females between 3 and 8 months old receive the vaccine,
following the requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture’s National
Program for the Control and Eradication of Brucellosis and
Tuberculosis.
In
addition, Fazenda Tamanduá has equipped its laboratory with the
necessary materials for testing for Brucellosis (plaque
agglutination) and Tuberculosis (Tuberculinization) in its animals,
with the approval of the official body.
Thus, we are ready to start the process of obtaining Certification
as a Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Free Area. |
|
|
|
Brucelosis
examaninations performed at Fazenda Tamandua´s Lab, approved
by the Ministy of Agriculture |
|
|
|
|
|
Female´s Tubercunilization
|
 |
|
Pregnant females receive vaccination against neonatal diarrhea and
BRC (Bovine Respiratory Complex), with a view to giving passive
immunity to their offspring, through the ingestion of the colostrum.
In
addition, the calf receives another dose of the vaccine against CRB
at about 30-60 days old.
At
this time, we carry out vaccination against clostridioses, also in
two doses so as to bring about perfect immunization of the animals.
Only by applying vaccination it is possible to implement a sound
organic cattle business, which is both safe and good quality. And
this is Fazenda Tamanduá’s commitment. |
|
|
|
|
EMBRAPA´S
VISIT |
|
|
|
|
Fazenda
Tamanduá was visited, in the month of April, by a group of three
researchers from EMBRAPA’s Cotton Unit in Campina Grande, State of
Paraiba. The group was composed of Cristina Schetino and Raul Porfírio,
both entomologists, and Gilvan Barbosa, a specialist in soil management
and plant nutrition; and in addition Pierre Silvie, a French
entomologist from CIRAD.
The
objective of this mission was to study the “Feasibility of organic
cotton cultivation in the North-Eastern Semi-arid Region”, especially
focused on small producers working as family economic units. Fazenda
Tamanduá carried out, over the last 3 years, a one-hectare test with BR
200 brown-colored arboreal cotton, which was launched by EMBRAPA and has
been widely disseminated in our sertão region of Espinharas.
|
|
|
|
The aim of the committee was to see in situ the organic
techniques practiced in the cultivation of this type of cotton,
assessing the incidence of insects in the plantation – especially
the bicudo (Anthonomus grandis), which was one of
the factors responsible for the cultivation of “white gold” (as
cotton was called) being abandoned in the sertão, as from
1984.
This brought about the impoverishment of all the farmers in the
semi-arid region who had planted cotton as a safe cash crop, which
also provided forage in the driest months – thanks to its leaves
and the cottonseed cake, which was sold at low prices to producers
and was an exceptional source of protein to feed the animals they
kept for income.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
composting work carried out on the farm was also studied. The compost,
applied as a foundation and at the surface, ensures more balanced nutrition
for the plant and therefore enables better resistance against pests.
Finally, the cost worksheet drawn up at the farm was analyzed; the result
proves that the lack of mechanization in cultivating and harvesting in the
North-East leads to a large-scale use of labor, thus making cotton planting
unviable for structured companies, leaving it to small producers who work
mainly in family units.
On
this occasion, we received some seeds of the BSR Ruby variety, an annual
herbaceous cotton with reddish plumes and with a white fiber percentage
below 3%. This will be tested with great care. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Fazenda
Tamanduá
Caixa Postal 65 - Patos / Paraíba - CEP 58700-970 - Brazil
Tel.(55
83)3422-7070 Fax(55 83)3422-7071 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
