Preventing and Managing Common Cattle Diseases
Keeping herds vaccinated and dewormed on schedule is one of the best ways to keep cattle healthy. It’s also important to have good facilities and handling equipment to reduce stress on the herd.
Isolating new purchases and minimizing commingling between groups of cattle is an effective herd health management practice. Similarly, draining wet areas and keeping water troughs free of mud helps to prevent hoof problems.
Flies
Flies are a common problem in beef cattle and can cause significant economic damage. Several species of fly bite livestock and can interfere with normal activities such as resting, feeding, or drinking. Some flies transmit disease agents, while others simply irritate animals. A large number of insecticides are available to control flies. Some are designed to resist horn flies, while others may be effective against face and house flies.
Horn flies (Figure 2) are very annoying to cattle, interrupting grazing, causing loss of weight, and reducing milk production. They pierce the skin to blood feed and are persistent biters, sometimes causing open sores that are susceptible to secondary infections. Often, they cluster on the withers and back of the head or other preferred locations. They also interfere with breeding by laying eggs in organic matter. High summertime populations of horn flies can reduce the rate of gain in beef cattle and lead to decreased milk production in lactating cows.
Face flies are very irritating to cattle, interfering with feeding, resting, and normal activities. They are a major factor in the development of pinkeye. They pierce the skin to blood drink and are persistent biters, frequently resulting in open sores on the face. Usually, these open sores are not serious, but they can significantly reduce milk production and weight gain when they become infected.
A large number of products are available for the control of face flies. Some are available as pour-on treatments, while others are designed to be applied to the ears or face as strips. A number of ear tags are also available that have insect growth regulators to prevent re-infestation and provide long-lasting protection.
Stable flies breed in fresh manure and complete their life cycle in 14 to 20 days, depending on the weather conditions. These flies are very difficult to control and require regular applications of sprays or pour-ons with an insecticide that has good efficacy against stable flies.
Bumblefoot is the most common foot problem in beef cattle, caused by a highly contagious bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium forms very potent spores that cattle can inhale or swallow. Signs of bumblefoot are pain, swelling of the soft tissue above the hoof, and a discharge with a foul odor. If the infection is not treated promptly, it can result in death within a few days.
Pinkeye
Pinkeye is a common affliction of cattle, and it can be difficult to control once an outbreak occurs. Fortunately, prevention can save both time and money compared to treating a full herd of cows once they are infected with the disease.
During an outbreak, pinkeye is characterized by excessive weeping from the eyes and closure of one or both of them due to pain. The bacteria that cause the infection, Moraxella bovis, invades the cornea, causing inflammation. This inflammation causes the eyes to become cloudy or white in appearance, resulting in an ulcer near the center of the eye. Pinkeye can occur in all seasons of the year and affects cattle of all ages. Several different risk factors can contribute to the development of pinkeye. These include flies, tall grasses that rub against the eyes, contaminated feed or hay, foreign material in the eyes, ear tags banging against the ears, and ultraviolet (UV) sunlight. Cattle breeds that lack pigment in the area around their eyes are more prone to pinkeye, as are bull calves.
Many different strategies have been used to prevent pinkeye, but it is important to understand that no single factor will stop the disease. Nutrition, fly control, and herd health are some of the most important management practices to reduce the likelihood of pinkeye outbreaks. Nutrition is especially important because it ensures that the herd’s immune system functions correctly. Fly control can be accomplished using fly sprays, special ear tags, and cattle rubs to remove irritants from the eyes of the animals. Removing contaminating materials such as manure, trash, and stagnant water can also aid in pinkeye prevention.
Antibiotic treatments can be helpful in reducing the duration and severity of pinkeye, but they may not completely prevent it. In addition, antibiotics can also contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance in the herd. A new treatment option is an antibiotic-free hypochlorous acid spray that can be applied directly to the eyes of affected cattle. This spray physically removes bacterial matter from the eye and flushes contaminants away from the cornea, which can help alleviate symptoms and speed healing. The spray remains in the eye for only a few minutes before tears wash it away, so it must be applied three times per day.
Warts
As the name implies, warts are a common problem for cattle. They are caused by a contagious virus (bovine papillomavirus; BPV) that spreads through direct contact between infected animals or indirectly through feeders, waterers, halters, and other equipment and working tools. The viruses that cause cow warts do not affect milk production and cannot be transferred to people. The virus also can survive for weeks or months in the environment on shed warts, scrapings, bits of tissue left behind on a halter, and even on a cow’s teat if she has been milked while infected.
Recognizing them early is the most important step in preventing and controlling warts. Observe cattle closely and watch for signs of infection, including swollen feet, eyes, mouth, or coronary band. Signs may include drooling, poor appetite, lameness, and a change in the shape or location of the hoof. A veterinary exam is recommended for any animal showing these symptoms.
While there is no preventive treatment, keeping infected cattle isolated and crushing warts at the first sign will help control the disease. It can take up to six months for warts to clear up, so keeping infected cattle separated from healthy cattle is helpful. A commercial wart vaccine is also available and has been proven to be effective in reducing the occurrence of the disease.
Affected calves should be provided with nutritious feed, plenty of clean water, and a pen that is protected from drafts, dampness, and sun. It is important to monitor the health of affected calves, and if they are not making adequate progress toward recovery, contact your veterinarian. Providing antibiotic ointments and other medical interventions as prescribed by your vet can speed up the healing process. If you decide to sell a cow with warts, full disclosure of the disease history must be made as failure to do so could disqualify your herd from shows and exhibitions. This will also make it more difficult for you to market your cattle. If you plan to do this, it’s recommended that you use a full-disclosure contract.
Bloat
Bloat is a common but preventable disease that occurs in both pastured and feedlot cattle. It is caused by the buildup of gas within the stomach (rumen). If not treated quickly, it can lead to death by suffocation. Often it takes only a few seconds to cause death which is a major reason why it is important to watch for early signs of bloat.
Pasture (frothy) bloat is usually seen in cattle grazing lush legume forage such as alfalfa, ladino or white clover or feeding green-chopped legumes. It can also be found in animals fed high-concentrate rations. This type of bloat is more commonly associated with acidosis and rumenitis than rotative colic. It can be prevented by providing roughage as part of the ration or grinding the grain portion of the diet coarsely to minimize separation.
This spring’s clover superabundance may make bloat more of a problem for cow-calf producers than usual. Having emergency supplies for preventing or treating bloating is vitally important to avoid serious production losses due to this potentially fatal condition.
These supplies should include a stomach tube or rubber hose that is 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter and 8 to 10 feet long, a supply of defoaming agent, and a large trocar. Having the equipment on hand will ensure that you can quickly and easily treat a bloated cow. When the animal is bloated it should not be fed or be allowed to walk. If the animal tries to eat it will probably spit it back out and then begin to bellow and stagger.
In frothy bloat, the animal’s rumen becomes distended by the ballooning of the rumen, and a lot of froth or foam makes it difficult to swallow or belch. This type of bloat requires immediate attention as it will result in the animal dying from suffocation in a matter of minutes.
A veterinarian should be called to examine the affected animal and determine the type of bloat. The animal should then be placed on a diet of dry hay or straw and administered antifoaming agents to help reduce the chance of recurrence of the bloat. If the animal is suffering from free gas bloat, the procedure to relieve it is much simpler; the rumen is filled with gases that can be released in less than a minute.
With a solid foundation in technology, backed by a BIT degree, Lucas Noah has carved a niche for himself in the world of content creation and digital storytelling. Currently lending his expertise to Creative Outrank LLC and Oceana Express LLC, Lucas has become a... Read more