Feed-related Diseases or Physiological Problems in Cattle

What are the feed-related diseases in cattle?

Bloat In Cattle

There are two types of bloat – gassy bloat and frothy bloat, with the latter being the most common type. Frothy bloat is caused by stable foam developing on top of the rumen liquid, blocking gas release. Symptoms include a distended left abdomen, pain, discomfort, and bellowing. Death can occur within 15 minutes. Treatment involves passing a stomach tube to release gas or administering antifoaming agents that disperse the foam. It is better to prevent bloat than treat affected animals through management and planning, which can significantly reduce the number of cases. Preventive measures include

• avoiding high-risk pastures at high-risk times,
• introducing cattle to them slowly, and
• administering antifoaming agents daily if bloat is a severe problem.

Milk Fever in Dairy Cattle 

Milk fever occurs in cows around calving. The disease is caused by low blood calcium levels (hypocalcaemia), generally due to calving and milk production. During the final months of pregnancy and early lactation, there is a considerable drain on a cow’s blood calcium to supply the developing calf and as a constituent of colostrum and milk. Most milk fever cases occur just before calving to within 10 days after calving. However, they can occur up to 3 months after calving, particularly if a cow is stressed. Milk fever, however, is most commonly seen within 72 hours from calving.

All cows are slightly hypocalcaemia at calving. However, in some cows, the lack of calcium becomes so great that clinical signs of milk fever appear. Generally, the disease usually affects the cows, which are high producers, on their third or subsequent calf and grazing lush pasture. Cows grazing pasture grown on soils with high potassium levels are also susceptible. Several factors have been associated with increased incidence of milk fever, including parturition and initiation of lactation, advancing age, breed, and diet.

The breed of the cow can influence the chances of a cow developing milk fever. Jerseys are more susceptible to it than Friesians, and some families, within various breeds, are more susceptible than others. Inducing an aged cow to calve can increase the risk.

Stage 1: 

In this stage, there is a short period where the cow will act excitedly, stiffening the muscles and trembling. The cow is usually reluctant to move or eat, and later, the hind legs become stiff and the cow staggers. These signs only last for a brief time and often go unnoticed.

Stage 2: 

Secondly, the cow lies down, cannot get up, and often has her head folded along her flank. Breathing becomes heavier, and the heartbeat gets faster. After going down, a dry muzzle, staring eyes, cold legs and ears, constipation, and drowsiness can be observed. The heartbeat becomes weaker and faster. The body temperature falls below normal, especially in cold, wet, windy weather.

Stage 3: 

Finally, the cow lies on its side with her legs stretched out and is almost unconscious. Bloat often develops, and regurgitation of the rumen contents is likely. If left untreated, at this stage, most animals die.

Treatment: In all milk fever cases, treatment is urgent and necessary. The first thing to do is ensure that the cow is sitting up to reduce the danger of choking. Prop her up with a bale of hay or a fence post if required. The standard treatment is injecting calcium boro-gluconate solution under the skin behind the shoulder. Other mineral deficiencies, such as magnesium and phosphorus, often contribute to the problem, and it is safer to inject a combined mineral solution to cover this possibility. Generally, at least 600 ml is required. The solution should be warmed to blood temperature (37°C or 98.6°F) before injecting under the skin.

After injection, the area should be firmly rubbed to spread the fluid and allow rapid absorption into the bloodstream. Cows that are staggering when first treated should then recover within one or two hours. If the animal is not on her feet in two hours, or if she is ‘flat out’, the cow may require an intravenous injection. Consult a veterinarian.

Prevention: Cows should be kept on a low-calcium diet while they are dry (not lactating). This stimulates their calcium regulatory system to keep the blood levels normal by mobilizing the body’s calcium stores from the bones. When the demand for calcium increases at calving, the nutrient can then be mobilized rapidly from bone rather than from the feed, preventing milk fever. Calves should be removed from affected cows, and after treatment, cows should be only partially milked out for the next 48 hours to reduce the calcium drain and prevent relapses.

Feeding before calving and restricting access to green feed results in acidic blood, which favours calcium mobilization from bone and improves calcium absorption from the intestines, which is an important factor in preventing the occurrence of milk fever.

Fat cows are at a greater risk than thin cows. This is partly because their feed and calcium intake has been higher. Additionally, fat cows produce more milk at calving time.

Magnesium oxide should be fed at a rate of 50g per cow per day from at least 10 days before calving. Then feed a calcium supplement after calving to prevent further problems at 50g of calcium, per cow, per day. Magnesium oxide can be administered in many forms as a powder dusted onto the paddock or feed source just before grazing, as an oral drench or through the water system.

Good management and knowledge can keep the incidence of milk fever to around 1% of calved cows. It is also possible to inject suspected cows under the skin with calcium boro-gluconate at or just after calving. Several other options are available that may be more appropriate.

Losses are due to deaths (about one in 20 affected cows dies), a reduction in the productive lifespan of each affected cow of about three years, and a reduction in milk production following each milk fever episode, as well as costs of prevention and treatment.

Abortion 

It is important to note that abortion can have a significant impact on the health and productivity of a herd, and identifying the underlying cause is critical for effective management and control.

It is also noteworthy that while some causes of abortion are non-infectious and sporadic, others can result in contagious abortion storms that can quickly spread through a herd. Therefore, good husbandry, feeding, management practices, and strict biosecurity measures are essential for preventing and controlling infectious abortion.

Furthermore, a thorough examination of each abortion case by a veterinary surgeon is important to gather information on the history of the cow and the herd, examine the cow and foetus, and collect laboratory samples to determine the underlying cause. With this information, appropriate control measures can be implemented to prevent future cases and protect the health and productivity of the herd.

Abortions in cows can occur due to various causes such as drug-induced, insemination, hypothyroidism, trauma/stress, nutritional deficiencies, twin pregnancy, and genetic malformation. Infections caused by agents like Salmonellosis, Listeriosis, Leptospirosis, Neospora caninum, Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, Campylobacteriosis, Fungal/mycotic, Epizootic/Chlamydia, Trichomoniasis, and Brucellosis can also cause abortions in cows. It is important to have a veterinary surgeon conduct a systemic examination of aborted cows to collect information on the cow’s history and herd, examine the cow and the fetus, and collect laboratory samples to determine the cause. The treatment should focus on ensuring that the cow does not suffer any long-term effects, and isolating the affected cows can prevent the spread of a contagious infection. Good husbandry, feeding, management, and biosecurity measures can help prevent non-infectious and infectious abortions.

Cystic Ovaries

A cystic ovary is an ovary with a large (usually greater than 2cm), persistent (usually for more than 10 days) fluid-filled structure. Cows with cystic ovaries usually have abnormal oestrus cycles, persistent oestrus, shortened oestrus intervals or failure to cycle. Persistent bullying behaviour, or nymphomania, is the least common clinical sign associated with cystic ovaries.

Diagnosis: Best done by ultrasound examination by a veterinarian

Treatment: Early prompt treatment is important. A wide range of products has been used to treat cystic ovaries. Progesterone, prostaglandins and gonadotropin-releasing hormones are the most commonly used products

Prevention: Correct formulation of the ration, Maximizing dry matter intake, Minimizing metabolic disease, maximizing the care of the cow at and just after calving.

Mastitis

Mastitis is a multifactorial disease in cows closely related to the production system and environment. Mastitis risk factors can be classified into 3 groups: host, pathogen, and environmental determinants. Read more in the article: “Mastitis in Cattle – Causes, Symptoms and Management”

Read more about feed-related diseases in cattle in the book  “Success in agribusiness: Profitable milk production” by James Mwangi Ndiritu.

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Pests in Cattle- Internal Parasites

Serious Cattle Diseases caused by Pathogenes 

Mastitis in Cattle – Causes, Symptoms and Management

Feed-related diseases or Physiological Problems in Cattle