Common Diseases Of Cattle

Introduction

Cattle, like most organisms on Earth, are susceptible to a range of different diseases. These diseases each have varying causes, symptoms and treatments methods. In this article we will explore some of the diseases of cattle and their relevant information. 

History

Blackfoot is a diseases of cattle that can be fatal, and is extremely severe in nature. It is usually caused by the gas producing bacteria Clostridium chauvoei, but it can also be caused Clostridium feseri. This harmful bacteria enters upon the cattle by ingestion, and makes it way to its digestive system.The signs of this diseases in cattle is: the inability to walk properly, loss of appetite, a high temperature, swelling and a build up of gas which that develops in shoulder, back, and neck. This  disease will take the life of a cow within a short time period. 

Blue tongue is a type of disease that usually infects goats and sheep, but it is known sometimes to infect cattle. This disease in cattle is caused  a virus belonging to the family Reoviridae, and is spread via the an insect vector. The various symptoms for this disease are: high fever, excess salivation , nasal discharge,  swelling of the face and tongue and cyanosis of the tongue. This swelling gives the tongue the characterized blue appearance. This disease may also produce foot lesions, which can subsequently cause the animal to become lame. The main action to perform when this disease manifests is to quarantine the infected cattle to prevent the virus from spreading. 

 

Features

Bloat in cattle is the build up of gas in the rumen, and this diseases in cattle is most common in spring and autumn. There are two forms of bloat, gassy bloat and frothy bloat.  The clinical signs of bloat are as follows: distended left abdomen, pain, discomfort, and bellowing, and in some cases death. It is recommended that you prevent the onset of bloat, as treating it can be quite difficult. To prevent this diseases in cattle, you can perform the following actions: avoid using pasture that has a high clover rate or has produced bloat in the past,  keep up fibre intakes at risk periods and administer anti-foaming agents daily if bloat is a severe problem.

Mastitis is a disease that affects diary cows, and is characterised by an inflamed udder. This disease can be discerned in a cow via swelling, heat, redness, hardness or pain of the udder, and various abnormalities in the cows milk (watery appearance, flakes, clots, or pus). The treatment for this disorder is the administration of long-acting antibiotics. This may be administered either via an injection into the cows body (systemic) or upwards through the teat (intramammary infusion). Additionally there are actions you can undertake to prevent mastitis from occurring these include good nutrition and proper milking hygiene.

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