Diseases of Beef Animals
Jan 01, 2016
Diseases of Beef animals include:
•Tuberculosis (TB)
•Stomach and Intestinal Worms.
•Lungworms
•Blackleg
•Grass Tetany
•Lice
•Red Water Fever
Tuberculosis (TB) It affects all types of cattle, of all ages. Caused by Mycobacterium bovus Highly infectious Humans can also get this disease (A Zoonose)
Symptoms Failure to Thrive Sweating Bad appearance
Advanced symptoms: Emaciation Coughing Fever and Death Prevention None really Don’t buy in stock Good farm hygiene No drinking from streamsTreatment Slow veterinary assistance for TB All affected animals are culled
Stomach Worms
Cause: A nematode in the cow’s digestive
tract. Older cows get a resistance to stomach
worms.
Symptoms: Diarrhoea, failure to thrive, growth
restriction.
Prevention: Proper grazing management,
leader follower system, dosing.
Treatment: Dosed with a suitable nematicide.
Lung Worms (Hoose)
Cause: Nematode in the lungs.
Symptoms: Hoarse, husky cough, failure
to thrive.
Prevention: Proper grazing management,
leader follower system, hoose vaccine.
Treatment: Dosed with a suitable
nematicide, under veterinary supervision.
Blackleg Cause: Bacteria called Clostridium chanvoei.
Bacteria produce spores which can travel to
muscle tissue. Animal can die within 24 hours
of showing symptoms. Symptoms: Lameness, swollen legs with black
discolouration, high fever. Prevention: Vaccine available, every six
months. Treatment: None.