Cattle

September 4, 2023

Ringworm

Octavoscene Livestock, Livestock Diseases, Newsletter Cattle, Ringworm

Do your calves have these strange hairless circular spots? It is a ringworm.Are you saying you get worms found in the skin? No, not to worry because ringworm is a fungal infection of the hair and surface layers of the skin. So, is it of much importance? Ringworm causes economic losses by affecting growth rates, especially during the early stage of infection, and permanent hide damage.Ringworm is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal or indirectly by fomites (such as equipment, fencing, and feed troughs). Many factors play a role in the risk of spreading ring worm such as younger calves being more susceptible, high-density areas/camps, poor nutrition, lowered immunity, hot humid climates, and access to direct sunlight.Ringworm is characterized by grey, white circular scabs (3-5cm). Ringworm lesions are generally found on the head and neck of animals but can be found all over the body. This is why the feeding and water trough play such a key role in the spread of disease as this is where the direct contact occurs. Ringworms get their distinct circular shape from the infection starting in the center and moving outwards. Scabs can fall off leaving a hairless area with a crusty edge.Ringworm can be and is treated by using topical medications. Although these medications cannot penetrate the scab, therefore the scab needs to be scraped or brushed off first. Lesions need to be treated at least twice three to five days apart. The following products can be used F10 spray or ointment, […]

September 4, 2023

Lumpy Jaw in Cattle

Octavoscene Livestock, Livestock Diseases, Newsletter Cattle, Cattle Diseases, Lumpy Jaw

Lumpy jaw is a disease of the jawbone caused by a bacterial infection called Actinomyces bovis. These bacteria form part of the normal flora in the mouth of ruminants. So then how does it cause disease? The bacteria enter the soft tissue of the mouth through open wounds. These wounds can be caused by foreign objects such as sticks, wire, thorns, or grass awns. Very coarse feed has also been known to cause injury to the soft tissue of the mouth.True to its common name, this bacterium produces permanent hard swellings on the bones of the jaw. The bottom jawbone, the mandible, is more commonly affected. The swellings are multiple pus-filled abscesses attached to the bone. The by-products produced by this bacterium start to break down the bone of the jaw – forming little pits in the bone. The body tries to compensate for this loss by laying down new bone. This is how these swellings become permanent. The bone affected by this bacterium has a very characteristic honeycomb appearance. These swellings cause facial distortion, loss of teeth, and difficulty breathing as they obstruct the airway.Animals do not die from the bacterium directly but rather the consequences of it. Animals affected by this bacterium are unable to eat or drink properly resulting in poor condition.Lumpy jaw is not a highly contagious disease, often only one to two are affected. Animals can be treated but unfortunately, any bony changes to the jaw cannot be reversed. The bacterium is killed by treating […]

September 1, 2021

Quantifying the Transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Cattle via a Contaminated Environment

Octavoscene Livestock Diseases Cattle, Environmental Contamination, Foot and Mouth Disease, Transmission of FMDV in Cattle

ABSTRACT Indirect transmission via a contaminated environment can occur for a number of pathogens, even those typically thought of as being directly transmitted, such as influenza virus, norovirus, bovine tuberculosis, or foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Indirect transmission facilitates spread from multiple sources beyond the infectious host, complicating the epidemiology and control of these diseases. This study carried out a series of transmission experiments to determine the dose-response relationship between environmental contamination and transmission of FMDV in cattle from measurements of viral shedding and rates of environmental contamination and survival. Seven out of ten indirect exposures resulted in successful transmission. The basic reproduction number for environmental transmission of FMDV in this experimental setting was estimated at 1.65, indicating that environmental transmission alone could sustain an outbreak. Importantly, detection of virus in the environment prior to the appearance of clinical signs in infected cattle and successful transmission from these environments highlights there is a risk of environmental transmission even before foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is clinically apparent in cattle. Estimated viral decay rates suggest that FMDV remained viable in this environment for up to 14 days, emphasizing the requirement for stringent biosecurity procedures following outbreaks of FMD and the design of control measures that reflect the biology of a pathogen. IMPORTANCE Effective control of a disease relies on comprehensive understanding of how transmission occurs, in order to design and apply effective control measures. Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is primarily spread by direct contact between infected and naïve individuals, although the high levels of […]

July 29, 2019

Management of Highly Stressed, Newly Received Feedlot Cattle

Octavoscene Livestock Diseases, Management Bovine Respiratory Disease, Cattle, Management, Morbidity, Nutrition

Abstract Morbidity and mortality from bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and associated losses in performance and carcass merit continue to plague the beef cattle industry. Several viral/bacterial agents are responsible for BRD, and interactions occur among the agents. Viral agents often predispose animals to bacterial infections, and Mannheimia haemolytica is the most frequently isolated organism in cattle with BRD. Laboratory tests are available to characterize organisms causing BRD using easily obtained nasal swab samples. Testing for persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus can be done by a 2-stage technique using PCR and immuno histo-chemistry. Preconditioning programs that include pre-weaning viral vaccination programs along with castration could have a significant influence on decreasing BRD in the cattle feeding industry. Meta-phylactic antibiotic programs continue to be effective; however, antibiotic resistance is a public concern, and additional management options (e.g., direct-fed microbials or other compounds with antimicrobial properties) deserve attention. Diets with an increased energy concentration achieved by decreasing the dietary roughage concentration may slightly increase the rate of BRD morbidity; however, these diets also increase ADG, DMI, and G:F compared with lower-energy, greater-roughage diets. The extent to which performance and BRD morbidity are affected by dietary protein concentration needs further study, but low and high protein concentrations should probably be avoided. Several trace minerals (e.g., Cu, Se, and Zn) affect immune function, but the effects of supplementation on performance and immune function in model challenge systems and in field studies are equivocal. Adding vitamin E to receiving diets at pharmacological […]

May 13, 2019

Beef Cattle Research Update

Octavoscene Livestock Diseases BEEF, BRD, BRD Viruses, Cattle, Feedlot

BEEF CATTLE RESEARCH UPDATE Britt Hicks, Ph.D., PASArea Extension Livestock SpecialistOklahoma Panhandle Research & Extension CenterMarch 2019 Effects of Vaccination Timing on Performance, Antibody Response, and Health in Feedlot Cattle The bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex is the most is the most devastating health problem of the beef industry. 1, 2 It is the primary cause of morbidity (70%–80%) and mortality (40%–50%) in feedlots in the United States and continues to contribute to substantial losses in feedlot performance, health, and carcass quality. 3 A 2011 USDA survey of U.S. feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head indicated that most feedlots vaccinated cattle and that the most common vaccinations administered were for the prevention of BRD.4 As a percentage of all feedlots, 96.6% vaccinated for bovine viral diarrhea and 93.7% vaccinated for infectious bovine rhino-tracheitis (IBR), while 89.1% vaccinated for bovine respiratory syncytial virus and 85.1% vaccinated for parainfluenza-3 virus. It is widely accepted that vaccination of healthy calves for respiratory pathogens is important for preventing BRD and maintaining optimal calf health. Hence, most feedlot receiving protocols include vaccination against BRD viruses for high-risk cattle within 48 hours of arrival. However, research suggest that vaccine efficacy is reduced when administered to highly stressed animals since immune function can temporarily be compromised. Weaning, marketing, and shipment of feeder cattle to feedlots are major stressors to cattle.5 For these reasons, altering the time of vaccination against BRD has been investigated as an approach to enhance vaccine efficacy, immunity to BRD, and […]