Common and important diseases of cattle

Tick damage and tick-borne diseases Tick damage  

Ticks can cause severe damage to cattle, particularly around the udder and ears. The wounds will often get infected with bacteria and might be attacked by flies some ticks cause greater damage than others, such as the ones which infect cattle with heartwater Prevention is by tick control. You could either use a pour-on or a plunge dip or spray dip if you have the facilities for this. Pour-ons can be easier to use and you do not need additional facilities, but these are more expensive, You may need to treat for ticks as often as once a week in the wet season and then every second week in the dry season, You may be able to treat less often if you vaccinate the cattle against tick-borne diseases.

Tick-borne diseases Ticks can also infect cattle with redwater, gallsickness and heartwater, European breeds tend to be at greater risk from these diseases than indigenous and Brahman type breeds  Older animals are more at risk than young animals for redwater and gallsickness

Prevention

 Prevention of tick-borne diseases is by tick control, as already mentioned, as well as vaccination

Vaccination is best done in calves under 6 months of age and one dose is sufficient. The heartwater vaccine is given in the vein, and it must be done by a veterinarian. Because these are live vaccines, signs of disease can occur and treatment may be needed following vaccination, especially for the heartwater vaccine. Contact your veterinarian for advice on these vaccines.

Redwater

Signs of redwater are fever, lack of appetite, red urine, pale to yellow gums and eyes, and sometimes nervous signs such as difficulty in walking,  This disease can lead to deaths if the animals are not treated in time.

Treatment

 Treatment involves keeping the cattle calm. They should not be driven over long distances and should be injected with Berenil or Imizol  The dose for Berenil is 5 ml of made up solution (1 packet mixed with 12,5 ml of sterile water) for each 100 kg (for example, 20 ml for a 400 kg animal)  The dose for Imizol is 1 ml for each 100 kg (for example, 4 ml for a 400 kg animal)

Gallsickness

 Apart from being passed to cattle by ticks, gallsickness can also be spread among cattle by blood, for example by biting insects, dehorning and injecting the animals with the same needle.

Sign of Gallsickness

Signs of gallsickness are depression, lack of appetite, fever, pale to yellow gums and eyes, as well as constipation.The animal can be sick for a longer period than in the case of redwater or heartwater.

Treatment

Treatment involves keeping the cattle calm. They should not be driven over long distances. Tetracycline or Imizol injections can be given. The dose for Tetracycline will depend on the type you are using. It is important to read the instructions on the bottle. The dose for Imizol is 2,5 ml for each 100 kg (for example, 10 ml for a 400 kg animal). Note that this is a much higher dose than for redwater

Diseases that people can get from cattle

Brucellosis 

Brucellosis can cause abortion in cows and is also highly infectious to people

Tuberculosis (TB) 

 Cattle with tuberculosis often become very thin over time , People can get TB from cattle by drinking infected milk , You should have your herd tested for TB every year by your state veterinarian. This involves a skin test , Animals testing positive are given a T brand on the left side of the neck.

Cattle measles

Cattle measles is a stage of a tapeworm in cattle. When people eat affected meat which is undercooked, they develop tapeworms in the gut, Cattle are infected when they pick up tapeworm eggs when grazing on pastures which are polluted because of unhygienic toilet practices by infected people, Infected cattle do not look sick and measles can only be seen in the meat at slaughter , Cattle measles can lead to downgrading of your meat. Prevention involves good hygiene on farms. Use toilets, and not the veld.

Anthrax 

Anthrax causes sudden death in cattle, People can get infected by eating infected meat and through cuts and sores. Anthrax can lead to death , Infected carcasses should not be cut open and should be buried or burnt ,Prevention is by vaccination , If you suspect that anthrax may be present, contact your state veterinarian for advice.

 Rabies 

 Rabies does not often occur in cattle, but they can be infected when bitten by a rabid dog or jackal Cattle can either become very aggressive and excited, (e.g.with bellowing), or develop the "dumb" form, when they are quiet, Once cattle show signs of rabies, treatment is no longer possible  People can become infected when feeling inside the mouth of a salivating animal for a possible blockage, and then being bitten Prevention is by vaccination