Nutritional or Parasite Issues May Be Involved
Sometimes poor health is
due to nutritional defi ciencies or parasites. This can be a herd-wide problem rather than just an individual case of disease. “We have had a little more moisture recently in this part of Texas, east of I-35, and this may change the picture for parasites in calves. “Pastures that have been
pretty intensively grazed now have some new green growth — so this summer we may have an increase in parasite transmission,” says Dr. Charlie Deyhle, Canyon, who has practiced veterinary medicine for 36 years and consults with ranches and feedyards. During hot, dry weather the parasites don’t live very long outside the host
animal. If cattle are confi ned in small areas or short on grass and grazing it down to the ground there is also a higher incidence of transmission. “In southeast Texas the parasite issues will be major this summer and
fall. It won’t be as big a risk for the young calves on their mamas, but more for the stocker cattle and older animals,” he says. Good health also depends on adequate nutrition. Cattle must have
enough energy, protein and trace minerals to develop a strong immune system. “Keep track of the cattle regarding feed supply (pasture resources or the feed being fed) and feed intake. Are they full or are they empty?” he asks. “Since the summer of 2011 we’ve had severe health issues in young
calves. Much of this has been linked to failure of passive transfer,” says Deyhle. The cows were thin and didn’t provide adequate nutrients to the developing fetus to create a strong immune system, and they didn’t provide adequate antibodies via colostrum. Calves that were born to drought- stressed cows were not as healthy. Calves that don’t have good passive immunity often have problems. In feedlots, calves coming in are generally given mass treatment
(metaphylaxis) to try to prevent problems. “In immune-defi cient calves, however, clinical illness can be seen within 3 to 5 days of arrival, and some of them die from lung lesions by day 10. Feedlots were receiving a higher percentage of calves with pre-existing lung lesions, compared to calves received prior to 2011. Things have been improving in 2013; health of the calves coming in currently has been better,” he says. Even if cattle are vaccinated, they may not mount a good response if
they are malnourished. “There is a difference between vaccination and immunization. A lot of people equate the two, but they are not the same. Vaccination is the procedure, and immunization is what we hope to achieve. The animal must be in proper position to respond,” explains Deyhle.
88 The Cattleman August 2013
instead of grazing or eating hay, take a closer look. Dr. Glennon Mays, clinical
assistant professor in the large animal clinical sciences depart- ment at Texas A&M, says the fi rst thing that might catch your eye is an animal off by itself — away from the rest of the herd. Any animal that doesn’t show up or is slow to come to the feed should be found and checked more closely. “An older bull may get lazy
and might be sluggish com- ing to the feed wagon, and you might be tempted to think he’s just lazy and slow — and just pour out the cake or pellets and go on to the next group or pasture. But it’s a good idea to stick around a bit longer to see if that animal actually comes to the feed and whether or not he eats.” Sometimes an animal will
start eating and then quit, or just nibble or root the feed around. Make sure each ani- mal is actually eating normally and with good appetite. Any animal off by itself
should be cause for concern, unless it’s a pregnant cow that leaves the herd to deliver her calf.
A sick or lame animal often
seeks solitude to avoid the jos- tling and pestering from bossier individuals. Curious herd mem- bers or subordinate animals that ordinarily defer to that in- dividual may take advantage of the sick or lame one and chase her around. Thus, it’s a natural instinct for the compromised individual to go off by herself when not feeling well or unable to defend herself. A sick or lame cow or calf
thecattlemanmagazine.com
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