CATTLE NUTRITION ▶▶▶
Ruminant feeding under disease and parasite-related conditions
This article offer some insights into the most common disease problems in cattle and the feeding strategies that can be adopted to reduce the impact of sickness on animal production and the profitability of farm operations.
BY DR SALAH H. ESMAIL, PHD
Supplementa- tion of vitamin E, selium and cop- per can reduce the incidence of mastitis.
Legume bloat Proper management of bloat is important, not only for reduc- ing deaths but also for alleviating the negative effects of bloat on animal performance. These targets can be achieved by allowing susceptible animals to graze only bloat-safe leg- umes, or to fill them with dry hay or grass pasture before turning them out onto bloat-causing pastures. Frequent or major changes in the type of pasture being grazed should be avoided unless the animals have greatly distended rumens. Mild bloat is common in the typeos of pasture that casues bloat and the changes may prevent rumen microbes and
animals from adapting to these pastures. The risk of bloat may also be reduced by late rather than early-morning graz- ing. In one study, the concentration of chlorophyll – the major indicator of foaminess – was 211 mg/kg after early- feeding compared to 184 mg/kg after late-feeding. Finally, antifoaming chemicals such as poloxalene should be fed in adequate amounts starting 2-5 days before turning cattle out onto pasture.
Nitrate poisoning Plants such as alfalfa, sweet clover, oats, ryegrass, sudangrass, wheat, and corn are known to accumulate nitrates to danger- ous levels. This is especially the case when they are grown in soils with sulphur deficiency, phosphorus deficiency, low tem- peratures (less than 13 ºC), and a lack of soil aeration. The ni- trate ion itself is not toxic. However, ruminants readily reduce nitrate to nitrite which oxidises haemoglobin to meth-haemo- globin which is unable to carry oxygen and transport it to the body tissues, with the resulting symptoms of respiratory dis- tress, vomiting and squealing. The provision of additional roughage and concentrates will reduce the incidence of nitrate poisoning, as these feeds will dilute the nitrate and assist in its metabolism to ammonia and ultimately microbial protein.
Acidosis There has been some concern that providing feed once a day may result in slug feeding, which could predispose a
28 ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 7, 2020
PHOTO: HENK RISWICK
PHOTO: HANS BANUS
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