THREE LOCALCALF DISEASES

GROUP MEMBERS Mariama Brown Daneilia Stobbs Jerlene Webb

INTRODUCTION

Jamaica’s cattle sector has been affected by several

calf diseases. In our Presentation we will highlight

three significant local calf diseases, namely; calf

scours, calf pneumonia and tick fever. Diagnosing,

treating and preventing these diseases is very

important for every cattle industry.

CALF SCOURS

Calf scours can be defined as diarrhea in calves.

Calf scours is not a specific disease with a specific

cause, but it is actually a clinical sign of a disease

complex with many possible causes.

TYPES OF CALF SCOURS1.Bacterial scours – E.Coli, Salmonella Clostridium perfringens Types C & D

2. Viral scours Rotavirus and Corona virus Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD)

3.Protozoan Scours Coccidia and Cryptosporidia

SYMPTOMS

Calves do not drink milk or milk replacer.

Calves become severely dehydrated and depressed.

They have a high fever.

Faeces are watery and often tinged with blood

Calves show uneasiness and strain or kick at their abdomen

There may be drooling of saliva

WHEN SHOULD CALVES BE TREATED

Calves running around the pasture with their tails in the air,

bucking and kicking with yellow or white diarrhea may not need

treatment. The main indications for treatment are:

General disposition

Appetite

Dehydration

Body temperature

RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS

The main treatment is fluid therapy

Secondary treatments are:

Antibiotics

Nursing care.

WHEN DO YOU NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

If more than 5% of your calves are scouring

If death loss is greater than 2% due to calf scours

If after treatment your calves keep getting worse

PICTURES OF CALVES WITH SCOURS

PICTURES OF CALVES WITH SCOURS

CALF PNEUMONIA

Calf pneumonia is a major problem in dairy and beef herds. It is a multifactorial

disease, and the most common post-mortem diagnosis in

calves between one to five months of age.

TYPES OF CALF PNEUMONIA• Chronic Pneumonia - Chronic

pneumonia is more gradual in onset with no distinct ill phase and the cow may appear to still eat well but may have a slight nasal discharge, sometimes with an increased respiratory rate and cough.

• Acute Pneumonia - acute (calf or enzootic) pneumonia is usually more sudden in onset.

SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF PNEUMONIA Short-term consequences - reduced dry

matter intake, delayed weaning and higher risk of an additional pneumonia event at weaning.

Long-term Consequences - delayed breeding, higher age at first calving and compromised milk production.

CAUSES OF CALF PNEUMONIA Environmental Factors Low environmental temperature High Humidity Poor Ventilation Direct Draughts onto calves Infectious Agents Mannheimia haemolytica Haemophilus somnus Bovine Respiratort syncytial Virus (RSV)

SYMPTOMS OF CALF PNEUMONIA Dull and depressed High temperature Raised breathing due to lung damage Nasal discharge Coughing Reduced food intake Aloofness Weight Loss

TREATMENT OF CALF PNEUMONIA Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or anthelmintics

can be prescribed for treatment.

PREVENTION OF CALF PNEUMONIA Ventilation: There should be proper ventilation.Often

if ammonia can be smelled it is a sign of poor ventilation. 

Vaccination: Vaccines are available to reduce risk of infection, however they must be used alongside an effective management programme

 Nutrition: Feeding calves inadequately will reduce calf growth and their immune system response which helps fight diseases. 

Colostrum: : All calves must have one gallon of colostrum within four to six hours of birth to receive adequate immunity.

PICTURES OF CALF WITH PNEUMONIA

PICTURES OF CALF WITH PNEUMONIA

TICK FEVER

A febrile disease transmitted by the bites of

ticks.The disease is believed to have been

introduced as early as 1829 by cattle from

Indonesia infested with the cattle tickBoophilus

microplus

PICTURES OF BLOOD CELLS INFECTED WITH TICK FEVER

SYMPTOMS OF TICK FEVER fever (higher than 40oC) for several days before

other signs become obvious loss of appetite depression weakness and a reluctance to move red urine (haemoglobinuria) followed by anaemia

and jaundice in the latter stages of infection diarrhoea abortion in cows

TREATMENT AND CONTROL OF OUTBREAKS Treat sick cattle Confirm diagnosis Remove ticks Assess the severity Vaccinate all 'at-risk' animals Protect the rest of the herd Monitor cattle in adjoining paddocks Start a long-term risk management

strategy

PREVENTION

There are several options for the prevention of

tick fever, ranging from keeping animals tick-

free and use of Imidocarb for short-term

control, to vaccinating with tick fever vaccine

PICTURE OF CALF WITH TICK FEVER

PICTURE OF CALF WITH TICK FEVER

REFERENCES www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/196

http://www.dairyherd.com/dairy-herd/health/Pneumonia-in-dairy-calves-145156445.html

www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/196/

THE END