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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 41
There are several bacteria that cause footrot, however, the most common is the hardy fusobacterium necrophorum. If an animal has a break in the skin of the foot it can pick up infection, as can wet or muddy areas.
The signs of footrot are swelling of the foot above the hoof between the toes or at the heel. Toes may become spread apart by the swelling. In the early stages the animal may run a fever of 103 – 106 degrees F and loose their appetite. It might be thought that an animal has sprained or broken its foot on account of the enlarged inflammation. Due to footrot the milk yield is less and bulls may become temporarily infertile. The infertile period in a bull comes about 60-90 days after the fever because it is during this time that the sperm being formed are adversely affected and the excessive heat is detrimental to sperm production. Sperms are the cells from the bull that swim to meet the egg in the cow's reproductive tract to fertilize the egg and create an embryo. The bull may remain fertile awhile since mature sperm in his reproductive tract may be fine. But if he has footrot early in the breeding season before being put with the cows, he may be infertile just when you need him most. If a bull has footrot, take his temperature while you have him confined for treatment. If he has a fever, check his semen 60 days later.
Treatment: If an animal has had foot rot for some time there will be a noticeable loss of weight because its lameness hinders its ability to walk to feed and water. The swelling usually discharges fluid such as pus after a few days between the toes or at the heel and this contaminates the pen or pasture.
Most cases heal quickly if treated in the first or second day of swelling and lameness. Most footrot cases need only 3 to 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Use a combination of sulfa and oxyteracycline. Long standing cases take a longer course of antibiotics before they clear up.
If the disease goes untreated, infection may get into the joint causing infectious arthritis and permanent crippling.
LUMP JAW
Anything that punctures the tissues of the mouth can lead to infection or the creation of an abscess.
There are two kinds of lump jaw. Each is caused by different bacteria and requiring different treatment.
Soft tissue infections are fairly easy to treat. Sometimes these abscesses break and drain by themselves, but they often have to be lanced, drained and disinfected before they can heal.
Lump jaw can also be caused by an infection in the bone and is more difficult to stop and can result in having to sell the animal or butcher it. This type of lump jaw occurs most often in young cattle 2 or 3 years old.
The signs of footrot are swelling of the foot above the hoof between the toes or at the heel. Toes may become spread apart by the swelling. In the early stages the animal may run a fever of 103 – 106 degrees F and loose their appetite. It might be thought that an animal has sprained or broken its foot on account of the enlarged inflammation. Due to footrot the milk yield is less and bulls may become temporarily infertile. The infertile period in a bull comes about 60-90 days after the fever because it is during this time that the sperm being formed are adversely affected and the excessive heat is detrimental to sperm production. Sperms are the cells from the bull that swim to meet the egg in the cow's reproductive tract to fertilize the egg and create an embryo. The bull may remain fertile awhile since mature sperm in his reproductive tract may be fine. But if he has footrot early in the breeding season before being put with the cows, he may be infertile just when you need him most. If a bull has footrot, take his temperature while you have him confined for treatment. If he has a fever, check his semen 60 days later.
Treatment: If an animal has had foot rot for some time there will be a noticeable loss of weight because its lameness hinders its ability to walk to feed and water. The swelling usually discharges fluid such as pus after a few days between the toes or at the heel and this contaminates the pen or pasture.
Most cases heal quickly if treated in the first or second day of swelling and lameness. Most footrot cases need only 3 to 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Use a combination of sulfa and oxyteracycline. Long standing cases take a longer course of antibiotics before they clear up.
If the disease goes untreated, infection may get into the joint causing infectious arthritis and permanent crippling.
LUMP JAW
Anything that punctures the tissues of the mouth can lead to infection or the creation of an abscess.
There are two kinds of lump jaw. Each is caused by different bacteria and requiring different treatment.
Soft tissue infections are fairly easy to treat. Sometimes these abscesses break and drain by themselves, but they often have to be lanced, drained and disinfected before they can heal.
Lump jaw can also be caused by an infection in the bone and is more difficult to stop and can result in having to sell the animal or butcher it. This type of lump jaw occurs most often in young cattle 2 or 3 years old.