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COWS-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 47
If cattle are fed with forage diets there is no risk of acidosis. However, when feeding grain for fattening, be careful and avoid it because a sharp increase in the grain ration can cause acidosis.
Treatment should be prompt and reversed because acidosis shuts down digestion and causes fever or severe diarrhea. The manure becomes gray, watery and bubbly. IN SERIOUS CASES THE ANIMAL DEVELOPS LAMINITIS OR DIES.
Prevention:
Draw up a feeding schedule and stick to it. When feeding a lot of grain, split it into two meals. There is a danger if something interferes with the schedule or the animal goes off feed and then gorges itself because acidosis can occur. When changing the diet from forage to grain do it gradually over a couple of weeks before you give them the full increase of grain.
Treatment:
The animal will have stopped eating. Give it sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid. This is done by mixing soda bicarbonate with water and then given in the stomach by means of a tube – check with your vet as to the correct dosage.
Laminitis can follow acidosis and causes sever lameness. Attachments between the hoof wall and the sole of the foot become sore and may separate, the result is deformed hooves. LAMINITIS IS A SERIOUS EMERGENCY – CALL YOUR VET. Early treatment may be able to prevent permanent lameness.
POISONING: TOXIC PLANTS
If cattle have been moved to a new pasture or fed different hay and there are sudden illnesses or even fatalities suspect plant poisoning.
MANY PLANTS CAN CAUSE SICKNESS, DEATH, METABOLIC DISORDERS, ABORTION, AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS.
SOME PLANTS MAKE GOOD FEED IN SMALL AMOUNTD OR CERTAIN SEASONS BUT ARE POISONOUS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
SOME PLANTS ARE ALWAYS POISONOUS AND INCLUDE LUPINE, LARKSPUR AND HALOGETON. OTHER ARE HARMLESS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED CHEMICALLY THESE INCLUDE CHOKECHERRY LEAVES. SOME PLANTS ABSORB SUBSTANCES FROM THE SOIL AND THEREBY INCREASE THEIR TOXIC LEVELS, SUCH AS SELENIUM IN LOCOWEED AND OTHER MILKVETCHES. SOME PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY FUNGI OR MOLDS ON PLANTS.
Treatment should be prompt and reversed because acidosis shuts down digestion and causes fever or severe diarrhea. The manure becomes gray, watery and bubbly. IN SERIOUS CASES THE ANIMAL DEVELOPS LAMINITIS OR DIES.
Prevention:
Draw up a feeding schedule and stick to it. When feeding a lot of grain, split it into two meals. There is a danger if something interferes with the schedule or the animal goes off feed and then gorges itself because acidosis can occur. When changing the diet from forage to grain do it gradually over a couple of weeks before you give them the full increase of grain.
Treatment:
The animal will have stopped eating. Give it sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acid. This is done by mixing soda bicarbonate with water and then given in the stomach by means of a tube – check with your vet as to the correct dosage.
Laminitis can follow acidosis and causes sever lameness. Attachments between the hoof wall and the sole of the foot become sore and may separate, the result is deformed hooves. LAMINITIS IS A SERIOUS EMERGENCY – CALL YOUR VET. Early treatment may be able to prevent permanent lameness.
POISONING: TOXIC PLANTS
If cattle have been moved to a new pasture or fed different hay and there are sudden illnesses or even fatalities suspect plant poisoning.
MANY PLANTS CAN CAUSE SICKNESS, DEATH, METABOLIC DISORDERS, ABORTION, AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS.
SOME PLANTS MAKE GOOD FEED IN SMALL AMOUNTD OR CERTAIN SEASONS BUT ARE POISONOUS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.
SOME PLANTS ARE ALWAYS POISONOUS AND INCLUDE LUPINE, LARKSPUR AND HALOGETON. OTHER ARE HARMLESS UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED CHEMICALLY THESE INCLUDE CHOKECHERRY LEAVES. SOME PLANTS ABSORB SUBSTANCES FROM THE SOIL AND THEREBY INCREASE THEIR TOXIC LEVELS, SUCH AS SELENIUM IN LOCOWEED AND OTHER MILKVETCHES. SOME PROBLEMS ARE CAUSED BY FUNGI OR MOLDS ON PLANTS.