Common Cattle Diseases and Treatments

Raising cattle can be a rewarding experience, but it also comes with the risk of disease. As a cattle owner, it’s important to understand the most common cattle diseases, their causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

Being able to promptly identify and treat illnesses can minimize losses and keep your herd healthy.

In this blog post, we will share an overview of some of the most prevalent cattle diseases and how to manage them.

9 Common Illnesses in Cattle Herds

1. Bovine Respiratory Disease

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), also known as shipping fever, is the most common and costly illness affecting cattle in the United States. It is typically caused by a combination of viral and bacterial pathogens that lead to pneumonia. Stresses like weaning, transport, commingling, dust, and weather changes can increase susceptibility.

The major viral contributors include bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), parainfluenza virus 3 (PI3), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1). Common bacterial agents include Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis.

Clinical signs of BRD include fever, coughing, nasal discharge, rapid breathing, and lethargy. It is crucial to catch and treat BRD promptly to prevent permanent lung damage and death loss. Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and supportive care are used for treatment.

Prevention focuses on reducing stress and using vaccines to boost immunity against the major viral and bacterial pathogens involved. Good ventilation and air quality are also important to reduce exposure to irritants.

2. Bovine Viral Diarrhea

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is an infectious viral disease caused by the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). It has a major economic impact on cattle industries worldwide.

The primary source is persistently infected (PI) cattle that become infected before birth and shed large amounts of virus their entire lives. Major routes of transmission include contact with PI cattle, contaminated equipment, and reproductive means.

BVD can cause a range of symptoms and disease manifestations based on the virus strain, exposure timing, and animal immune status. Acute infections often cause transient fever, diarrhea, and reproductive losses like abortion and congenital defects. Persistent infections result in immunotolerance and enable continuous viral shedding. BVD can also magnify the effects of other diseases like BRD.

Control focuses on testing/culling PIs, biosecurity, vaccination, and good herd management. There are no treatments for active BVD infections, only supportive care. Preventing PI births via vaccination and eliminating PI animals are the keys to successful BVD control.

3. Pinkeye

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), known as pinkeye, is a contagious bacterial infection of the eye. Common causative pathogens include Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBR), and Mycoplasma spp. Face flies are also primary mechanical vectors that spread pinkeye between cattle by transferring bacteria on their bodies.

Pinkeye is characterized by excessive tearing, light sensitivity, redness/swelling of the eye, and a white corneal ulcer. Without treatment, blindness can occur. Options include antibiotic eye ointments/powders, anti-inflammatory eye drops, antibiotics, and fly control. Preventive measures focus on fly control, vaccination, and avoiding irritants like dust, tall grasses, and UV light reflection.

4. Blackleg

Blackleg is a rapidly fatal bacterial disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei and affects cattle worldwide. Infection typically occurs through wounds or ingestion that allows the bacteria to invade and replicate in muscle tissues.

The leg muscles are most often affected, causing lameness. Acute fever, depression, loss of appetite, and swelling of the affected areas develop rapidly. Death usually occurs in 12-48 hours.

Vaccination is the most effective method of blackleg prevention. To treat clinical cases, high doses of penicillin can be given early, but the disease progresses so quickly that treatment is often unsuccessful.

Strict sanitation of feeding areas and equipment also helps control spread of the bacteria. Promptly burning or burying carcasses helps remove sources of the bacteria.

5. Mastitis

Bovine mastitis is the inflammation of udder tissue usually due to bacterial infection. Major mastitis pathogens include Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Escherichia coli. Stress, injury, unsanitary conditions, and poor milking procedures can increase risk.

Symptoms include swelling, heat, redness, pain, and abnormal milk. Mastitis can cause permanent damage leading to reduced milk production.

To treat mastitis, the infected quarter is infused with intramammary antibiotic preparations specifically formulated for the involved pathogen.

Supportive therapy includes anti-inflammatories and oxytocin to remove milk from the udder. Preventive measures include proper milking hygiene, teat dips, dry cow therapy, and maintaining clean, dry housing areas. Culling chronically infected cows also helps control herd mastitis levels.

6. Foot Rot

Foot rot is a highly contagious bacterial disease that causes lameness in cattle. The primary causative bacteria are Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus.

Wet conditions combined with damaged tissue allow the bacteria to invade and cause infection. Swelling, oozing lesions, and foul odor between the toes are common signs. If left untreated, severe detachment of the hoof wall can occur.

To treat foot rot, topical antibiotics like tetracycline are applied to affected feet in a foot bath or spray. Keeping pens and walkways clean and dry is key for prevention.

Careful inspection of feet and prompt treatment of any injuries or bacterial invasions can help control spread. Culling chronically infected animals may also be necessary. Vaccines are sometimes utilized but do not provide complete protection.

7. Calf Scour

Calf scours, or neonatal calf diarrhea, is a common condition affecting newborn calves worldwide. The main causes are viruses like rotavirus and coronavirus, as well as bacteria including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Clostridium perfringens.

Parasites, nutrition, and stress can also play a role. Scouring calves rapidly become dehydrated, depressed, and electrolyte/acid-base imbalanced.

To treat calf scours, electrolyte solutions are given orally to counter dehydration and metabolic disturbances. Antibiotics may be used judiciously for bacterial infections. Preventive measures focus on providing good colostrum intake, sanitation, housing, and nutrition.

Rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli vaccines given to pregnant cows can help protect vulnerable newborn calves by passing along protective antibodies. Controlling exposure to possible fecal-oral pathogens is also key.

8. Anthrax

Anthrax is an often fatal bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Herbivores like cattle are very susceptible through ingestion of spores while grazing. With a very rapid disease course, animals are usually found dead with bleeding from body openings. Confirmation requires laboratory identification of B. anthracis.

If exposure is suspected, animals can be treated with antibiotics, antiserum, and vaccinated. Strict quarantine and burning/burying of carcasses is necessary to contain outbreaks.

Routine annual vaccination of cattle in endemic areas and avoiding grazing in contaminated pastures helps protect herds. Proper carcass disposal and disinfection also prevents recurrence. Anthrax poses a zoonotic risk, so precautions are required when handling infected animals.

9. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), often called “mad cow disease,” is a progressive neurological disorder caused by prions that affect cattle. The disease emerged in the UK in the 1980s and spread to other countries via infected cattle products in concentrated feed. Clinical signs include abnormal behavior, decreased milk production, difficulty standing, and death.

No treatment or vaccination is available for BSE. Prevention focuses strictly on banning specified risk materials from the human and animal food supply. Cattle suspected of having BSE must be euthanized and incinerated.

Fortunately, due to stringent feed regulations and surveillance, BSE cases are now very rare. However, vigilance is still important to prevent any potential recurrences.

Prevention of Cattle Diseases

Vaccinations
Many viral and bacterial cattle diseases can be prevented through vaccination. Work with your veterinarian to design a vaccination schedule that targets diseases relevant to your herd and location.

Core vaccines often include IBR, BVD, BRSV, PI3, and clostridial diseases. Other conditional vaccines may be advised based on risk factors.

Nutrition
Providing adequate nutrition and avoiding deficiencies is key for strong immune function. Feed a balanced ration for each animal’s needs along with access to clean water. Monitor body condition and growth rates.

Consult a nutritionist to formulate optimal diets. Proper colostrum intake by newborns also provides essential antibodies.

Biosecurity
Biosecurity protocols prevent infectious disease introduction and spread. Key measures include quarantine/testing new arrivals, limiting visitors, sanitizing equipment between pens, controlling wildlife access, and implementing an all-in-all-out system by pen.

Avoid co-mingling cattle from different sources. Promptly remove deadstock.

Regular Health Checks
Observe animals closely each day for any developing illness. Check vitals like temperature and examine for signs of disease. Routinely evaluate body condition and growth rates. Trim hooves twice annually.

Test for diseases like BVD. Isolate and treat any sick animals promptly. Work with your veterinarian to conduct routine herd health visits. Immediately report any unusual signs or deaths.

Following these prevention guidelines and disease-specific control programs can help limit disease impact and keep cattle herds thriving. Being proactive is always preferable to dealing with an outbreak. Good documentation of all health events, treatments, vaccinations, and lab results also benefits overall herd health management.

Conclusion:

These are some of the major cattle diseases that can impact herd health and productivity. Understanding the risks, symptoms, and optimum treatment approaches allows cattle owners to minimize losses and keep their animals healthy.

Work closely with your veterinarian to diagnose illnesses accurately and implement preventive health programs like vaccination and biosecurity protocols. With good management, many cattle diseases can be effectively controlled. Learn here more about cattle farming tips and guides.