Livestock Health

Infectious Disease

• Spread from one animal to another

• Contagious

• Caused by bacteria, virus, protozoan, etc.

Non-infectious Disease

• Not spread from one animal to another

• Not Contagious

• Caused by nutrition, environment, etc.

Causes of Disease

• Bacteria

• Virus

• Protozoa

• External Parasites

• Internal Parasites

• Nutrition

Bacterial Diseases

• Single Celled Organism

• 3 shape types

–Rod (bacilli)

–Round (Cocci)

–Sprial (sprilli)

Bacterial Diseases

• Can live individually or in colonies

• Chain-like colony = Strepto-

• Cluster-like colony = Staphylo-

Bacterial diseases

• Some are beneficial, Some are deadly

• Can be killed by antibiotics

• Some produce Spores (can live in soil for many years) = Clostridial

Bacterial Diseases

Examples

• Anthrax

• Blackleg

• Brucellosis “Bangs”

• Leptospirosis

• Mastitis

Viral Diseases

• Can be serious, highly contagious, and deadly

• Can only be seen with an electron microscope

• Living or not???

• Cannot be killed by antibiotics

• Vaccines have been developed for most

Viral Diseases

Examples

• BVD

• Influenza

• Sore mouth

• Warts

Protozoans

• Single celled organisms

• Live in water

• Can be transported by insects

• Act as parasites

Diseases caused by Protozoans

• Anaplasmosis

• Coccidiosis

• Trichomoniasis

External Parasites• Attach themselves and live on the outside of

the animal

• May burrow into the skin

• Suck blood to obtain nutrients

• Lay eggs in hide, etc.

• Killed by using pour-on, sprays, injections

• Hair loss is a common symptom

Examples of External Parasites

• Flies

• Ticks

• Mites

• Fleas

• Grubs

• Mosquitoes

Internal Parasites

• Get into digestive tract, muscle tissue, and/or lungs

• Absorb nutrients from digestive tract or from the blood

• Cause animals to have poor weight gain

• Treat with de-wormers (paste, injection, chewing tobacco)

Examples of Internal Parasites

• Tape worms

• Round worms

• Liver Fluke

• Hook worm

• Trichina worm

Nutritional Diseases• Caused by ingesting something that is

toxic to the animal

Examples• Bloat• Founder• Grass Tetany• Hardware Disease

Livestock Health

Livestock Management

Castration

• Removal of testicles

• Prevents breeding

• Stops Testosterone production– tender meat, higher fat– better disposition

Castration - Methods

• Knife

• Elastrator

• Emasculator

• Burdizzo

Dehorning

• Removal of horns

• Reduces meat loss from injury

• Take up less room in feed lot and feed bunks

• Prevent injury to self and others

Dehorning - Methods

• Breeding (Polled animals)• Barnes Dehorners• Spoons• Scoops/Gouge• Tube• Saw• Keystone• Chemical

Identification

• Prevents theft

• Allows record keeping on individual animals

• Easy sorting of strays or animals kept on association ranges

Identification - Methods

• Fire brand

• Freeze brand

• Ear tag

• Ear mark/Dewlap/Waddle

• Tattoo

• Neck chain

• Microchip

Vaccinations

• Giving Injections

• Read label for dosage and method of injection

• Subcutaneous - under the skin

• Intramuscular - in the muscle

• Preventing abscesses - use clean, sharp needle, vary injection site

Docking

• Removal of Tails

• Prevents cannibalism

• Promotes hygiene

• Methods:

• Knife

• Elastrator

• Electric docker

Parasite Control

• Pour on

• Spraying

• Dipping vat

• Injections

• Scratch posts

• Powder bags

Livestock Health

How to recognize healthy and Unhealthy

Animals

Healthy Animals

• Contentment

• Alertness

• Chewing of cud

• Sleek coat

• Bright Eyes

• Normal feces and urine

• Normal Temperature

• Normal Pulse rate

• Normal Respiration

Unhealthy Animals

• Loss of appetite

• Rough hair coat

• Abnormal feces

• Dull Eyes

• High Temperature

• Discolored urine

• Ruminants not chewing their cud