Diseases of Cattle

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE BOOKLET
DISEASES OF CATTLE – Casual agent, prevention, symptoms, treatment

and control
SUBJECT TEACHER: SIR ANDEL DOWNER
STUDENT’S NAME: BANI OMAPERSAUD
TMSS
GRADE 9T
DISEASES OF CATTLE
What is a disease?
A disease is said to be a disorder or any condition that differs from normal health. Diseases are often
known to be medical conditions that are associated with specific signs and symptoms.
Now, we are going to look at some of the common diseases found in cattle along with the
symptoms, prevention, treatment, control and causal agent.
So up first we have anthrax. Anthrax is caused by bacteria. Some of the symptoms include:
 Sudden death of one of the herds

 In severe out breaks, many animals die within a few hours of one another.
 Bloody diarrhea
 Staggering, spasm, lack of appetite and fever.
 After death, blood oozes from the mouth and anus.
To prevent anthrax, ensure that the cattle is annually vaccinated. Vaccination can give almost
complete immunity but only for a limited time.
We have looked at the cause of anthrax, symptoms and the prevention, let’s now take a look at the
treatment and control.
 A mild infection can be treated with a dose of penicillin and other antibiotics. Treatment
should be done early. Carcasses should be burnt.
 NOTE: No treatment will save animals that are in advanced stage of the disease.
The next disease we’re taking a look at is Black Leg. This is also caused by bacteria which, as in the
cause of anthrax, form spores which can live in the soil for years. The bacteria are contracted mainly
through the feed and water. The germs can also enter any skin abrasion.
Symptoms:
Initially
 High temperature
 Loss of appetite
 Rapid breathing
Later
 Gas filled bubbles which crackle when pressed, all over the body.
 When the animal dies, it’s body will bloat very quickly and the forelegs will stick straight in
front.
 Black tar-like blood oozes from the nostrils, mouth and anus.
In order to prevent this disease all cattle SHOULD be vaccinated every year. In areas where cattle are
badly affected, farmers should vaccinate all animals under one year, every 6 months.
 NOTE: cattle between the ages of 6-18 months are commonly attacked.
Treatment
Typically, treatment is ineffective against blackleg, and the mortality rate of the disease is relatively
high. In some cases, if the disease is detected early enough, penicillin or anti-black leg serum can be
effective in saving an animal’s life. A cow that survives blackleg, however, usually suffers from a
permanent deformity of lameness.
The 3rd one we’ll be discussing is anaplasmosis. Anaplasmosis (also referred to as tick fever) is an
infectious disease of cattle that causes destruction of red blood cells. The disease is caused by a
minute parasite, Anaplasma marginale, found in the red blood cells of infected cattle. It can be
transmitted from infected animals to healthy animals by insects or by surgical instruments.
Symptoms:
 Destruction of red blood cells resulting in anaemia.

 Loss of appetite
 The animal is inclined to lie down.
 The animal isolates itself from the rest of the herd.
 Muscular tremors
 High temperature
 Milk production decrease
 Rapid breathing and increased pulse rate.
Prevention:
To prevent such infectious disease, we can:
 Sterilize tools and utensils.

 Use insecticides lindane and toxaphene
 Good sanitation
 Get rid of vectors mainly ticks by dipping or spraying animals regularly.
 Chlortetracycline also known as CTC can reduce the risk of anaplasmosis.
Treatment:
 tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline)

 sick animals should NOT be exposed to extremely low temperatures.
 Should be given adequate water and some concentrates.
Up next, we have mastitis. Mastitis is one of the most significant diseases of dairy cattle. Mastitis is
an infectious disease condition resulting in an inflammatory reaction in the mammary gland of the
cow.
Symptoms:
There are 2 forms of mastitis;
 Acute Mastitis
 Hardening of the infected quarter which becomes very hot
 The animal would tend to show signs of pain when the udder is handled
 There is a loss of appetite
 High temperature
 Milk from the infected udder will contain flakes (of milk) and blood.
 Chronic mastitis
Chronic mastitis is more difficult to diagnose ad is commonly found in animals who once had the
disease and are now carriers. It is a potentially fatal mammary gland infection, that is most
common in dairy cattle worldwide.
Prevention & Control:
 Good sanitation.
 Avoid areas where teats may be damaged or where flies are a particular problem, such as
damp, sheltered areas near rivers and woods.
 Milking machines should be disinfected and in good working order.
 In cases where milking is done by hand, the milker should wash and disinfect his/her hands
before milking.
 Gloves should be worn by all milkers at all times when milking.
Treatment & control:
 In acute cases, the cow should be placed in a separate cell.

 Infected quarters should be milk and managed often.
 Antibiotics and sulphur drugs are some of medication known to help.
 The udder should be cleaned and the end of the teats should be sterilized with alcohol.
Last but certainly not least, let’s go through foot and mouth disease. It is a highly contagious disease
which is caused by a virus. The disease is rarely fatal, however, there are secondary developments
that can possibly result in mortality. Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to FMD (foot
and mouth disease) than traditional breeds.
Symptoms:
 Excessive salivation
 High temperature
 Blisters on the feet and mouth.
 Lower food intake
 Poor performance.
Prevention:
 Vaccination
 Quarantine
Treatment:
Although there are no know specific treatment for FMD, antibiotics can help but only against
secondary infections.

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AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE BOOKLET

DISEASES OF CATTLE – Casual agent, prevention, symptoms, treatment

SUBJECT TEACHER: SIR ANDEL DOWNER

STUDENT’S NAME: BANI OMAPERSAUD

 Sudden death of one of the herds

 Destruction of red blood cells resulting in anaemia.

To prevent such infectious disease, we can:

 Sterilize tools and utensils.

 tetracycline antibiotics (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline)

There are 2 forms of mastitis;

Prevention & Control:

Treatment & control:

 In acute cases, the cow should be placed in a separate cell.

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