On-Call / Vet

If you’ve been in the cattle business long you have probably heard of the downer cow syndrome, or chances are, have had a downer cow of your own. This is a very common presentation and vets frequently get called out to examine cows that, for any number of reasons, are down and cannot get up. There is some irony in this condition as the apparent superficial problem is quiet easy to identify – the cow’s inability to rise. However, identifying the underlying cause for her apparent problem can be challenging and complex, hence the term, downer cow ‘syndrome’.

In this day and age significant concern has developed over the use of pharmaceuticals in animals intended for human consumption. Amongst consumers, there are many varying opinions regarding the use of drugs and chemicals in food animals ranging from those that prefer organically produced products to those that give little concern over the matter.

In a previous issue we discussed an emerging disease in Missouri cattle known as trichomoniasis or ‘trich’. This issue provides an excellent opportunity to bring producers up to date on recent changes in Missouri state regulations.

It is the time of year when cattle are seen rubbing on trees, fence post, feeders or anything they can. They will rub until the skin becomes raw, thick and irritated and often the cause for this is lice. It costs cattle producers millions of dollars in losses each year. They are biting the lice, which live on their skin and hair. These are a sucking lice. Sucking lice tend to cause anemia, which will cause the immune system to become weaker leading to other illnesses. The lice will cause a decrease in weight gain and in milk production, and this will lead to an increase in feed costs and cause you to treat other issues resulting in less profit.

Over the past several weeks I have had numerous questions regarding the safety of Johnson grass as a forage or for hay. The extremely, hot and dry summer left many pastures short and several producers feeding hay as we approach fall. Johnson grass is a plant that tends to grow and proliferate during periods of heat and drought when other grasses fail to grow. As a result many pastures have an abundance of Johnson grass this year in comparison to other forages and during periods when feedstuffs are in short supply, producers naturally consider grazing or haying the Johnson grass. However, under the right conditions Johnson grass can accumulate high levels of nitrate and/or prussic acid and become highly toxic to livestock.

Recently the West Nile virus has been in the news. This year has provided excellent conditions for the virus to be seen. Thirty-two states have reported human cases. Most of the cases are occurring through Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana. Missouri has had 2 cases occurring in horses.  

Recently there has been increased emphasis on controlling leptospirosis in cattle with special consideration for the serovar Leptospira Hardjo-bovis.

Urolithiasis is a common condition in goats and typically affects young wethers. It is characterized by small, crystallized stones (urinary calculi) forming in the urine which then settle out in the bladder and cause disease when they obstruct the outflow of the urethra and render the animal unable to urinate. This condition is of major significance due simply to the fact that it can make animals very sick very quickly and often results in death if not effectively treated soon enough.