What Are the Common Diseases of Cattle? A Detailed Guide to Prevention, Control and Treatment

I. Common Cold

This is mainly an acute febrile disease caused by sudden climate changes, cold, or high humidity and high temperature. The symptoms are depression, cold ear tips and nose tip, dry muzzle, uneven skin temperature, elevated body temperature, reduced appetite, cessation of rumination, and erect hair coat. The diseased animal develops a clear nasal discharge, later a thick nasal discharge, dry feces, aversion to cold and fear of chill, arched back and trembling, and some lie down and cannot stand up.

Treatment: Use 40 ml of 30% analgin, or 30 ml of compound aminopyrine, once daily, by intramuscular injection, until recovery. Also use penicillin, streptomycin, etc.

II. Gastroenteritis

It is mainly caused by moldy and deteriorated forage, improper processing and preparation, sudden changes, etc. The symptoms are depression, complete loss of appetite, increased drinking, cessation of rumination, elevated body temperature, uneven skin temperature, congested conjunctiva, increased pulse, accelerated breathing, weakened rumen motility, sensitive abdominal palpation, and scant yellow urine. The feces are thin, mixed with mucus, blood and fragments of necrotic tissue, and have a foul odor.

Prevention and treatment: 1. At the beginning of the disease, the gastrointestinal tract should be cleared. 2. Sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate or artificial salt 300-400 g, ichthammol 15-20 g, alcohol 80-100 ml, ordinary water 4000-5000 ml, mix and administer orally once; when the gastrointestinal tract is basically emptied, antidiarrheal treatment can be carried out. 3. Tannalbin 20 g, bismuth subnitrate 10 g, sodium bicarbonate 40 g, starch paste 1000 ml, mix and administer orally once. 4. Anti-inflammatory treatment. Sulfaguanidine 40-60 g, sodium bicarbonate 40-60 g, appropriate amount of water, mix and administer orally once, twice daily, for 3 consecutive days; at the same time, intramuscular injection of penicillin, streptomycin, etc.

III. Ruminal Impaction

It is mainly caused by feed that is difficult to digest. It can also be secondary to fore-stomach atony, traumatic reticuloperitonitis, omasal obstruction and other diseases. The symptoms are reduced or stopped appetite, rumination, eructation and rumen motility, accelerated pulse and breathing, arched back, frequent lying down and standing up, groaning, first constipation and then diarrhea, bulging of the left flank, and hardness of the left abdomen.

Prevention and treatment: 1. Prevent sudden changes in feed or feeding too much feed at one time. 2. Magnesium sulfate 500 g, ichthammol 30 g, paraffin oil 1000 ml, mix and dilute with water, then administer by gavage once. 3. If the above methods are ineffective or the ruminal impaction is severe, rumenotomy should be performed to remove part of the rumen contents.

IV. Ruminal Tympany

The main cause is that cattle consume large amounts of easily fermentable feed, young and succulent green grass, frozen feed, moldy feed, and grass covered with frost, snow, or dew after rain. Secondly, adding excessive concentrate or tofu residue to the forage, drinking large amounts of soybean milk, or immediately working the cattle after feeding or feeding and watering after severe illness often triggers this disease. In addition, the course of many diseases is often accompanied by the occurrence of this disease.

Treatment: Peel fresh purple-skinned garlic, crush it, mix it into soybean oil, stir, and administer orally. For adult cattle, use 70-90 g of purple-skinned garlic and 250-500 g of soybean oil; for young cattle, reduce the amount accordingly. After medication, lead the cattle to walk slowly, and never let the cattle lie down. About 15 minutes after medication, the affected cattle begin to expel gas and reduce bloating; after 1 hour, rumination begins and appetite appears. Generally, affected cattle recover after one dose. Severe cases can also be cured after two doses. Practice has proved that the garlic-soybean oil mixture has fermentation-inhibiting, antibacterial, mild laxative and stomach-strengthening effects; this mixture is fast-acting, safe and free of side effects; garlic and soybean oil are foods every farming household has on hand, so it can be said to be an empirical formula with easily available materials, convenient use, economic practicality and remarkable curative effect.

V. Organophosphate Poisoning

It is caused by accidentally eating green grass sprayed with organophosphorus pesticides. The symptoms are sudden onset, drooling and tearing, white or pink foam at the nostrils and corners of the mouth, constricted pupils, difficulty breathing, extreme restlessness, and finally death due to respiratory center paralysis. A garlic smell can be detected in the breath, secretions and skin of the sick cattle.

Treatment: Use 1000 ml of physiological saline and 20 mg of atropine, mix and inject intravenously once, then repeat once every 3-4 hours.