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Common Cattle Diseases: Identification, Impact & Control

Cattle diseases threaten animal welfare, productivity, food security, and zoonotic risk. Key diseases by etiology:

Viral

  • Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD): Pestivirus. Persistently infected (PI) calves drive spread. Signs: fever, diarrhea, respiratory, reproductive loss (abortion, congenital defects). Control: test & remove PIs, vaccination, biosecurity.
  • Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): Aphthovirus. Highly contagious (airborne). Vesicles on feet, mouth, teats. OIE-listed; trade-restricting. Vaccination (serotype-specific) in endemic zones; stamping-out in free zones.
  • Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD): Capripoxvirus. Vector-borne (insects). Nodular skin lesions, fever, milk drop. Spreading globally. Vaccination (live attenuated) effective.
  • Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR): BoHV-1. Respiratory, abortion, conjunctivitis. Latent infection. Marker vaccines allow DIVA.

Bacterial

  • Mastitis: S. aureus, E. coli, Strep. udder pathogens. Clinical (visible changes) vs. subclinical (high SCC). Costly: milk loss, treatment, culling. Control: milking hygiene, dry cow therapy, teat sealants, vaccination (coliform).
  • Johne's Disease (Paratuberculosis): MAP. Chronic granulomatous enteritis. Weight loss, diarrhea, low milk. Long incubation. Control: test-and-cull, calf hygiene, pasteurization.
  • Brucellosis: B. abortus. Abortion storms, retained placenta, infertility. Zoonotic (undulant fever). Eradication programs (test/slaughter, vaccination RB51).
  • Leptospirosis: L. hardjo. Reproductive loss, milk drop. Zoonotic. Vaccination.
  • Anthrax: B. anthracis. Sudden death, bloody discharges. Spores persist decades. Vaccination in endemic areas.

Parasitic

  • Gastrointestinal Nematodes: Ostertagia, Cooperia, Haemonchus. Weight gain suppression, diarrhea. Anthelmintic resistance widespread. Targeted selective treatment (TST), refugia management.
  • Liver Fluke (Fasciola hepatica): Snail intermediate host. Chronic weight loss, anemia, liver condemnation. Triclabendazole resistance emerging.
  • Anaplasmosis: A. marginale (tick-borne). Hemolytic anemia, fever, abortion. Carrier state. Tetracyclines; vaccine (live) in some regions.

Metabolic / Nutritional

  • Milk fever (hypocalcemia), ketosis, displaced abomasum, acidosis — periparturient management critical.

Herd health programs: vaccination protocols, biosecurity, nutrition, monitoring, veterinary partnership.

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