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4.1.5. Early Diagnosis and Treatment
Where disease is a major issue in a beef herd, the symptoms may not be immediately obvious. The
producer may observe a number of symptoms in the animals which can be confusing as to what the actual
cause of the problem may be. Some diseases often show the same symptoms and further investigation is
required to ensure that the correct disease has been identiied.
In most cases, experience and local knowledge will result in the correct diagnosis. Veterinary assistance should
be considered if a disease issue becomes concerning or if it is an ongoing problem. Any abnormal behaviour
requires immediate investigation as to the cause. Once the cause has been identiied then the correct treatment
of the problem should begin as soon as possible.
Beef producers should be aware of the more common diseases that occur in their area. They should also obtain
information on the symptoms of these diseases so that the correct diagnosis can be made and treatment with
the correct chemicals or drugs can start quickly. Passing this information onto other farm staf and neighbouring
producers can also help with early detection and treatment to ensure that any loss of production is
minimised.
Figure 4.5. Dry and mounded dung left could indicate poor feed or low protein, while sloppy dung with bubbles right could indicate Acidosis. Source: Livecorp, Meat and Livestock Australia - Manual for South-East Asian Cattle Feedlots.
4.1.6. Prevention Rather than Treatment
Optimal animal health is best achieved by preventing animals from contracting diseases and avoiding parasite
infections. This is best done by ensuring that there is good farm biosecurity, that all animals have access to
adequate amount of quality feed, and that they can get a good supply of clean cool water to drink. Fresh clean
water also minimises the risk of the spread of diseases between animals.
It is more proitable to prevent diseases and parasites from occurring than to try to treat the cause after it has
happened. To successfully treat animals a producer will have to purchase chemicals, vaccines and equipment
to apply them. This additional expense, and the loss of production reduced liveweight gain, or loss of a calf
associated with livestock disease has a negative impact on the proitability of the herd; often for more than one
production season. Where cattle graze on pasture, a system of rotational
grazing should be practiced to help minimise the spread of diseases and parasites, particularly worms and ticks.
When vaccinations, antibiotics and other chemicals are used, the instructions and schedules must be followed.
Any deviation from the recommended dosage rates,
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timing, and number of applications will only result in an increase in the spread and severity of both diseases and
parasites.
Whenever new cattle are brought onto the property, good biosecurity procedures entail quarantining
the new animals for a period of up to four weeks, depending on their origin and the potential disease
risk that they pose. This allows prophylactic treatments such as anthelmintics or vaccines to be administered,
and the cattle can be observed closely for symptoms of ill-health before being released to join the existing
herd. Adherence to a good biosecurity protocol will limit the introduction of diseases from outside sources
and reduce the associated negative economic impact of such diseases.
4.1.7. Nutritional Stress
Maintaining normal rumen function is fundamental to help avoid nutritional stress in beef cattle. The animal
needs to eat suicient quantities of quality forage, and drink enough water to ensure there is a good
balance of ibre and luid in the stomach to allow for fermentation to take place. If fermentation does not
happen, the digestive process of rumination that assists in the breakdown and absorption of nutrients will not
occur. This fermentation process is necessary to assist the microbes in the stomach to extract the nutrients
from the ibre grass ready to be absorbed in the small intestine. There needs to be suicient numbers of the
various types of microbes to ensure that fermentation continues and the animal functions normally.
Nutritional stress occurs when the animal is not getting enough feed and water, or the quality of the feed and
or water is poor. Where the animal is fed too much roughage low quality forage, grass or straw, or feed
with a high moisture content, the animal cannot extract enough nutrients to satisfy its needs for body
maintenance, growth, or reproduction.
One of the irst signs of nutritional stress is when an animal begins to lose weight. This will be followed by
female animals having reduced fertility.
A sign of a lack of feed or poor quality feed is when animals stand around the feed trough looking for more
to eat. They will often sort through the feed and eat the best parts irst the leaf and younger plant sections and
leave the poor quality roughage or stalk until last. They may also be seen licking the walls of the empty trough
to try and get as much nutrient as possible.
A similar thing will happen if water is in short supply. The cattle will wait around the water trough in the hope of
getting a drink when they should be out eating grass or forage or resting and chewing their cud.
4.2. Safe, Low Stress Cattle Handling