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3 Investigation of sick cattle
3.1 Be aware of diseases and conditions causing sickness
Review Table 2.1 and section 2 to become familiar with syndromes affecting cattle on long- haul voyages and the diseases that may cause these syndromes. Veterinarians need to be
aware of these syndromes and diseases and the circumstances of their occurrence when screening for and diagnosing sick cattle during export voyages. Veterinarians also need to
be aware of disease reports from cattle assembly points and the need to expect the unexpected.
3.2 Be aware of predisposing risk factors for sickness
Table 3.1 provides a list of risk factors that predispose to disease in ship board cattle either by reducing the animal’s resistance or increasing exposure to the disease causing agent or
both. The risk factors are divided into Animal, Management and Environmental risk factors for ease of consideration. Note that multiple factors may be operating concurrently.
Table 3.1: Animal, management and environmental risk factors that may predispose cattle to becoming sick on board a cattle ship
Animal Management
Environment
Age Feed quality and quantity
Temperature Sex
Water quality and quantity Humidity
Breed Pen location incl relocation
Wind direction Size
Drug, chemical and vaccination treatments
Pen floor surfaces Pregnancy
Feeding system incl trough height and area
Walking surfaces
i.e. laneways
Lactation Watering system incl trough height
and area Ventilation
Weight Skills, knowledge experience of
stock personscrew incl change in stockpersonscrew
Shelter
Height Distances walked
Pen stocking ratecrowding Hair coat length
Applications of fumigants Shade
Temperament Deck cleaning
Ectoparasites Vaccination status
Noise i.e. from engines, fan motors
Origin Pollution
Body condition People traffic
Lighting intensityduration
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4 Monitoring and investigating sick cattle
4.1 Step 1. Screen cattle for sickness
Screening cattle for diseases on board ship can be challenging because of the difficulties in observing individual cattle, especially when pens are crowded. Obscured views in crowded
pens, hair coats heavily laden with manure, dim lighting and difficulties in monitoring individual suspect cattle are constraints on some ships. In theory, the cattle in a field of view
will change over time as they move around the pen to feed and water, however, it is well to be aware that pecking orders, and weakness, may prevent sick cattle from readily relocating
in a pen. This can leave them potentially unobserved and undetected.
The following comparative observations between pens and between individuals within pens provide a checklist for use during routine pen inspections.
Between pen group comparisons: Amounts of unconsumed feed in feed troughs
Numbers of cattle chewing their cud Numbers of recumbent versus standing cattle
Faecal consistency Urine colour
Colour and consistency of manure on floor of pen particularly blood staining Amount of discharges in feed troughs causing wet feed and on pen rails
Respiratory rates, coughing levels and mental demeanor Skin temperature as measured by distance-reading infrared thermometer
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Manure contamination of hair coats Within pen or individual comparisons:
Posture and demeanor Respiratory rates
Skin temperature as measured by distance-reading infrared thermometer Urine colour
Faecal consistency Prolonged recumbency, reluctance to rise or difficulty rising recumbent cattle chewing
their cud and ruminating are unlikely to be sick or in pain. Recumbent animals are unlikely to lie on a sore foot or leg so check the outstretched foot and leg carefully.
Non or partial weight bearing of limbs when standing Scanning across the backs of cattle may detect dropped shoulders or hips; scan of legs may detect animals standing
with legs partially flexed; best time to scan legs is immediately after deck washing when cattle are standing and legs and deck are clean
– use a torch.. Observe for clear cut signs of sickness in a pen including:
Swellings or discharges affecting heads, feet, flanks and rumps detected in the sample of cattle in the field of view.
Blood stained faeces
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There is much variability in quality of distance-reading thermometers
25 Be aware that some sick cattle will be suffering concurrent diseases such as footrot and IBR
and hence may present with a confusing clinical picture. Use timing of observations to advantage:
before feeding — detects uneaten feed during feeding — detects animals that are low on the pecking order or inappetent or
both post feeding — detects stock not resting and ruminating healthy stock would normally
rest and ruminate post deck washing — detects lameness and limb injures for the short period 15min
post deck washing, stock remain standing and legs are clean making it a good time to examine for lameness and injuries
– use a torch
4.2 Step 2. Make specific observations and measurements
