HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Cattle and Buffalo
1. Balanced Nutrition :
2. Managing Heat Stress :
- Ensure plentiful supply of cool, clean drinking water.
- Washing/Wallowing/Sprinkling/Splashing or showering of water is done to lower temperature and cool buffalo during times of stress. Sprinklers increase evaporative cooling and can reduce ground temperature.
- Good ventilation system may help animal to cope with extreme heat events.
- Feeding green fodder/silage/hay/is generally helpful and should be done at relatively cooler times e.g. morning or late evenings.
3. Sanitation:
Cleaning and disinfectingis essential to control the accumulation and spread of disease-causing microorganisms. Sometimes it provides the only successful solution for controlling infectious diseases. Thorough cleaning and proper choice and use of a disinfectant are very important.
4. Isolation:
Isolating and treating sick animals; dispose of dead animals properly.
5. Management Practices
- Regular deworming of the buffalo herd.
- Observing animals frequently for signs of disease.
- Keeping animals comfortable.
- Vaccinating for diseases that are a threat to the herd. Needles should be sterilized after each use to prevent spread of disease
- Medicating feed or water, as necessary, to control specific disease problems.
- Utilizing diagnostic services and regular supervision of herd health by a veterinarian. .
- Protecting feed and water from contamination with manure and urine from animal and from droppings of birds and rodents.
- New animals added to the herd are a potential source of new diseases so always buy healthy animals. Test breeding bull for brucellosis and for other diseases before purchase.
Major Diseases and Their Control
Common Ailments of Buffalo Calves :
- Calf Pneumonia/Enzootic bronchitis
- Diarrhoea/calf scours/enteritis
- Constipation
- Navel-ill
- Ectoparasites (Lice/Ticks/mites)
- Endoparasites (Round worms, tape worms, lung worms, strongyles,)
- Tympany/Bloat
- Anemia
- Hypomagnesemia
- Lead poisoning
1. Calf Pneumonia/ Enzootic bronchitis
Symptoms
- Pyrexia/High fever
- Thin/watery/thick/purulent nasal discharge
- Discharge from the eyes
- Dry hacking cough particularly notable on exercise or pinching the trachea
- Diarrhea may be an associated symptom
Causes
- Over crowding
- Poor ventilation and large diurnal variations in calf house
- temperature and relative humidity
- Exposure to cold drafts, wet floors
- Wet bedding or no bedding
- Pneumonia caused by infectious agents like Pasteurella, Pseudomonas, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Parainfluenza virus, herpesvirus, Mycoplasma, etc. may also spread by contact with infected animal
Prevention and control
- Provide adequate bedded area per calf and avoid overcrowding
- Ensure proper ventilation
- Replace bedding regularly, protect young calves from cold drafts and maintain all round hygiene in the pens/stalls
- Feed milk/skim milk at proper temperature
- Ensure adequate colostrum feeding to young calves. It will help them to develop adequate resistance
- Isolate the affected calves, provide them ideal conditions and treat them with suitable antibiotics under veterinary supervision
2. Diarrhoea/ calf scours/ enteritis
Symptoms
- Acute profuse watery diarrhoea, progressive dehydration and acidosis and death in a few days or earlier after the onset
Causes
- Low level of serum immunoglobulin following insufficient intake of colostrum
- Abrupt changes in feeding schedule
- Feeding of milk in unclean pails
- Sudden change in weather, wet windy and cold weather may expose calves to diarrhoea
- Unsanitary keeping conditions and deficiency of minerals may also precipitate diarrhoea on set
- Drinking unclean water
- Feeding less digestive feedstuffs, poor quality calf starters
- Diarrhoea caused by infectious agents like rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli, Salmonella and Cryptosporidium also spreads by contact with infected animals
Prevention and Control
- Ensure adequate colostrum feeding to ensure proper building of resistance in young calves
- Reduce exposure to inclement weather conditions, and wet and dirty floors
- Clean the feeding utensils thoroughly after each feeding and keep them in inverted position
- Ensure that the milk/skim milk fed to calves is hygienically kept and is at body temperature
- All the affected calves should be isolated and treated with oral/parenteral fluid therapy
- Salmonella induced diarrhoea/enteritis should be treated with oral administration of nitrofurazone 20 mg/kg bw X 5 days or with trimethoprim and sulphadoxin
3. Constipation
Symptoms
- The act of defecation is usually difficult and accompanied by much straining
- Feces are dry, hard and of small bulk and are passed at infrequent intervals
Causes
- Poor/no feeding of colostrum
- Early inclusion of dry fodders in feeding of young calves
- Improper watering schedule
Prevention and control
- Ensure proper feeding of colostrum to young calves. Feed the young calves with adequate quantity of milk
- Incorporate quality green fodders in calf feeding regime
- Feed the calves with salt/mineral supplements and ensure access to clean drinking water
- Feeding 30-50g of castor oil to calves is effective against constipation
4. Navel-ill
Symptoms
- Mortality rate is high and in acute cases death is rapid, with no specific symptoms
- In less acute cases, there is usually some swelling of the navel, with abscess formation, or the infection may spread to the liver with more serious effects
- Loss of appetite, slightly elevated temperature and prostration
- Hock and knee joints usually become swollen and painful
Causes
- Insanitary keeping conditions
- No dressing/improper dressing of navel
- Use of unhygienic knife/blade for cutting the navel cord
- Exposure to wet floors
- Sucking of navel cord by other group mates
- of the PLV (psittacosis-lymphogranuloma venereum) group and a species of Mycoplasma may be involved
Prevention and control
- Use sterilized scissors/new blade for cutting the navel cord
- Do proper dressings of navel cord. Squeeze the fluid from the cord and dip in a suitable antiseptic solution (tincture iodine). Insert a cotton swab soaked in antiseptic and ligate the distal end with clean thread
- In case of external injury to the cord, do regular dressing
- Provide clean and dry floors to the young calves. Bedded or raised platforms prove better
5. Ectoparasites (Lice/Ticks/mites)
Symptoms
- Excitement, itching, irritation, abscesses on skin
Causes
- Hot and humid living conditions
- Unclean animal and surroundings
- Overcrowding and indoor housing
- Contact of infested animals, building and pasture
Prevention and control
- Keep the animal, shed and surroundings clean
- Wash and groom the animals regularly
- Inspect the animals especially the hidden parts regularly and spray them as soon as lice/ticks are noticed
- Isolate the affected animals and treat them separately
- Apply sulphur mixed in coconut/peanut oil (3:1)
- Spray the animals with suitable insecticides at periodic interval
- In serious cases inject the animals with suitable preparations like ivermectin
- Supplement minerals in the diet
6. Endoparasites (Round worms, tape worms, lung worms, strongyles,)
Symptoms
- Listlessness, diarrhoea, blood-tinged stools, distended abdomen, bottle jaw, etc.
Causes
- Unhealthy keeping conditions
- Under nutrition/malnutrition leading to mineral deficiency and lower resistance
- Contact with infested animal water supply, pasture or fecal material
- Intermediate hosts like flies, ticks, etc. also help their spread
- Ingestion of soil, licking of walls, gates, infested floors, etc.
Prevention and control
- Keep the pens and premises clean and dry, remove dung and store in a compost pit at a safe distance; composting kills the parasites and their eggs
- Ensure clean drinking water
- If grazing is practiced then maintain grazing rotation and practice periodic burning of pastures
- Have a fecal sample tested in a laboratory and follow recommended medication or else use broad spectrum anthelmintic preparations
- Follow the deworming schedule for young calves strictly. Deworm them at 2 weeks, and thereafter at monthly interval upto 6 months
- Deworm older calves every 3 months. Two deworming one each before and after rainy season are of vital significance in northern India
- If coccidiosis is suspected, give recommended doses of sulphamethazine/sulphadimidine
7. Tympany/ Bloat
Symptoms
- Excessive gas production in the reticulo-rumen of calves with subsequent distension of stomach
- Abomasal bloat would typically be observed as severe distention on the right side of the animal while ruminal bloat results in distention of the left flank.
Causes
- Intersuckling
- Feeding unclean milk
- Feeding high quantity of starch rich concentrates
- Feeding young berseem/Lucerne/oats soaked in dew
- Sudden change in feeding
Prevention and control
- Maintain proper hygienic conditions in the pens/stalls
- Avoid abrupt changes in feeding schedule
- Avoid sole feeding of lush fodders and starch rich concentrates
- Don’t feed spoilt/unclean milk
- Administer 200-250 ml castor/coconut oil orally
- Apply side or lifting pressure to the stomach to expel the gas
- Insert a rubber tube into the stomach orally to expel the gas
- In extreme cases, puncture the rumen in left side using 14/16 gauge needle or a trocar and cannula under veterinary supervision
8. Anaemia
Symptoms
- Anorexia, pallor of the mucosae, muscular weakness and depression, increased heart rate
Causes
- Excessive loss of blood by hemorrhage, or by increased destruction or the inefficient production of erythrocytes
- Poor nutrition management
- Poor body condition of dam during advanced gestation period
- Inadequate nutrient and colostrum intake
- Diarrhoea and disease
Prevention and control
- Ensure adequate colostrum intake soon after birth
- Provide proper nutrition to young calves in the form of milk and good quality concentrates (calf starter)
- Examination for infectious diseases
- Injection of iron dextrin (150 mg) and vitamin A, B & E is effective in preventing anemia in young calves
9. Hypomagnesemia
Symptoms
Hyperexcitement, retraction of the head, white of the eyes apparent dueto upward rotation of eyeballs, continual movement of ears, inco-ordination of gait, convulsions, loss of urination and defecation control
Causes
- Poor nutrition management
- Calves being fed on milk only
- Chronic scours
Prevention and control
- I/v administration of 100 ml of solution containing 14 g calcium borogluconate and 3.6 ml magnesium lactate followed by 14 g magnesim sulphate in 50 ml water by s/c route, followed by 10-15 g magnesium oxide PO, daily
- Supplementation of the diet with hay and concentrate or by addition of 5g magnesium oxide or 8g magnesium carbonate
10. Lead poisoning
Symptoms
- A time lag of several days may occur before the onset of symptoms, the animal then dying within a few hours
- In less acute cases, the calf is dull and dejected, has no appetite, sunken eyes, abdominal pain
- Calf becomes greatly excited attempting to push against the walls of its pen, appears to be blind and staggers around with rolling eyes and frothing mouth. After collapse, muscular spasms and tetany occur before death
Causes
Licking of painted woodwork and metalwork, discarded paint tins, old lead plates from batteries, painted tarpaulins and vegetation sprayed with lead chemicals
Prevention and control
- No treatment in acute cases
- In subacute cases, calcium versenate (25%) twice a day by i/v or s/c route x 6 days + saline solution helps to alleviate nervous symptoms
- Magnesium sulphate is also helpful
Source: Buffalopedia – https://buffalopedianew.cirb.res.in/health-management-2/ , contributed by Dr N. Rana, Dr Ashok Boora and Sunesh
SEASONAL MANAGEMENT OF DISEASES
Winters
- Bedding should be provided to calves in winters. Deep straw bedding allows the calf to create a nest to help reduce heat loss and exposure to drafts.
- In severe winter, it is essential to protect the calves from cold draft especially for five days after birth. The air movement at calf height should not exceed 0.25 metres per sec to avoid the risk of chilling draughts.
- Calves require additional energy to maintain their body temperature and grow. This increased energy requirement can be met by supplying the calf with an increased volume of liquid milk.
- Feeding 3 times per day under severe conditions to prevent digestive upset. Offering warm water at least once a day during winter months will help to cope up with winter stress.
- If calves appear to be showing signs of hypothermia (depression, weakness, loss of appetite, abnormally cold extremities), they should be kept in closed room with adequate ventilation and body covers is sufficient. Warm blankets may be used to make the calf comfortable. Adequate ventilation to prevent moisture and carbon-dioxide build-up is necessary.
- Incidence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection as well as mange is high during the month of January.
- In case of infestation, application of ivermectin @ 0.2 mg per kg or 1 ml per 50 kg b. wt. gives satisfactory results. Alternatively, repeated dipping of animals and spraying of infected premises with common acaricides like cypermethrin or amitraz is also helpful.
Summers
- Construction and ventilation system of calf barn should be done by keeping the geographical location and the pattern of maximum and minimum temperature of that area in mind.
- Environmental comfort zone for calves should range from 10-21°C. If the environmental temperature of the calf barn goes above the upper limit of the comfort zone, productivity will fall progressively.
- Provision should be made to make plenty of clean drinking water available. An effective fly control mechanism should also be put in place.
Monsoon/Rainy Season
- Due to increased problems of parasitic diseases (gastrointestinal parasites:Strongyloides spp. infection), ticks and tick borne diseases (Eimeria spp.) increase manifolds in the animals) during the months of July. Therefore regular and repeated application of new generation acaricides is useful.
- Pour on flumethrin (1% sol) @ 1 ml/10kg evenly from front of shoulder to base of tail along midline of the back.
- However, after application of acaricides, the calves should be kept in shade for few days.
- Crevices and cracks in the walls which are the major hide-outs for ticks should be sprayed with acaricides.
Source: https://buffalopedianew.cirb.res.in/health-management-2/ contributed by N. Rana and Sunesh
Vaccination Schedules for Cattle and buffalo
S.no | Name of Disease | Age at first dose | Booster dose | Subsequent dose |
1 | Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) | 4 months and above | 1 month after first dose | Six monthly |
2 | Haemorrhagic Septicaemia (HS) | 6 months and above | – | Annually in endemic areas. |
3 | Black Quarter (BQ) | 6 months and above | – | Annually in endemic areas. |
4 | Brucellosis | 4-8 months of age (Only female calves) | – | Once in a lifetime |
5 | Theileriosis | 3 months of age and above | – | Once in a lifetime. Only required for crossbred and exotic cattle. |
6 | Anthrax | 4 months and above | – | Annually in endemic areas. |
7 | IBR | 3 months and above | 1 month after first dose | Six monthly (vaccine presently not produced in India) |
8 | Rabies (Post bite therapy only) | Immediately after suspected bite. | 4th day | 7,14,28 and 90(optional) days |
Deworming of Calves
- Deworming should be started from the first week of calf.
- A single oral dose of 10 g piperazine adepate is recommended for the calves preferably in the first week of life to control neonatal ascariasis especially in buffalo calves.
- Deworming should be done every month for first 6 months, thereafter once in three months.
- The deworming drugs and dose should be consulted with qualified veterinary doctor.
- Over dose and under dose of deworming drugs should be prevented to check the side effects.
COMMONLY OCCURING DISEASES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
| Infectious diseases | |
| Bacterial diseases | Anthrax |
| Black quarter | |
| Heamorrhagic septicemia | |
| Tuberculosis | |
| Brucellosis | |
| Mastitis | |
| Viral diseases | Rinderpest |
| Foot and Mouth disease | |
| Epimeral fever | |
| Parasitic diseases | Ecto: Tick, Lice and Mites |
| Endo: Tapeworms, Roundworms | |
| Fungal diseases | Aflatoxicosis |
| Non infectious or non contagious | |
| Metabolic diseases | Milk fever or Hypocalcemia |
| Hypoglycemia or Acetonemia | |
| Ketosis | |
| Dietary | Tympanites or Bloat |
| Impaction | |
| Non specific enteritis | |
BACTERIAL DISEASES
ANTHRAX
B.anthracis causes Anthrax in animals. Bacillus anthracis spores remain viable for many years in soil, water and animal hides and products. Cattle, sheep and goats are most susceptible to infection.
Symptoms
- In peracute sepeticemia death occurs within 2 hours after animal collapsing with convulsions, sudden death in animals that appeared normal is common.
- In acute septicemia death occurs within 48 to 96 hours clinical signs include fever, anorexia, ruminal stasis, hematuria and blood tinged diarrhea.
- Pregnant animals may abort and milk production often abruptly decreases.
- Terminal signs include severe depression, respiratory distress and convulsions.
Diagnosis
Examination of blood films from dead animals made by puncturing the superficial vein of the ear or in the region of the foot.
Prevention and Control
Prevention of anthrax in animals is aided by active immunization. The organism is susceptible to penicillin-G, tetracyclines, erythromycin and chloramphenicol.
BLACK QUARTER
C) chauvoei causes black quarter or black leg in Cattle. Gram positive, rod shaped with rounded ends. Worldwide distribution in soil and pastures.
Symptoms
- The disease usually occurs in young cattle of 6 months to about 2-3 years of age. Crepitating swelling in the hind or fore quarter, lameness, muscles shows trembling with violent twitching. Death usually occurs within 24 hours.
Diagnosis
Based on Symptoms
Control and Prevention
- Hyper immune serum (HIS) is used to control explosive outbreaks. Penicillin along with HIS is used to treat the disease.
- Oxytetracycline & Chlortetracycline can also be employed effectively in early stages.
HAEMORRHAGIC SEPTECEMIA
Pasteurella multocda is small Gram –ve rods or coccobacilli that showbipolar staining
Symptoms
- Fever, a sudden drop in milk yield, signs of abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea and dysentery, respiration becomes rapid and shortly before death the mucous membranes appear cyanotic.
- In less acute cases there will be odema development in the region of the head, neck and brisket. The nasal discharge may be blood stained or purulent. Death occurs within 2-4 days.
Diagnosis
- By symptoms and lesions
Control and Prevention
- Pasteurella is amenable to Penicillin-G, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, chlortetracycline, sulpha and tripmethoprim, enrofloxacin and oxytetracycline.
- Vaccination
VIRAL DISEASES
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE
Causative agent – Members of the family Picornaviridae, genus Apthovius and species Foot and mouth disease virus. Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is the most contagious disease of mammals and cause severe economic loss in susceptible cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and water buffalo).
- Smallest of the Animal virus : 7 types virus : O,A,C Asia I, SAT 1,2,3
- Transmission : Direct contact : Thro water : manure : Pasture and cattle attendant
Symptoms
- The disease is characterised by the formation of vesicles (fluid-filled blisters) and erosions in the mouth, nose, teats and feet. Initial signs are pyrexia (39.4-40.6ºC), dullness, anorexia, and fall in milk production. These signs are followed by excessive salivation; drooling, serous nasal discharge; shaking, kicking of the feet or lameness; and vesicle (blister) formation in the tongue, dental pad, gums, soft palate, nostrils, muzzle, interdigital space, coronary band, and teats. Pregnant cows may abort, and young calves may die without developing any vesicle. The course of an FMD infection is 2 to 3 weeks. Secondary infection may delay recovery.
Diagnosis
- Symptom and lesion
Treatment
- Antibiotics may be administered to counter bacterial infections
Prevention & Control
- Thorough disinfection of shed, utensils, clothes of attendants.
- Vaccination – polyvalent – once – 4months or varies with type of vaccine.
METBOLIC DISEASES
MILK FEVER: (Parturient paresis)
Milk fever is a metabolic disease in cows soon after calving. Due to fall in serum calcium level in cows after calving as a result of failure to mobilize calcium reserves and of the development of negative calcium balance in late pregnancy.
Symptoms
Disease flares up within 72 hours of calving initially the cows show excitement, incoordination of movement muscular tremors in limbs and head, lying in recumbent position with her head directed towards flank. In final stages subnormal temperature, dilatation of the pupil, impalpable pulse, coma and death.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of the disease is based on the occurrence of milk fever in recently calved animals.
Treatment & Control
Dramatic recovery by intravenous administration of 300-400 ml calcium borogluconate with Vitamin D3 injected intramuscularly. Continued mixing of ½ liter of supernatant lime water for cow may reduce the incidence.
KETOSIS: (Acetonaemia)
Disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism in high producing dairy cattle that leads to hypoglycaemia and apperance of ketone bodies.
Causes
Disease is caused by deranged metabolism of carbohydrate and volatile fatty acids resulting in reduced level of sugar in blood (hypoglycemia), increased level of ketones in blood (ketonemia) and in urine (ketonuria)
Symptoms
Cardinal signs in digestive and nervous type of ketosis usually appear in good milkers from 7 days to six weeks after calving. Loss of appetite, rapid loss of weight and marked reduction in the milk yield observed in digestive type of ketosis. In nervous type symptoms include depression, a starring expression, walking, in cricles, treading with the feet, incoordination of movements, convulsions, sudden falling on the ground with wide expression of bulged eyes. Respiration becomes shallow emanating fruity odour on the breath.
Diagnosis
Examination of ketone bodies in the urine helps in diagnosing the disease besides the symptoms noticed.
Control and Treatment
Intravenous administration of 500-1000 ml of 40 per cent glucose, Repeat for 5 days. Cases not responding to glucose therapy, intramuscular injection of 100-200 mg of hydrocortisone or 50 to 200 mg of prednisolone acetate. Concentrate feeding with good fodder during dry period in high yielding cows, ½ to one kg maize or cholam made as gruel mixed with ¼ kg of jaggery or molasses daily to be given to cows nearing parturition.
BLOAT: (TYMPANY)
Bloat is a disease of ruminants in which rumen and reticulum is over distended with the gases of fermentation.
Causes
Excess intake of fresh legumes and feeding of high grain ration lead to frothy bloat.
Obstuction to normal expulsion of gases from rumen by choking the oestophageal passage by corncob, turnip and sugar beet cause free gas bloat.
Symptoms
Acute form of tympany results in sudden death before rendering any aid to the affected animal. In acute cases, the distension of the rumen occurs quickly, the flank and the whole abdomen is enlarged. On percussion the left flank produces a drum like sound, initially the animal frequently gets up and lies down, kicks at belly and even rolls. Breath becomes difficult and is evidenced by oral breathing, protrusion of tongue and salivation. When the distension of abdomen becomes extreme, the animal exhibits uncoordinated movement, inability to stand, falls all of a sudden. Collapse and death occur quickly. In chronic tympany, the distension of abdomen and intra-abdominal pressure are not serious. The gas is‗free‘ but retained because of obstruction of the pasage thereby preventing normal eructation of gases.
Diagnosis
Based on characteristic symptoms of distension of abdomen and distress by the affected animal.
Control and Treatment
In per acute cases puncture the rumen with a sharp knife or with a trocar and canula to expel the gases. Administer orally oil of turpentine 60 ml well mixed with one litre of groundnut oil or gingelly oil or cocounut oil. After six to eight hours administer powdered ginger 30 grams, Asafoetida 30 gram, well mixed to jaggery. Fresh legumes should be wilted and then fed to stallfed animals. Feed dry roughages before turning the cattle to luxuriant pasture to avoid bloating.
ACIDOSIS
Rumen acidosis is a metabolic disease of cattle. Acidosis is occur when the pH of the rumen falls to less than 5.5 (normal is 6.5 to 7.0). In many cases the pH can fall even lower. The fall in pH has two effects. Firstly, the rumen stops moving, becoming atonic. This depresses appetite and production. Secondly, the change in acidity changes the rumen flora, with acid-producing bacteria taking over. They produce more acid, making the acidosis worse. The increased acid is then absorbed through the rumen wall, causing metabolic acidosis, which in severe cases can lead to shock and death.
Cause
The primary cause of acidosis is feeding a high level of rapidly digestible carbohydrate, such as barley and other cereals. Acute acidosis, often resulting in death, is most commonly seen in beef animals where cattle have obtained access to excess feed. In dairy cattle, a milder form, sub-acute acidosis, is seen as a result of feeding increased concentrates compared to forage.
Symptoms
Acute acidosis often results in death, although illness and liver abscesses may be seen before hand. Cattle may become depressed, go off feed, have an elevated heart rate or diarrhea.
Sub-acute:
- Reduced feed intake
- Poor body condition and weight loss
- Unexplained diarrhoea
- Temperature
- Pulse rate and respiratory rate may rise
- Lethargy
Treatment
Because subacute ruminal acidosis is not detected at the time of depressed ruminal pH, there is no specific treatment for it. Secondary conditions may be treated as needed.
Prevention
The key to prevention is reducing the amount of readily fermentable carbohydrate consumed at each meal. This requires both good diet formulation (proper balance of fiber and nonfiber carbohydrates) and excellent feed bunk management. Animals consuming well- formulated diets remain at high risk for this condition if they tend to eat large meals because of excessive competition for bunk space or following periods of feed deprivation.
Feeding excessive quantities of concentrate and insufficient forage results in a fiber- deficient ration likely to cause subacute ruminal acidosis. The same situation may be seen during the last few days before parturition if the ration is fed in separate components.
Including long-fiber particles in the diet reduces the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis by encouraging saliva production during chewing and by increasing rumination after feeding. However, long-fiber particles should not be easily sorted away from the rest of the diet; this could delay their consumption until later in the day or cause them to be refused completely.
Ruminant diets should also be formulated to provide adequate buffering. This can be accomplished by feedstuff selection and/or by the addition of dietary buffers such as sodium bicarbonate or potassium carbonate. Dietary anion-cation difference is used to quantify the buffering capacity of a diet.
Supplementing the diet with direct-fed microbials that enhance lactate utilizers in the rumen may reduce the risk of subacute ruminal acidosis. Yeasts, propionobacteria, lactobacilli, and enterococci have been used for this purpose. Ionophore (eg, monensin sodium) supplementation may also reduce the risk by selectively inhibiting ruminal lactate producers.
MASTITIS
Introduction
- Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland. In which the milk undergo physical, chemical and microbiological changes whereas mammary glandular tissue undergo physical and pathological changes. In which infected milk colour, consistency change and contains more amount of leucocytes.
Etiology
- Mastitis is caused majorly by Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and coliform bacteria and less importantly by other organism such as other bacteria, viruses, and fungus.
Source of Infection
- agalactiae and S.aureus resides primarily in the udder of infected cows.
- Exposure to uninfected quarters is limited to milking process.
- Strepoccus uberis, S.dysgalactiae and coliforms are normal inhabitants of the cows environment.
Transmission
Infection occurs via the teat canal – contaminated environment – skin of udder, milking equipment, milker etc.
Clinical Signs
- Per acute form: Pyrexia, anorexia, respiratory distress, swollen, hot and painful udder. Cessation of milk production. Exudate are often blood stained. Mostly, Staph.aureus, Str. Dysgalactiae, Cory.pyogenes, E.coli, and P. aerugenosa.
- Acute form: Swollen udder, changes in quality of milk. Milk become curd like, yellow, brown fluid with flakes and clots.
- Subacute form: No changes in the udder tissue.
- Chronic form: Udder is haemorrhagic, and fibrotic. Swollen and palpable supra mammary lymphnode,. Udder is thick, firm, nodular and atrophic, yellowish or white fluid with clots and flakes.
Diagnosis
Physical examination of the udder
Treatment
- Stripping out the milk from the infected quarters. Cleaning of infected quarters with normal saline and distilled water. Infusion of antibiotic therapies immediately after the infection. Contineuos use antibiotics as per the antibiogram.
- Use of inactivated vaccine containing Str.agalactiae, Str.uberis, Staph.pyogenes, Staph.aureus and E.coli in some countries.
Control
- Hygenic measures are important.
- Animals diagnosed positive should be milked at last.
- Milkers should wash their hands before milking and should use well washed white overalls.
- A separate clean cloth for each cow is used for washing the udder with a disinfectant.
- The first stream of milk from each quarter should not be allowed to drop on floor but collected in a separate container. Milkers should not wet their hands with first stream of milk.
RECORDS TO BE MAINTAINED
RECORD MAINTENANCE
It is essential to maintain different records in any commercial enterprise, without which, it would be difficult to have a check, or evaluate the enterprise periodically. In case of dairy industry, it is essential to maintain the overall milk production for sustained economic growth. For this purpose, a check on feeding (feeds and fodders), animal health and periodicity of calving is important. A good number of records are to be maintained on the farms and list of some important records is given below.
- Livestock register
- Pedigree sheet or history sheet
- Daily milk production register
- Milk production and disposal register
- Fat testing register
- Vaccination register
- Deworming register
- Animal treatment register
- Breeding register
- Growth record register
- Calving register
- Mortality register
- Labour engagement register
- Record of economics
- Record of feed and fodder
- Dung register
- Temporary dead stock register
- Permanent dead stock register etc.
LIVESTOCK INSURANCE
About the scheme
The Livestock Insurance Scheme, a centrally sponsored scheme was implemented on a pilot basis during 2005-06 and 2006-07 of the 10th Five Year Plan and 2007-08 of the 11th Five Year Plan in 100 selected districts. The scheme was later implemented on a regular basis from 2008-09 in 100 newly selected districts of the country.
The scheme was later subsumed under the Sub-mission on Innovation and Extension on livestock development of National Livestock Mission.
The component aims at management of risk and uncertainties by providing protection mechanism to the farmers against any eventual loss of their animals due to death and to demonstrate the benefit of the insurance of livestock to the people.
Coverage
The scheme is implemented in all the districts of the Country from 21.05.2014.
Animals covered
The indigenous / crossbred milch animals, pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buffalo Male) , and Other Livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun etc.) are covered under the purview of this component.
Central assistance
Benefit of subsidy is to be restricted to 5 animals per beneficiary per household for all animals except cattle, sheep, goat, pig and rabbit. In case of cattle, sheep, goat, pig and rabbit the benefit of subsidy is to be restricted based on “Cattle Unit” and one cattle unit is equal to 10 animals i.e a total of 100 animals. If a beneficiary has less than 10 animals / 1 Cattle Unit, s/he can also avail the benefit of subsidy.
| Component | Pattern of assistance |
| Premium rates for Normal areas | Normal areas |
| · Premium rates for one year policy – 4.5% | Beneficiary share 15% . The remaining premium to be shared by Central share 60%, State share 40 % |
| · Premium rates for two year policy – 8 % | |
| · Premium rates for three year policy – 11 % | |
| Premium rates for NER / Himalayan states | NER / Himalayan states |
| · Premium rates for one year policy – 5.5% | Beneficiary share 15% . The remaining premium to be shared by Central share 90%, State share 10 % |
| · Premium rates for two year policy – 9 % | |
| · Premium rates for three year policy – 11.5 % |
Process
An animal will be insured for its current market price. The market price of the animal to be insured will be assessed jointly by the beneficiary and the insurance company preferably in the presence of the Veterinary officer or the BDO. The minimum value of animal should be assessed by taking Rs.3000 per liter per day yield of milk or as per the price prevailing in the local market (declared by Government) for cow and Rs.4000 per liter per day yield of milk or as prevailing in the local market (declared by Government) for buffalo. The market price of the pack animals (Horses, Donkey, Mules, Camels, Ponies and Cattle/Buff. male) and other livestock (Goat, Sheep, Pigs, Rabbit, Yak and Mithun) are to be assessed by negotiation jointly by owner of animal and by insurance company in the presence of veterinarians Doctor. In case of dispute the price fixation would be settled by the Gram Panchayat / BDO.
The animal insured will have to be properly and unique ly identified at the time of insurance claim. The ear tagging should, therefore, be full proof as far as possible. The traditional method of ear tagging or the recent technology of fixing microchips could be used at the time of taking the policy. The cost of fixing the identification mark will be borne by the Insurance Companies and responsibility of its maintenance will lie on the concerned beneficiaries. The nature and quality of tagging materials will be mutually agreed by the beneficiaries and the Insurance Company. The Veterinary Practitioners may guide the beneficiaries about the need and importance of the tags fixed for settlement of their claim so that they take proper care for maintenance of the tags. The tag already available on animal may be utilized with unique identity number subject to the condition that it is mutually agreed by farmer and agency and there shall not be any dispute in settlement of claims on account of utilization of existing tag.
While processing an insurance proposal, one photograph of the animal with the Owner and one photograph of the animal clearly with the EAR TAG visible shall be taken at the time of processing the insurance documentation. In case of sale of the animal or otherwise transfer of animal from one owner to other, before expiry of the Insurance Policy, the authority of beneficiary for the remaining period of policy will have to be transferred to the new owner.
Only four documents would be required by insurance companies for settling the claims viz. intimation with the Insurance Company, Insurance Policy paper, Claim Form and Postmortem Report. In case of claim becoming due, the payment of insured amount should be made within 15 days positively after submission of requisite documents. If an Insurance company fails to settle the claim within 15 days of submission of documents, the insurance company will be liable to pay, a penalty of 12% compound interest per annum to the beneficiary.
Source: National Livestock Mission Guidelines, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/agri-insurance/livestock-insurance