Topics
Auction Finder
21 Aug 2018
LAMMA 2019
08 Jan 2019
Login or Register
Clinical signs: Be aware of botulism in cattle when feeding silage
Now most beef and dairy cattle are housed, be vigilant for signs of botulism when feeding silage.
Laura Bowyer
After joining the livestock desk on graduating from Harper Adams two years ago, Laura is passionate about getting information capable of Load More...
Laura Bowyer
After joining the livestock desk on graduating from Harper Adams two years ago, Laura is passionate about getting information capable of Load More...
Share This
Cases of botulism occur mainly in cattle and are thought to be caused by poultry litter spread on pasture, the feeding of ensiled poultry manure, bird carcases in silage clamps and bakery waste.
Clinical disease resulting from the ingestion of the toxin clostridium botulinum can range from sudden death or recovery within 14 to 21 hours.
Cattle are particularly susceptible and all ages can be affected, being sensitive to very small amounts of the toxin.
The bacteria will grow to high levels in the environment and in decaying organic matter including animal and bird carcases.
There is no effective treatment. It can be vaccinated against but is likely to require a specific vaccine.
Clinical signs can include:
- Affects the nervous system and it can affect the hind legs
- Weakness can progress over four to seven days to affect the forelegs, head and neck
- Progressive weakness
- Drooling
- Animals are generally alert
- Death
- Cattle can have trouble chewing and swallowing and paralyisis of the tongue
Most Read
Most Recent
FG Insight and FGInsight.com are trademarks of AgriBriefing Ltd.
Farmers Guardian and FarmersGuardian.com are trademarks of Farmers Guardian Ltd, a subsidiary of AgriBriefing Ltd.
All material published on FGInsight.com and FarmersGuardian.com is copyrighted © 2018 by AgriBriefing Limited. All rights reserved.
Farmers Guardian and FarmersGuardian.com are trademarks of Farmers Guardian Ltd, a subsidiary of AgriBriefing Ltd.
All material published on FGInsight.com and FarmersGuardian.com is copyrighted © 2018 by AgriBriefing Limited. All rights reserved.
