Down beef cow

Question 1

What is the main concern associated with prolonged recumbency in cattle?

Answer 1

Compartmentalization syndrome

Question 2

If a cow is able to eat grain and is BAR when down, what are the likely etiologies?

Answer 2

Musculoskeletal injury, peripheral/spinal nerve damage, starvation

Question 3

If a cow is not able to eat grain when down, what are the likely etiologies?

Answer 3

Mineral deficiency, toxicity, severe septicemia

Question 4

What are the likely etiologies for a down cow in the last 2 months of gestation?

Answer 4

Starvation, winter tetany, musculoskeletal injury

Question 5

What are the likely etiologies for a down cow immediately post calving?

Answer 5

Musculoskeletal injury, mineral deficiency, toxic mastitis

Question 6

What are the likely etiologies for a down cow 2-30 days postpartum?

Answer 6

Musculoskeletal injury, mineral deficiency, toxic mastitis, toxic metritis

Question 7

What are the 3 main musculoskeletal/peripheral nerve injuries that cause down cows?

Answer 7

Calving paralysis, spinal nerve damage, dislocated hips

Question 8

What is the common presentation for calving paralysis?

Answer 8

-cow never stands post calving (rarely stands)
-calf is usually dead (if alive it has swollen head and bruised gums)
-history of dystocia
-swelling/bruising of vulva

Question 9

What is the treatment of calving paralysis?

Answer 9

-Prevent compartmentalization syndrome using aqua-cow, hiplifts or sling (the worst of the 3)
-antiinflammatories, dexamethasone, NSAIDs

Question 10

What are 3 common etiologies causing spinal nerve damage?

Answer 10

Lymphosarcoma, disc disease, abscesses
-treatment unrewarding

Question 11

What is the most common cause of starvation in cattle?

Answer 11

low quality hay

Question 12

High NDF means what?

Answer 12

More lignin in feed which is indigestible
-takes up room in rumen, and slows down digestion
-cows cant intake more food due to full rumen, until feces is expelled

Question 13

What NDF is bad?

Answer 13

> 60

Question 14

When are nutritional requirements the highest?

Answer 14

Peak lactation and late gestation

Question 15

What will happen to spring calving cows fed low quality fescue?

Answer 15

They will quickly lose weight

Question 16

What when added to fescue greatly increases the amount of time it takes to lose 1 BCS?

Answer 16

Corn gluten

Question 17

Compare and contrast hypocalcemia and hypomagnesaemia

Answer 17

Hypocalcemia: uncommon in beef cattle, occurs in the first 24 hours post calving, exact same clinical signs and treatment as in dairy
-cows will be down, dull and experience hypothermia
-treat with 1-2 500 mL bottle CMPK

Hypomagnesaemia (aka grass tetany): usually 2-5 days or 20-30 days post calving
-cows will be staggering, down and experiencing hyperesthesia
-treat with 1-2 500 mL bottle CMPK, oral Mg
-prevent with mineral mix >10%

Question 18

When does winter tetany commonly occur in gestation cycle?

Answer 18

6-9 months
-often calcium, magnesium and potassium will be slightly low

Question 19

What causes winter tetany?

Answer 19

Poor quality hay, poor mineral availability

Question 20

What is the treatment for winter tetany?

Answer 20

1-2 500 mL bottles of CMPK
-oral Ca-Mg-K supplementation
-+/- anti-inflammatories

Question 21

When does toxic mastitis usually occur?

Answer 21

+/- 3 days from calving most commonly
-can also occur 2-3 days after weaning

Question 22

What age group does anaplasmosis mainly affect?

Answer 22

adult cows
-naive animals susceptible