Forage Disorders Flashcards
Why is fescue considered the wonder grass?
Resists overgrazing, poor soils, drought, mismanagement (it’s quite resilient)
Long growing season
By itself, fescue is not toxic. What about fescue makes it toxic?
A fungus that lives within the tall fescue plant!
T/F: fescue is currently facing a blight of parasitic fungus
False - the endophyte fungus produces multiple compounds that benefit fescue (peramine - deters insects)
How is the fungus transferred amongst fescue?
Plant to seed
No transmission between plants
What about fescue’s fungus is bad for ruminants?
Ergovaline (an ergot alkaloid)
A compound previously used for vasoconstriction in human medicine
T/F: Ergovaline in the blood of cattle that eat fescue has remained undetectable
True
Summer slump is associated with
Fescue toxicosis
When do we see the effects of fescue toxicosis?
Ambient temp >88F
What are some signs of summer slump?
Decreased feed intake, gain, reproductive performance, and serum prolactin
Increased RR, rectal temp, time in shade, salivation, nervousness
Poor hair coat
What problem do we see associated with fescue toxicosis in the winter time?
Fescue foot - avascular necrosis of hoof/foot
Name the classifications of bloat and their cause
Free Gas: Gas cap on top, can’t eructate
Frothy: Rumen full of “suds”
Primary vs Secondary
What are the common culprits of primary frothy bloat?
Legumes d/t production of foaming agents
Are grain bloats frothy or free gas?
Can be both
Frothy - may be d/t slime producing protozoan
Free Gas - failure to eructate
What are some causes of secondary bloat?
Choke
External obstruction of esophagus
Vagal indigestion
Hardware disease
T/F: if you find a bloat line on necropsy, you can say with 100% certainty the cow died from bloat
False - could mean they bloated before death, but animals also bloat after death
Name some clinical signs of bloat
Ruminal distension - starts in L PLF and can extend to the right
Dyspnea
Open mouth breathing
Salivation - not swallowing
You arrive at a farm to examine a cow that just isn’t acting right. The farmer suspects bloat. When you arrive, you notice the cow is salivating out the wazoo. What’s the very first thing you should do?
Put on some PPE b/c what if she’s rabid
How can we treat free gas bloat?
Pass a tube
Trocarize the rumen
How can we treat frothy bloat?
Pass stomach tube
Rumenotomy
Poloxalene
