Poor thrift in farm animals Flashcards

1
Q

What do target growth weights vary with?

A

species, breed, age, feeding system and farm management

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2
Q

Is poor thrift in young animals common?

A

Yes - effect is very costly!

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3
Q

Why are thin animals a problem?

A

ECONOMIC - mating (increased anoestrous length, decreased conception rate, decreased ovulation rate), early pregnancy (decreased placental development), late pregnancy (increased risk of metabolic disease), lactation (decreased milk production), welfare

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4
Q

How should you assess poor thrift in adults?

A
BCS = best option (cattle, sheep, goats and alpaca have 1-5 scale; horses (cattle) have 1-9 scale)
Weight = less good option!
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5
Q

How should you approach a weight loss or failure to gain weight problem?

A

Appetite normal????
YES –> is nutrition adequate - Yes or No?
NO –> won’t eat or can’t eat?

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6
Q

Causes of normal appetite, adequate nutrition but weight loss?

A

Maldigestion or malabsorption
e.g. parasitism (nematodes, liver fluke, coccidiosis), Johnes
tumours - intestinal
Chronic disease - e.g. chronic pneumonia

USUALLY ONLY ONE OR TWO ANIMALS AFFECTED

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7
Q

Causes of normal appetite, inadequate nutrition but weight loss?

A
Underfeeding (quality or quantity) OR
Trace element (TE) deficiency

ANY AGE GROUP, USUALLY ALL OR MOST OF GROUP AFFECTED

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8
Q

Causes of abnormal appetite, won’t eat but weight loss?

A

Parasitism (appetite change not normally obvious to farmers)

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9
Q

Causes of abnormal appetite, can’t eat but weight loss?

A

Dental disease (e.g. missing incisor teeth = broken mouth) or lameness (Severe)

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