Poor thrift in farm animals Flashcards
What do target growth weights vary with?
species, breed, age, feeding system and farm management
Is poor thrift in young animals common?
Yes - effect is very costly!
Why are thin animals a problem?
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
How should you assess poor thrift in adults?
BCS = best option (cattle, sheep, goats and alpaca have 1-5 scale; horses (cattle) have 1-9 scale) Weight = less good option!
How should you approach a weight loss or failure to gain weight problem?
Appetite normal????
YES –> is nutrition adequate - Yes or No?
NO –> won’t eat or can’t eat?
Causes of normal appetite, adequate nutrition but weight loss?
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
Causes of normal appetite, inadequate nutrition but weight loss?
Underfeeding (quality or quantity) OR Trace element (TE) deficiency
ANY AGE GROUP, USUALLY ALL OR MOST OF GROUP AFFECTED
Causes of abnormal appetite, won’t eat but weight loss?
Parasitism (appetite change not normally obvious to farmers)
Causes of abnormal appetite, can’t eat but weight loss?
Dental disease (e.g. missing incisor teeth = broken mouth) or lameness (Severe)