Miscellaneous Animal Health Reports
Miscellaneous animal health issues reported in recent months have included increased incidence of prolapsed uterus in ewes post-lambing and has been implicated with several factors including prolonged parturition, limited exercise, subclinical hypocalcaemia (“milk fever”), and short tail length.
Cases of urinary calculi or “bladder stones” are often reported in autumn and sheep on grain-based diets. This is considered a product of inadequate water intake as well as being predisposed by the calcium: phosphorus imbalance induced by cereal grain-feeding. It can be prevented by adding salt to the diet to increase water consumption and ammonium chloride or sulphate to acidify the urine.
Annual ryegrass toxicity was diagnosed on Eyre Peninsula during summer and winter this year with several cattle dying suddenly. While this disease has been recognised in SA for over 60 years the spasmodic occurrence means it often goes undiagnosed until significant losses have occurred. Another difficulty is determining which hay or pasture must be avoided to prevent further losses. Any adult sheep or cattle showing neurological signs can be autopsied for diagnostic purposes without cost if PIRSA Animal Health are first contacted to discuss the case.
There have been a few cases of vitamin B1, or thiamine deficiency less well known as polioencephalomalacia – meaning softening of the brain. Stargazing, inappetence and eventual death are the characteristic signs, and often associated with long term grain feeding. It is prevented by providing thiamine supplementation in the grain ration along with the standard inclusion of calcium.
Thiamine injections were also used recently to successfully treat calves that had developed lead poisoning from licking discarded batteries. This is another case where prudent biosecurity could have prevented this disease incidence.
This Quarterly Animal Health Update is supported by the Sheep Industry Fund and Animal Health Australia.
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