In order to have healthy animals, producers must understand normal health attributes of livestock, routinely monitor and observe their animals, and make management changes when necessary.
The following are seven normal livestock attributes livestock owners need to be aware of.
1. Temperature and respiration
Table 1 has a list of normal temperatures and respiration rates for a variety of livestock. These rates vary slightly from animal to animal, but they do not change more than a degree either way.
2. Attitude and behavior
Knowing what is normal in attitude and behavior is important. Animals can be curious, frightened, lazy or have no interest. Spending time observing animal behavior in the morning, during the day and in the evening is key. There should also be observation during times of rest and activity and while feeding. For example, would it be considered normal if an animal is standing near the water all the time? It is if the weather is hot, or they may be saying the water tank is empty.
3. Posture and movement
Posture and movement relate to how animals stand, lay down and move (walk). Observing and understanding normal posture and movement is important when you need to identify when something is wrong. For example, are the livestock running and playing because they feel good, or are they running because biting flies are chasing them? Another example: Are the livestock humped up because it's cold, or do they have a respiratory infection and it feels good to stand that way?
4. Hair coat
Hair coat can indicate how an animal feels. Evaluate the hair coat of the livestock. If it's clean and shiny, then they may be healthy. If the coat is rough and matted, then there is something wrong. Consider internal parasites, such as worms and flukes, as well as respiration or digestive issues.
5. Appetite
Know what normal livestock appetite is, including how much and what they should be eating. For example, should the livestock be out grazing in the cool of the day or running to the feedbunk to be fed? If the feed in the bunk is still present and has not been touched, an investigation is needed. Is the animal sick and not eating? Is the gate shut and they are locked away from the feed? Or is the water tank empty? All these things can cause the animal to not eat its daily feed ration.
6. Vocalization
Vocalization can also be a sign that something is not normal. Animals are usually quiet. If they are vocal, find out the issue. For example, is it feeding time? Is the animal separated from its mother? Or are they coming into heat?
7. Sexual activity
Understanding sexual activity is also important when determining what is normal. As females and males come into maturity, they can express signs such as riding each other, bawling and crying, or hyperactivity.
Understanding these seven livestock attributes will let you better manage your operation. However, management also needs an understanding of the insects and parasites that can affect the health and growth of the animal and, ultimately, the economics of an operation.
Insects and parasites
Insects and parasites commonly seen in cattle herds include the following.
Lice
This can include chewing louse, little blue louse, and long- and short-nosed louse. They are typically seen in the wintertime and early spring. Animals show signs of patches of hair loss. Extreme cases of louse populations can cause anemia in livestock from blood loss. However, the major loss is from poor feed conversion. Management of these parasites includes pour-ons or injections with pharmaceuticals. Simple cleaning of pens and limiting cross-contamination will help limit the spread of lice.
Biting and face flies
These insects are a concern in the spring, summer and fall. They can include horn fly, stable fly, horsefly and deerfly. Face flies are a serious problem too because they are associated with incidences of pinkeye and other eye problems. Pinkeye can have impacts on the safety of livestock and workers because the animal’s eyesight is affected. Signs of flies include the fly itself, maggots or the results of the bites on the livestock, such as little or large irritation bumps. Horseflies or deerflies can also cause damage by biting livestock and causing them to run and stress. Management of flies can include using eartags, pour-on, sprays, dusts and feed granules with pesticides; cleaning up cluttered feed areas such as spilled grain, hay, straw or other feeds; and fixing leaky faucets or water troughs to reduce breeding sites of the fly. Manure removal can also prevent an increase in fly populations.
Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungus in the hair and on the skin. Ringworm is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transferred to humans. It is important that ringworms are kept in check. Typically, ringworms are seen in the late winter, spring and into the summer. Ringworms are often associated with young livestock. Therefore, it is not typically seen in the main part of the herd. Ringworm signs are circular, scaly lesions that can be 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter and are mostly seen on the head and neck of livestock. Management includes scraping the crust of the lesion and disinfecting with a disinfectant or antifungal.
Roundworms
These are the most common worms found as an internal parasite in livestock. Parasitic worms are generally host-specific. All grazing livestock have a higher exposure to worms, and animals affected by roundworms can have production losses. Younger livestock are most at risk of this condition. Signs of roundworms in livestock include unthriftiness, reduced appetite, unhealthy appearance, slow weight gains and growth rate, poor feed efficiency, diarrhea and low milk production. Prevention and treatment can include providing dewormers in an oral, injection or pour-on application. Dewormers can also be placed in the feed or given as a paste. Prevention is the best practice in controlling worms in livestock. Changing the active ingredient in a dewormer also prevents resistance to control.
Liver flukes
These parasites are something that can also be found in cattle herds. Flukes are hard to identify but can be seen in the liver once the animal has been harvested. If the environment has a higher risk of this parasite, having a good prevention program can reduce the effects of liver flukes. Animals with liver flukes are unthrifty looking. Treating livestock to remove adults before eggs are released allows an effective treatment and better results.
In summary, it’s important for producers to understand the normal health attributes of livestock, routinely monitor their animals and make management changes when necessary. Additionally, producers should have an understanding of common livestock insects and parasites and know how to manage animals to minimize the effects of these pests.
