Cattle Diseases Farmers Guide

Cattle
Diseases
The Farmers’
Guide
1st edition
April 2023
Cattle Diseases
The Farmers’ Guide
Developed by Animal Health Australia and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Biosecurity SA, Animal Health.
Funded by the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program.
Use of the information and advice in this guide is at your own risk. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions and its
employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of the use, of the information contained herein
as regards to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The entire risk of the implementation of the information
and advice which has been provided to you is assumed by you. All liability or responsibility to any person using the information
and advice is expressly disclaimed by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions and its employees.
Contents
How to use this guide 4 Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (pestivirus) 28
Reporting serious or unusual animal disease signs 5 Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) 29
Funding for disease investigations 6 Clostridial disease (enterotoxaemia) 30
Key to disease diagnosis by signs and symptoms 7 Cobalt deficiency 31

Coccidiosis (black scours) 32
Key to disease diagnosis by season 9
Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Copper deficiency 33
Key to disease diagnosis by poisoning/toxicity 10
Diarrhoea (neonatal) 34
Exotic diseases 11
Diarrhoea (older calves) 35
Anthrax 13
Diarrhoea (adult) 36
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) 15
Eye cancer 37
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) 17
Foot abscess 38
Cattle diseases & conditions 19
Grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia) 39
Abscess 20
Hardware disease (traumatic reticuloperitonitis) 40
Acidosis (grain overload, lactic acidosis, rumen acidosis) 21
Heat stress 41
Acetonaemia (ketosis, fatty liver) 22
Hypocalcaemia (milk fever) 42
Actinobacillosis (wooden tongue) 23
Lead poisoning 43
Bloat 24
Leptospirosis 44
Botulism 25
Lice 45
Bovine herpesvirus – 1 26
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) 46
Bovine respiratory disease (‘shipping fever’) 27
2
Nitrate – nitrite poisoning 47 Fit to load 69
Papillomatosis (warts) 48 Humane destruction 70
Perennial & annual ryegrass toxicity 49 Acknowledgments & further reading 71
Phalaris toxicity 50 Useful contacts and online resources back cover
Photosensitisation 51
Pink eye 52
Polioencephomalacia (PEM) 53
Pregnancy toxaemia (fatty liver syndrome) 54

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids toxicity 55
Retained foetal membranes 56
Ringworm 57
Selenium deficiency 58
Theileriosis 59
Travel tetany 60
Vibriosis (Campylobacteriosis) 61
Management guides 62
Good biosecurity 63
One Biosecurity 64
Vaccination 65
Parasite prevention 66
Cattle worms 67
NLIS obligations 68
3
How to use this guide
This guide has been designed as a quick-reference tool to

help farmers take action when faced with a broad range
of cattle diseases and conditions on farm. It will help you
assess signs and symptoms and identify possible causes
of disease. It provides information on diagnosis, treatment

options, prevention and general cattle health management.
Printed and digital resources are referenced throughout to

assist you with more detailed information on a number of
cattle diseases, conditions and best practice guidelines.
You will also find a list of useful contacts and websites on

the back cover.
4
Reporting serious or unusual animal disease signs
Always keep an eye out for serious or unusual signs and Serious animal diseases must be reported. Early reporting
symptoms in livestock including: provides the best chance to contain and manage an
outbreak before it spreads. If you notice any serious or
• unexplained deaths unusual signs or symptoms with your animals, you can:
• sores or ulcers on feet or inside mouth (this may result in

a reluctance to eat or move) • call the 24-hour Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on
• excessive salivation (drooling should always be treated 1800 675 888
suspiciously) • contact your local Department of Primary Industries and
• reduction in milk yield from cows and eggs from Regions (PIRSA) Animal Health office (see back cover for
chickens phone numbers)
• diarrhoea, especially if it has blood in it • contact your local veterinarian.
• excessive nasal discharge (unless you know what has
caused it)
• staggering, head drooping or severe lameness,
especially if more than one animal at the same time.
5
Funding for disease investigations
Subsidies are available to support private veterinary

investigations into animal diseases where an infectious
agent is a potential cause. This is to help producers
maintain and demonstrate South Australia’s highly regarded
animal health status.

The program covers all livestock species, companion
animals, and wildlife (including feral animals) and is aimed
primarily at early detection and diagnosis of emergency
animal diseases.
For further information, contact your local veterinarian, who

may access these funds through PIRSA.
Scan QR code to learn more

about disease surveillance
or visit www.pir.sa.gov.au/
livestock-disease-surveillance
6
Key to disease diagnoses by signs and symptoms
Abortions/stillbirth Anorexia (not eating) Coughing Fever
• Bovine viral diarrhea virus • Acidosis • Bovine herpesvirus - 1 • Bovine viral diarrhoea
(pestivirus) • Pyrrolizidine alkaloids • Bovine respiratory disease virus (pestivirus)
• Leptospirosis toxicity • Lung worm (calves) • Hardware disease
• Theileriosis • Gastrointestinal blockage • Leptospirosis
• Nitrate – Nitrite poisoning • FMD * Diarrhoea • Malignant catarrhal fever
• Vibriosis (around 6 months • LSD * • Acidosis • FMD *

of pregnancy) • Bovine viral diarrhoea • LSD *
• Foot and mouth disease Blindness virus (pestivirus)
(FMD)* • Lead poisoning • Johne’s disease Ill thrift
• Lumpy skin disease (LSD)* • Polioencephomalacia • Coccidiosis, internal • Bovine viral diarrhoea
• Malignant catarrhal fever parasites virus (pestivirus)
• Metabolic diseases • Dietary causes • Johne’s disease
Anaemia • Cobalt deficiency (scours • Hardware disease
• Theileriosis Convulsions in calves) • Theileriosis
• Copper deficiency • Selenium deficiency • Copper deficiency
• Enterotoxaemia
• Cobalt deficiency • Cobalt deficiency
• Grass tetany
• Internal parasites • Selenium deficiency
• Perennial ryegrass toxicity
• Annual ryegrass toxicity • Intestinal worms
• Nitrite poisoning • LSD *
• Lead poisoning
• Polioencephomalacia
*Emergency Animal Disease – contact your local PIRSA Animal Health office for advice immediately or report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. 7
Key to disease diagnoses by signs and symptoms
Infertility Nasal and ocular Salivation Weight loss
• Papillomatosis if present discharge • Actinobacillosis • Acetonemia
on penis/prepuce or • Bovine Herpesvirus – 1 • Botulism • Actinobacillosis (wooden
udders and vulvas • Bovine viral diarrhoea • Bovine herpesvirus – 1 tongue)
• Pestivirus virus (pestivirus) (nasal) • Bovine Respiratory • Johne’s disease
• Eye cancer (ocular only) Disease • Coccidiosis (black scours)
Jaundice • Pink eye (ocular only) • Grass tetany • FMD *

• Leptospirosis • Malignant catarrhal fever • Heat stress • LSD *
• Toxic plants • Respiratory disease • FMD *
• FMD * • Grass seeds
Lameness • Lupinosis
• Black leg & malignant Respiratory issues • Pyrrolizidine alkaloid
oedema • Bloat poisoning
• Foot abscess • Bovine respiratory disease
Sudden death
• Grass tetany (‘shipping fever’)
• Physical injury • Nitrite poisoning • Anthrax *
• FMD * • Lung worm • Poisoning (e.g. plant/
chemical/snake)
• FMD *
• Grass tetany, milk fever
• Clostridial diseases
• Lightning strike
• Pregnancy toxaemia
• Heat stroke
• Acute pneumonia
• Calving issues/prolapses
*Emergency Animal Disease – contact your local PIRSA Animal Health office for advice immediately or report to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. 8
Key to disease diagnoses by season
Spring Summer Autumn Winter

Sept/Oct/Nov Dec/Jan/Feb March/April/May June/July/August
• Coccidiosis • Actinobacillosis (wooden • Botulism (chewing on • Coccidiosis (black

tongue) from dry feeds bones due to protein and scours)
• Nutritional diarrhoea
phosphorus deficiencies)
• Botulism (chewing on • Diarrhoea

• Intestinal worms
bones due to protein and • Perennial ryegrass
• Grass tetany
• Polioencephomalacia phosphorus deficiencies) toxicity
• Lice
• Grass tetany • Perennial ryegrass • Polioencephomalacia
toxicity
• Annual ryegrass toxicity • Soursob poisoning
• Pyrrolizidine alkaloids
toxicity
• Annual ryegrass toxicity
9
Key to disease diagnosis by poisoning/toxicity
Nitrate poisoning Photosensitisation Pyrrolizidine alkaloid
• Cape weed • Salvation Jane/ poisoning
(Arctotheca calendula) Paterson’s curse • Salvation Jane/
• Oats (Echium plantagineum) Paterson’s curse
(Avena sativa) • Heliotrope/Potato weed (Echium plantagineum)
• Canola (Heliotropium europaeum) • Heliotrope/Potato weed
(Brassica napus) • Caltrop (Heliotropium europaeum)

• Wild turnip (Tribulus terrestris) • Caltrop
(Brassica rapa) • St John’s wort (Tribulus terrestris)
(Hypericum perforatum)
Perennial ryegrass • Buckwheat Sudden death
staggers (Polygonum fagopyrum) • Cape tulip
• Perennial ryegrass • Hairy panic (Moraea flaccida)
(Lolium perenne) (Panicum effusum) • Lupinosis
• Sweet grass (Lupinus angustifolius
Phalaris poisoning (Panicum laevifolium) and Lupinus albus)
• Phalaris • Lantan
(Phalaris aquatica) (Lantana camara)
• Fungus of facial eczema
Phalaris staggers (Pithomyces chartarum)
• Phalaris • Fungus of lupinosis
(Phalaris aquatica) (Phomopsis
leptostromiformis)
• Blue-green algae
(Anacystis cyanea)
10
Exotic diseases

11
Exotic diseases
Exotic diseases don’t always look spectacular. They often look the same as common diseases seen every day on South Australian farms.
Help protect the future of our livestock industry by seeking veterinary assistance as soon as you notice a problem and report your
concerns immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Foot and mouth disease Lumpy skin disease

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a serious exotic disease Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a serious exotic disease
(virus) spread through direct contact with an infected animal (virus) spread by biting flies and insects, causes high fever,
or object, causing fever, lesions to develop on the mouth, depression, scabs that can leave holes allowing for infections,
tongue, lips and between hooves, increased salivation. watery eyes and increase nasal and salivary secretions.
Photo credit: Department of Agriculture,

Photo credit: Dr David Champness Photo credit: PIRSA Fisheries and Forestry
Oral lesions and increased salivation commonly seen Serious skin disease (Dermatophilus) (left) compared to
in cattle with pestivirus, malignant catarrhal fever, a cow with lumpy skin disease (right).
actinobacillosis (left) compared to a cow with foot and
mouth disease (right).
12
Anthrax
Emergency animal disease, Problem Signs and symptoms
notifiable and zoonotic Anthrax has not been diagnosed in SA for • Sudden death usually first sign,
many years, but the risk of an outbreak preceded by rapidly worsening
is heightened with occasional detections weakness and staggering.
If you suspect your livestock in NSW and Victoria as well as isolated • Bloody or tarry discharge seen at
may have anthrax, contact your outbreaks in WA and Queensland. mouth, nose or anus of dead animals.
local PIRSA Animal Health office • Sudden drop in milk production, red-

immediately or report to the Anthrax is caused by a bacterium
stained milk or urine.
Emergency Animal Disease Hotline that affects many species including
on 1800 675 888. cattle, sheep, goats and humans. The
bacterium produces spores when
exposed to air that persist in soil for
many years. The disease is spread by
contact with infected animals or by feed
and water that have been contaminated
with anthrax spores. An outbreak could
be a possible cause of unexplained
sudden death in livestock and can
affect trading opportunities locally
and internationally. More common in
summer but can occur all year round.
Humans can contract anthrax if they

handle infected animals, carcasses, Image supplied by Dr Bruce Watt
animal products and wool. Take extreme
care when handling animals suspected Sudden death and blood from orifices are
of dying from anthrax. If you suspect you common signs of anthrax in cattle.
have been exposed to anthrax, contact
your medical practitioner immediately.
13
Anthrax (cont.)
Diagnosis Treatment
• If unexplained sudden death • Treatment is rarely possible as
occurs and anthrax is suspected affected animals die quickly.
do not open or move the carcass. • High doses of penicillin (under
To prevent spread of disease and veterinary supervision) may be
human exposure it is critically effective in early cases, but may
important the animal is tested for interfere with anthrax vaccine.

anthrax before they are moved. Seek
advice from your local veterinarian Prevention
or call Emergency Animal Disease • Vaccination is effective, full
Hotline on 1800 675 888 immediately. protection takes 10–14 days to
• Diagnosis is most likely in animals develop after administration.
that have recently moved from • Vaccination may only occur with the
eastern states. approval of SA’s Chief Veterinary
• A lack of rigor mortis, with rapid Officer (Chief Inspector of Stock).
decomposition of carcass. Pulpy
kidney is often assumed to be the
cause.
• PIRSA animal health officers can
diagnose with a quick ‘penside’ test
that can usually detect or dismiss
anthrax in minutes.
14
Foot and mouth disease (FMD)
Emergency animal disease, Problem Diagnosis
notifiable Australia is free of foot and mouth • Report these signs immediately
disease (FMD). It is a highly contagious to your veterinarian or the
animal disease that affects cattle, Emergency Animal Disease Hotline
If you suspect your livestock may sheep, goats, pigs, deer and camelids on 1800 675 888.
have foot and mouth disease, (all cloven-hoofed animals). An • Samples will be collected from your
contact your local PIRSA Animal incursion of the virus would have severe animals and will be sent urgently

Health office immediately or report consequences for Australia’s animal to an appropriate animal health
to the Emergency Animal Disease health and livestock trade. laboratory for diagnostic testing.
Hotline on 1800 675 888.
FMD is carried by live animals and in
meat and dairy products, as well as
in soil, bones, untreated hides, and
vehicles and equipment used with
infected animals. It can also be carried
on people’s clothing and footwear.
Signs and symptoms

• Fever.
• Drooling (salivation).
• Reluctance to move. Photo credit: Mark Stevenson
• Blisters inside mouth, on lips and

Cow with tongue lesion.
tongue, between and above hooves
on the feet — blisters may be intact
or ruptured, exposing raw, painful
tissue.
15
Foot and mouth disease (cont.)
Treatment
Scan QR code to learn
• No effective treatment for FMD. more about FMD or visit
www.pir.sa.gov.au/fmd
• Australia has detailed, well
rehearsed FMD response plans and
arrangements in place should an
outbreak occur.

Prevention
• Transmission — FMD virus is carried
by live animals and in meat and
dairy products, as well as in soil,
bones, untreated hides, vehicles
and equipment used with infected
animals. It can also be carried on
people’s clothing and footwear.
• Farm biosecurity — practice good
farm biosecurity at all times to
prevent your animals being exposed
to FMD.
• For more information on farm
biosecurity practices visit
www.onebiosecurity.pir.sa.gov.au Photo credit: Mark Stevenson
and www.farmbiosecurity.com.au
Cow with heel lesion.
16
Lumpy skin disease (LSD)
Emergency animal disease, Problem Signs and symptoms
notifiable A viral disease of cattle and water • Discharge from the eyes and nose.
buffalo that causes relatively few • Nodules (lumps) of 2–5 cm in
deaths, however, the disease can result diameter on the head, neck, limbs,
If you suspect your livestock may in animal welfare issues and significant udder, genitalia and perineum within
have lumpy skin disease, contact production losses. LSD does not pose a 48 hours of fever onset. Lesions can
your local PIRSA Animal Health risk to human health. vary from few in mild cases to many

office immediately or report to the covering entire body in severely
Emergency Animal Disease Hotline An incursion of LSD would have affected animals.
on 1800 675 888. significant consequences for our
• Reduced milk yield.
beef, water buffalo, and dairy cattle
• Abortions in pregnant animals.
industries. If Australia was no longer
recognised as being LDS-free, there • Weight loss and ill thrift, depression.
would be substantial trade impacts and
severe economic losses to Australia’s
meat processing sector.
Photo credit: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
A cow after the scabs have fallen off leaving

large holes in the hide.
17
Lumpy skin disease (cont.)
Diagnosis Prevention
Scan QR code to learn
• Report these signs immediately to • Transmission — LSD virus is spread more about LSD or visit
your veterinarian or the Emergency by biting insects including certain www.pir.sa.gov.au/lumpy-
skin-disease
Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 species of flies, mosquitoes and
• Samples will be collected from your possibly ticks. It can also be spread
animals and will be sent urgently by movement of infected animals
to an appropriate animal health or contaminated products and

laboratory for diagnostic testing. equipment.
• Farm biosecurity — practice good
Treatment farm biosecurity at all times to
• No effective treatment for LSD. prevent animals being exposed to
• Australia has detailed, well- LSD.
rehearsed LSD response plans and • For more information on farm
arrangements in place should an biosecurity practices visit
outbreak occur. www.onebiosecurity.pir.sa.gov.au
and www.farmbiosecurity.com.au.
Photo credit: Michel Bellaiche
A cow showing raised nodules on its hide which

is a typical sign of infection with LSD.
18
Cattle diseases & conditions

19
Abscess
Problem Treatment
Damaged and infected body tissue • Management — some resolve on
from abrasions or skin penetrations their own.
(thorns, sharp objects during feeding or • Veterinary treatment — draining
rubbing, improper injection technique) the abscess is usually required and
causing a swelling response and pus antibiotics may be used.
accumulation surrounded by thick

fibrous capsule. This can occur in all Prevention
areas of the body. • Diet — reduce use of coarse or seed
Photo credit: MINTRAC
filled feeds.
Signs and symptoms • Management — proper injection Abscess above eye.
• Initially the area may become red, technique.
swell, and cause pain.
• Tight, raised surface of the skin,
appears swollen.
• If abscess has popped, oozing white,
yellow, or bloody liquid.
Diagnosis
• Clinical signs.
• History of penetrating wound or
injections that may have introduced
bacteria.
Shoulder abscess.
20
Acidosis (grain overload, lactic acidosis, rumen acidosis)
Problem Treatment
A sudden change in diet to high • Supplementation — provide high
concentrate (rapidly fermentable) grains quality hay for mildly affected
builds lactic acid in the gut, which can animals.
cause organ damage. Severely affected • Veterinary treatment — options
cattle die within 24 hours, others recover include intravenous fluids, drenching
slowly but are often chronically lame. with bicarbonate solution, thiamine

or steroid injections, sometimes
Signs and symptoms antibiotics.
Disease presentation depends on • Humane destruction — severely
severity and predicts outcome. affected animals should be humanely
euthanised (see page 70)
• Mild: stop eating, appear quiet,
diarrhoea. Prevention
• Moderate: pale and smelly scour, • Diet — avoid sudden changes to diet,
rumen contractions stop, bloating, gradually change feeds (over 2-3
marked dehydration, laminitis. weeks) to allow digestive microbiome
• Severe: laying on side, not able to to adapt.
rise, death usually occurs within 24
• Diet — provide cattle with sufficient
hours.
roughage of 5-10cm length.
Diagnosis
• History of sudden change in a feed or
being fed high-concentrate diet. First stomach full of grain.
• Animals in intensive systems.
21
Acetonaemia (ketosis, fatty liver)
Problem Treatment
Insufficient energy from feed deprivation • Management and diet — isolate
or inadequate feed (especially in suspected cases, give good quality
pregnant animals – see Pregnancy hay to stimulate appetite and provide
toxaemia, page 54) or inappetence from energy.
stress or disease (displaced abomasum, • Veterinary care — includes drenching
metritis or lameness) causes low blood with propylene glycol or glycerol,

sugar that results in fat breakdown by giving calcium borogluconate under
the liver creating ketones. Can result in the skin, and glucocorticosteroids
death. Cattle that are old, fat, pregnant only in lactating cattle. Photo credit: Associate professor David Beggs
or lactating are at a higher risk. • Veterinary care — treat concurrent

Starvation from ketosis.
diseases.
Signs and symptoms
• Inappetence, lethargy, weight loss,
Prevention
and reduced abdominal size. • Management — early detection
• Loss of skin fat — dull appearance of of cattle with ketosis is the best
skin. approach.
• Drop in production. • Diet — minimise periods of feed
• Nervous signs including incessant deprivation, rapid diet changes, and
chewing and licking in lactating cattle. avoid unpalatable or low energy
feeds.
• Breath smells sweet.
• Management — avoid over condition
Diagnosis at calving.
• Ketones in urine or milk from dipstick
test.
22
Actinobacillosis (wooden tongue)
Problem Treatment
Open cuts become infected by the • Diet — use of a soft feed to help
bacteria Actinobacillus ligniersii reduce pain and increase ability to
resulting in inflammation of the tongue. eat.
The tongue becomes hard and stiff, • Veterinary care — includes
causing issues with consuming food administration of sodium iodide and/
and water. or antibiotics.

Signs and symptoms Prevention
Photo credit: John House University of Sydney
• Increased salivation, tongue may • Management and environment —
protrude from mouth. isolation of affected animals from
Stiff and swollen tongue.
• Tongue is firm and immovable with herd, disinfection of shared feed and
swellings. water locations.
• Visual observations of ulcers. • Diet — limit exposure to coarse
foods.
• Weight or production losses from
inability to properly eat. • Woody tongue is often unpredictable
and infrequent so knowledge of
Diagnosis disease for rapid response is more
important than prevention.
• Clinical signs (ulcers on tongue, face
swelling of lower jaw and around
lymph nodes).
• Pus smear from the lesion for
confirmation.
Oral lesions associated with wooden tongue.
23
Bloat
Problem Treatment
Distention of the abdomen from excess • An oral anti-bloat can be used for
gas in the rumen, which can compress early to mild cases.
the respiratory system causing • Veterinary care — a stomach tube
asphyxiation or heart failure. Frothy can be inserted to relieve gas build
bloat is caused by rapid intake of high up for more moderately affected
protein foods (legume pastures, fine animals

ground grains), where the gas can’t be • Veterinary care — in severe cases,
eructated (burping) as it is trapped in wide-bore trochar is used to
layer of foam. Free gas bloat is caused perforate the rumen wall across the Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
by an obstruction or functional problem dorsal left flank and allow gasses to

preventing normal eructation of rumen Bloat death.
escape from via the hollow needle.
gas.
Prevention
Signs and symptoms • Diet — restrict grazing time on high
• Multiple animals in herd have protein pastures.
distended left flank, right flank • Diet — feed cattle large amount of
affected in severe cases. dry matter (hay) prior to high protein
• Signs of troubled breathing (mouth pastures exposure.
breathing, tongue protrusion, • Management — use anti-bloat
extended neck) In advanced cases preparations (drench, bloat oil in
the animal will “go down”, followed water supply, provide licks/blocks).
by death Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
Diagnosis Distended left flank from bloat.

• Clinical signs.
• History — gorging on feed, feed
without roughage. 24
Botulism
Problem Diagnosis Prevention
Ingestion of toxins from the bacteria • Herd history and clinical signs (high • Vaccination — vaccines available.
Clostridium botulinum from fatality or sickness in herd). Can vaccinate herds with longer
contaminated feeds (carrion carcasses • 2–6 days after eating contaminated acting vaccine in endemic areas, and
or decaying feed matter) or from feed, symptoms can develop within shorter duration vaccines for areas
chewing on bones, affecting nerve 12–24hrs for high doses and 7–20 with lower exposure occurrences.
function and can result in paralysis. days in lower doses.

• Feed sample for bacteria or vermin
Signs and symptoms contamination confirmed at a
• Muscle weakness, incoordination, or veterinary laboratory (most reliable
animal going down. test method).
• Protruding tongue and loose jaw (not
Treatment
clenched) with excessive salivation.
• Animals often first present with a • No specific treatment nor antitoxin
hunched-up appearance and strain available. Toxin must run its course.
to defecate. • Management and environment —
• Unable to eat or drink. supportive care through maintaining
access to water, food, cool
environment (shade).
• Diet — suspected feeds and or water
should be replaced.
• Humane destruction — severely
affected animals should be humanely
euthanised (see page 70).
25
Bovine herpesvirus – 1
Problem Diagnosis
Bovine herpesvirus - 1 (BHV-1) is • Herd history, previous known cases
a common, highly contagious viral in herd.
infection contributing to respiratory • Nasal swab for virus isolation
disease complex. BHV-1 spreads sent to a veterinary laboratory for
through the herd via direct contact with confirmation.
infected body fluids (coughing, sharing

feed and water troughs). Infection is Treatment
lifelong, but disease symptoms flare up • Treatment is rarely required with
only during periods of stress. recovery occurring within 1–2 weeks.
• Veterinary care — In severe cases
Signs and symptoms or if secondary infection occurs
• Clear discharge from both eyes from weakened immune response,
considered early sign. antibiotics may be required.
• Mild/severe coughing, nasal
discharge, and salivation. Prevention
• Severe cases will have thick sticky • Vaccination — vaccinate herd to
white from eyes and nose and ulcers minimise disease.
on muzzle. • Management — avoid overcrowding
• Opportunistic secondary infection and reduce stress in herd.
can vary in their presentation, • Veterinary care — use of
causing pneumonia. glucocorticosteroids can be used to
• Abortion strain is NOT present in reduce the spread and severity.
Australia.
Nasal discharge.
26
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD, ‘shipping fever’)
Problem Treatment
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is • Veterinary care — systemic
the term used to describe general antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-
respiratory disease in cattle. inflammatory drugs.
• Treatment — administer injectable
It can be caused through combination of Vitamin C.
stress (recent weaning, transport, injury,
• Management and environment —

dehydration, handling, feed and water
isolate affected cattle, protect them
change etc) and concurrent infection
from extreme conditions and provide
(viruses or bacteria) to the respiratory
them with water and feed.
tract.
Prevention
Signs and symptoms
• Management and environment —
• Lethargy, depression, and dullness. minimize stress on cattle, and risk
• Extended head and neck to aid of exposure and transmission of
breathing, droopy ears, discharges pathogens.
from eyes, nose, and drooling. • Diet — supply good quality feed and
• Coughing and rapid or laboured water and avoid rapid change in diet.
breathing. • Vaccination — vaccinate against
• Some found dead without apparent specific pathogens causing BRD are
ante-mortem signs. commercially available.
Diagnosis
• Nasal swabs sent to a veterinary
laboratory to determine the causative Nasal discharge from BRD.
pathogens.
• Postmortem — examine consolidated
lung lobes. 27
Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (pestivirus)
Problem Diagnosis
Bovine viral diarrhoea is a viral infection • History and clinical signs — recent
that is passed on through close introduction of cattle of unknown BVDV
contact (nose-to-nose transmission, status.
manure contamination) that causes • Blood sample, milk sample or tissue
a wide range of symptoms. Infection (ear notch) sample sent to a veterinary
can result in immunity or persistently laboratory for confirmation.

infected (PI) cows. PI cattle pose risks
to other animals in the herd, as they are Treatment
a persistent shedder of virus. Infection • Management — other short-term Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
of another BVDV strain in PI cattle may infected cattle will usually recover,
lead to mucosal disease (MD), which Calf infected with Pestivirus.
they might need to be monitored for
can be severe and fatal. respiratory diseases like pneumonia.
• Humane destruction — PI and MD
Signs and symptoms calves should be humanely euthanized
• Diarrhoea or abortion outbreak in (see page 70).
recently mixed cattle.
• Fever, nasal and ocular discharge. Prevention
• Ulceration of the oral mucosa, • Vaccinations — vaccines are available,
coronary band, and interdigital cleft. but more widely used in breeding herd
• Some PIs are significantly stunted before joining.
within the mob but can appear • Management — avoid mixing
otherwise normal. susceptible cattle, especially when their
• Unusual syndrome of scours or BVDV status is unknown.
respiratory illness in housed calves. • Management — introducing PI cattle
to healthy, non-pregnant cows is
sometimes used to immunize the herd,
but individual animal’s exposure is 28
unknown.
Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD)
Problem Treatment
The bacterium Mycobacterium avium • BJD is untreatable.
spp paratuberculosis infects the
intestines causing chronic inflammation Prevention
leading to thickening of the intestinal • Vaccination — a vaccine is available
wall, preventing absorption of nutrients. to reduce prevalence in an infected
Contamination can occur from the herd.

environment and feeding equipment • Management and environment —
with faecal matter, or be spread from avoid exposure of susceptible cattle
cow to calf. (especially those less than 12 months Photo credit: Dr David Champness
of age) to infected livestock.

Signs and symptoms • Buying cattle with high assurance
Johne’s disease wasting.
• Infected cattle show no signs for for JD (e.g. a high Johne’s Beef
a long period of time (years) until Assurance Score) and a National
significant intestinal effect occurs. Cattle Health Declaration.
• Weight loss, drop in production,
profuse watery diarrhoea at end
stage. Cattle are still eating well.
• Unresponsive or unexplained wasting
and death.
Diagnosis
• Serum and faecal samples to detect Photo credit: Dr David Champness
presence of bacteria.
Johne’s disease wasting.
• Post-mortem — intestinal tissue
sample.
29
Clostridial disease (enterotoxaemia)
Problem Treatment
Proliferation of Clostridium perfringens • No effective treatment.
(a normal gut bacteria) releasing • Veterinary care — other susceptible
toxins into the small intestine can be cattle within the same paddock
triggered by excessive carbohydrate may be vaccinated and treated with
consumption, acidosis, and antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-
disturbances in the flow of ingesta inflammatory drugs.

through the rumen and small intestine.
Prevention
Signs and symptoms • Vaccination — vaccines are available
• Convulsions, head arched back over for some strains.
the body, head pressing, become • Diet — management of feeding
recumbent and paddle. regimes to avoid Clostridium
• Profuse watery diarrhoea (less perfringens proliferation in the
common in cattle) rumen/small intestine.
• Found dead or die rapidly.
Diagnosis
• History and clinical signs — sudden
death, nervous signs.
• Post-mortem — intestinal tissue and
content.
30
Cobalt deficiency
Problem Treatment
Insufficient cobalt in diet (low levels in • Veterinary care — vitamin B12
soil/plants, feed). Winter rainfall leaches injections provide the most rapid
cobalt from the soil, followed by high relief and last for 6-8 weeks.
growth rate in spring diluting the amount • Management — cobalt licks,
of cobalt in plants. Worm burdens in though intake is highly variable; oral
cattle increases the loss of cobalt. drench would only last 2 weeks,

cobalt bullets or pasture / water
Signs and symptoms supplements
• Reduced appetite and ill-thrift,
Prevention
sometimes causing pica.
• Anaemia, scaly ears, rough, pale • Diet — ensure quality feed or
coat, and reduced milk production. supplements is provided following
winter rainfall.
• Scouring in calves.
• Management — drench to avoid high
Diagnosis worm burdens, ensure adequate
cobalt levels in diet.
• Blood tests for cobalt level.
• Post-mortem.
• Measurement of cobalt levels in
pasture.
31
Coccidiosis (black scours)
Problem Treatment
Coccidia is a parasite that infects the • Veterinary care — involving
intestinal tract causing damage to the administration of sulphadimidine
mucosal surface, can worsen by stress through injection or drench.
or concurrent diseases. Coccidia is
highly resistant in the environment and Prevention
shed in faeces. Infection occurs through • Diet — provide feed and water off the

ingestion of infectious oocytes in ground to minimize contamination.
contaminated feed, water, environment. • Diet — include sulphadimidine or
Photo credit: Dr. Bruce Watt
ionophore like monensin, lasolocid
Signs and symptoms in feeds.
External dried bloody faeces.
• Yellow, brown to black diarrhoea, • Management and environment —
may be stained with blood. rotation of paddock between species
• Straining to urinate or defecate — may reduce build-up of oocytes.
arched back, elevated tail.
• Reduced appetite, dehydration, and
weight/condition loss.
Diagnosis
• Faecal sample sent to a veterinary
laboratory for identification of
oocytes.
Sunken eyes indicating dehydration prior to

death.
32
Copper deficiency
Problem Treatment
Insufficient copper in diet (low levels in • Veterinary care — copper
soil/plants, feed), or excessive intake of supplementation via oral drench,
molybdenum and sulphur in pasture or injection, in licks, feed, and water.
feed supplements. Avoid overdosing.
• Diet — provide good quality feed
Signs and symptoms (Lucerne hay) will contain copper.

• Loss of pigment in hair.
Prevention
• Ataxia, falling, reduced growth,
diarrhoea, and anaemia. • Management — ensure quality feed
or supplements is provided in areas
Diagnosis where the soil has low availability of
copper.
• Measurement of copper levels in
pasture or feed may be indicative.
• Liver biopsy or liver tissue
sample from post-mortem sent
to a veterinary laboratory for
confirmation.
Photo credit: Dr Lisa Martin
Loss of pigment in hair associated with copper

deficiency.
33
Diarrhoea (neonatal)
Problem Treatment
Neonatal calf diarrhoea occurs • Veterinary care — involving fluids
in calves between <6 weeks to 4 and electrolytes to treat or prevent
months, caused by the environment dehydration, systemic antibiotics
(faecal contamination of feed and are used based on the offending
water sources) in combination with pathogen.
calf immunity (reduced colostrum • Diet — milk feeding should not be

intake) and disease/bacteria (E. coli, ceased, as it contains essential
rotavirus, coronavirus, salmonella, nutritional value.
cryptosporidium, pestivirus). Can result • Environment — clean, fresh water
in death and if animals survive can have should be readily accessible for the
reduction in growth rate. calf.

• Diarrhoea — staining on the tail, • Management — avoid contact or
down the back legs. mixing of calves with other animals
• Dullness, lethargy. that may be reservoirs.
• Sunken eyes and dry nose from • Vaccinations — colostral vaccines
dehydration. are available to cows, which ensure
• Slow milk feeding reduced, or specific antibodies in colostrum to be
absence suckle reflex. fed to the calf.
• Diet — important for calves to
Diagnosis receive adequate colostrum in the
• Clinical signs, first 24 hours of life.
• Faecal sample sent to a veterinary • Management — good hygiene when
laboratory to identify pathogens and handling calves.
direct treatment options.
34
Diarrhoea (older calves)
Problem Treatment
Diarrhoea in older calves can be • Veterinary care — involving fluids
caused by the environment (faecal and electrolytes to treat or prevent
contamination of feed and water dehydration.
sources), calf immunity and disease • Veterinary care — systemic
and bacteria (Coccidia, Yersinia, antibiotics for specific bacteria &
gastrointestinal worms). Can result in anti-parasitic drenches for worms.

death and if animals survive can have a • Management — separate healthy and
reduction in growth rate. sick calves to reduce spread of the
diseases. Photo credit: Dr David Champness
Signs and symptoms

• Diarrhoea — staining on the tail,
Prevention Diarrhoea.
down the back legs. • Diet — provide adequate nutrition.

• Depression, lethargy, and • Management and environment —
dehydration. proper pasture management like
• Poor growth and ill-thrift. paddock rotation and avoid using the
same paddock for calving.
Diagnosis • Veterinary care — perform routine
• Clinical signs. faecal egg count with gastrointestinal
• Blood and faecal sample sent to worms.
a veterinary laboratory to identify
pathogens and direct treatment
options.
35
Diarrhoea (adult)
Problem Treatment
Adult diarrhoea can be caused by • Diet — replace concentrates with
nutritional (rapid dietary changes, roughage to maintain appetite.
ruminal acidosis), infectious agents • Veterinary care — involving
(salmonellosis, clostridial disease, fluid therapy (+electrolytes),
bovine viral diarrhoea virus, coccidiosis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
Johne’s disease and intestinal worms) drugs and systemic antibiotics

preventing intestinal fluids from based on severity.
being absorbed effectively, which • Veterinary care — alkalising agents
passes through the animal resulting in for ruminal acidosis & anthelmintics
production loses. for parasitism.

• Diarrhoea — staining on tail and back • Depends on the disease diagnosis.
legs. • Diet — provide sufficient dietary
• Abdominal pain, straining, fibre.
dehydration, loss of body condition, • Environment — reduce
fever contamination in feed, water, and the
environment.
Diagnosis
• Management — pasture
• Clinical signs. management to reduce residue in
• Blood and faecal sample for culture, paddocks.
egg counts etc. sent to a veterinary
laboratory.
• Rumen fluid analysis to check for
acidosis.
36
Eye cancer
Problem Treatment
Eye cancer is the most common • Veterinary care — surgical removal
malignant tumour in cattle that can form of the lesion and or affected eye.
on the surface of the eye, eyelid or third Get it done early before it invades
eyelid. Commonly seen in Hereford and surrounding tissues.
Friesian breeds, cows with protruding
eyes, unpigmented eyeballs or lids and Prevention

with prolonged exposure to sunlight. • Management — select for
pigmentation around the eye when
Signs and symptoms breeding. Photo credit: John House University of Sydney
• Early lesions: plaque in the eyeball, • Management — avoid breeding from Eye cancer.
wart-like growth protruding from the cattle with eye lesions.
eyeball, horn-like projection from the
eyelid, ulcer on the eyelid. Some may
not progress to cancerous lesion
• Bleeding and weeping from the eye.
• May spread to the regional lymph
node then to other body organs.
Diagnosis
• Clinical signs.
Eye cancer.
37
Foot abscess
Problem Treatment
Infection of the foot from injuries • Veterinary care — therapeutic hoof
or by heavy rainfall can lead to the trimming and paring; hoof block
development of an abscess, that can placement might be considered.
sometimes extend up the lower leg or • Veterinary care — systemic
into the joint. antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs may be indicated

Signs and symptoms in more severe cases.
• Lameness.
Prevention Photo credit: Dr. David Champness
• Reluctant to move or stand.
• Environment — avoid dirty, wet, and
• Localised swelling, redness, hot to Hoof abscess.
rough ground.
touch, pus and or discolouration.
• Environment — keep concrete yards
Diagnosis free of sharp gravels.
• Clinical signs. • Management — minimize stress
when moving the herd.
• Use of hoof testers and hoof knives
for paring.
Photo credit: Dr. David Champness
Hoof abscess in bull.
38
Grass tetany (hypomagnesaemia)
Problem Treatment
A fatal disease of low blood magnesium • Veterinary care — involving injectable
levels (hypomagnesaemia), caused magnesium sulphate solution under
by pastures with low magnesium the skin or magnesium chloride, or
(late autumn to early spring) or high Epsom salts diluted in water given as
potassium/nitrogen content (fertilisation an enema.
application). Lactating cattle grazing on • Diet — recovery should occur within

lush, fast-growing pasture or cows at a few hours, feed legume hay or add
early lactation with little to no feed are at magnesium supplements to prevent
higher risk. recurrence. Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
Signs and symptoms Prevention Grass tetany related death.
• Restlessness, frequent urination, • Diet — adequate magnesium level

drooling, stiff gait, and excitability provided in feed (treated with
early on. magnesium oxide) during high-risk
• Muscle spasms, paddling periods.
convulsions, and sudden death • Diet — provide hay for source of
calcium in herd’s diet.
Diagnosis • Diet — provide limestone, salt, and
• Blood or urine samples to measure magnesium oxide lick blocks.
magnesium and calcium levels. • Diet — avoid pastures with high
• Pasture assessment. potassium or nitrogen.
Lick block supplement on a ryegrass pasture.
39
Hardware disease (traumatic reticuloperitonitis)
Problem Treatment
Ingestion of foreign material (wire, • Veterinary care — includes oral
nails, or needles) that penetrate the administration of a magnet, systemic
reticulum, leaking gut content into the antibiotic, and non-steroidal anti-
abdominal cavity, causing traumatic inflammatory drugs for pain relief.
reticuloperitonitis (TRP). Penetration • Veterinary care — surgery may be
can also occur when the abdomen is required to remove the object.

compressed during pregnancy or when
the animal is coughing or mounting. Prevention
TRP can result in other complications • Management — ensure feedstuff
or death. is free of contaminants like nails,
needles, or wire.
Signs and symptoms • Management — oral administration
• Reduced appetite, fever, arched of magnet could prevent metal from
stance with abducted elbows. penetrating the reticulum.
• Ill-thrift.
Diagnosis
• Veterinary attention needed, involving
manual pressure to localise pain
and differentiation of abomasal
ulceration, pleuropneumonia, and
indigestion. Photo credit: John House University of Sydney
The hole in the reticulum caused by a sharp

object (hardware disease).
40
Heat stress
Problem Treatment
Heat stress is when cattle are unable • Treated as an emergency
to cope with excessive heat load, • On land: ensure access to clean,
preventing thermoregulation. Heat cool water, minimise handling,
stress and its severity can be influenced reduce stock density, provide shade,
by the environment (high temperature, reduce concentrated feed and
humidity), management (transport, consider ration with higher roughage

stocking density) and individual animal proportion
factors (breed, coat type, physical • In transport: move cattle away Photo credit: David Frith
activity, dehydration, concurrent from heat producing units, spread
diseases). out animals, if possible, minimise Cow panting in extreme heat.
disturbance to the cattle, increase
Signs and symptoms access to water and add electrolytes,
• Sweating, drinking more, eating less, ensure maximum ventilation, provide
increase respiratory rate, seek shade, fan-forced airflow, if possible, reduce
restless. concentrated feed.
• Panting, drooling, foaming at the • Severe condition: Spray wetting the
mouth, even open mouth or laboured cattle to improve evaporation of heat,
breathing. use with caution with the absence
• Severe cases can lead to organ of ventilation system, may risk
failure and death. increasing humidity.
Diagnosis Prevention
• Use panting score to assess heat • Preparation based on environmental
stress in cattle (0–4.5 with higher conditions as outlined in Treatment
score relating to greater heat stress). section to minimise the risk of heat
stress occurring.
41
Hypocalcaemia (milk fever)
Problem Treatment
Low blood calcium, which is essential • Veterinary care — includes injectable
for body function. This can be caused by calcium and magnesium solution
depletion of calcium in bones (vitamin D under the skin. Response should be
deficiency), slow mobilisation of calcium seen within few minutes (voluntary
(older, high conditioned cattle), reduction movements), full recovery should
in absorption (fasting or feed deprivation) follow in an hour.

or by increased demand for pregnant
and lactating cows. Prevention
• Diet — ensure food and water
Signs and symptoms availability is not interrupted.
• Showing excitement or muscle • Diet — feed roughage to increase
tremors early on. dietary absorption of calcium in high-
• Staggering gait, recumbency, then risk cattle.
paralysis, coma, and death.
Diagnosis
• Clinical signs and history.
• Blood test for calcium levels.
• Consider pregnancy toxaemia
(symptoms: gradual onset of a
few days and minimal response to
calcium) before calving. Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
Down cow with hypocalcaemia.
42
Lead poisoning
Problem Treatment
Ingestion of lead (old batteries, lead • Veterinary care — early stages.
paint or other forms of lead) by curious • Humane destruction — severely
cattle causing poisoning. affected animals should be humanely
euthanized (see page 70).
Signs and symptoms
Prevention
• Nervous signs — appear dull and

unresponsive, muscle twitches, • Environment — prevent access to
tongue paralysis, circling behaviour, lead-based objects, eg. old vehicle
blindness and running into things. batteries.
• Death.
Diagnosis
• History — access to lead.
• Clinical signs, blood samples
• Post-mortem — examination of
reticulum for lead particles, high
blood and liver lead levels
Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
Tongue paralysis associated with lead

poisoning.
43
Leptospirosis
Problem Diagnosis
Infection caused by the bacterium • Blood test to detect leptospirosis
Leptospira, mostly L. hardjobovis and infection.
L. Pomona that colonises the kidneys • Red-water is distinctive in calves.
and reproductive tracts in females, • Post-mortems (organs or from
causing production loss in mature cattle. aborted calves)
Outbreaks are severe in calves and may

cause death if not addressed. Passed Treatment
on to animals and humans through
• Veterinary care — includes systemic
damaged skin or membranes.
antibiotics for individuals.
• Abortion in >5 months pregnant • Vaccination — vaccines are
cows. commercially available.
• Drop in milk production for dairy
herds.
• Change in milk indicative of mastitis,
yet not presented with swelling or
heat of the udder.
• High fever, jaundice, red-brown
discoloured urine (red-water) in
calves.
44
Lice
Problem Diagnosis
External parasite found in the • Presence of lice when examining the
environment, causing skin irritation, affected individuals.
further exacerbated by scratching, and
rubbing. Spread through cattle rubbing Treatment
against each other. Tend to be more • Commercially available pour-on
common in winter months. treatment for lice control.

• Can be seen under conditions of • Prevent entry of infested cattle,
good lighting around irritated areas. isolate other cases. Lice.
• Signs of itchiness, rubbing on fences,
other animals.
45
Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF)
Problem Diagnosis
Malignant catarrhal fever is a systemic • Blood test for MCF antibodies.
disease caused by two herpes • Tissue samples for confirmation at a
viruses, one transmitted by sheep veterinary laboratory.
(ovine herpesvirus-2) that is present in
Australia and the other from wildebeest Treatment
Photo credit: Dr David Champness
(alcelaphine herpesvirus-1) which is not • Veterinary care — no specific

found in Australia making it a notifiable treatment only supportive care for Cloudy eye associated with MCF.
disease. MCF is only transmitted from infected cattle.
carriers (sheep) to susceptible cattle
and occurs sporadically involving single Prevention
animals.
• Management — separation of cattle
from reservoir hosts (sheep, in
Signs and symptoms particular lambs).
• High fever, cloudy eyes, catarrhal
discharges from the eyes and nose, Photo credit: Dr David Champness
erosion of the muzzle and oral
surface. Nose discharge associated with MCF.
• Death.
Erosion of oral surface associated with MCF.

46
Nitrate - nitrite poisoning
Problem Diagnosis
Increased consumption of nitrate which • Clinical signs and herd history.
is converted into nitrite and then into • Serum samples for nitrite levels.
ammonia by rumen microbes. Nitrite • Plant samples.
reduces the oxygen carrying capacity
of blood, causing hypoxia and death. Treatment
This can be a result of increased nitrate
• Management and diet — remove

in soil (drought broken by high rainfall),
animals from potential source of
found in contaminated water sources,
poisoning (pasture, hay) and offer
and consumption of hay that has been
alternative feed (free from nitrate/
heavily fertilised with nitrogen.
nitrite).
• Veterinary care — seek veterinarian
Signs and symptoms
advice.
• Nitrate poisoning — diarrhoea,
vomiting, salvation and abdominal Prevention
pain. • Diet — avoid feeds with high nitrate
• Nitrite poisoning — weakness, (analyse samples).
ataxia, respiratory distress, brown • Diet — supplementary feed herd
mucous membranes after 6–24 hours with dry hay or mature grass before
of ingestion. accessing high risk pastures/crops.
• Abortion can occur after 10–14 days
of ingestion.
• Collapse and death from asphyxia Photo credit: Dr Bruce Watt
convulsions.
Nitrate poisoning death.
47
Papillomatosis (warts)
Problem Diagnosis
Papilloma virus enters skin through • Clinical signs.
direct contact with infected cattle and • Biopsy for confirmation.
objects (e.g. feed troughs, ear tagging
pliers etc.) creating hairless skin growth Treatment
(warts) appearing anywhere on the • Treatment is rarely necessary as self-
body, mostly on surfaces prone to cure is common.

abrasion (e.g. head, neck, shoulders).
• Veterinary care — surgical removal
Reducing hide value.
is sometimes warranted in specific Photo credit: John House University of Sydney
cases (e.g. penile warts in breeding
Signs and symptoms bulls). Warts on the neck.
• Sudden appearance of warts that
proliferate rapidly. Prevention
• Shape and sizes of lesions vary — • Vaccination — vaccines are
hard surface, smooth and rounded, commercially available for problem
finger-like projection, dry and crusty herds.
surface.
• Could affect reproduction if occur on
penis and prepuce of bulls, or udders
and vulvas of cows.
48
Perennial & annual ryegrass toxicity
Problem Treatment
Perennial ryegrass toxicity: • No specific treatment.
overconsumption of ryegrass infected by • Move the mob to a ‘safe’ paddock
the fungus Neotyphodium lolii resulting with feed, water, and shade.
in toxicity. This is more common when • Humane destruction – animals
grazing in summer and autumn months severely affected (unable to rise
with increased pasture growth. within 12 hours) need to be humanely

euthanised (see page 70).
Annual ryegrass toxicity:
overconsumption of ryegrass infected Prevention Photo credit: NSW DPI
by the bacterium Rathayibacter toxicus
by a parasitic nematode, resulting in • Management — daily inspection Perennial ryegrass.
toxicity. This is more common when of livestock, ryegrass testing,
grazing in spring. prevent introduction of the causative
organism through good biosecurity,
and paddock management.
Signs and symptoms
• Management — sowing pastures
• Perennial ryegrass toxicity: with legumes or other grass species
Loss of coordination, falling over, to dilute toxins.
convulsions, and or death relating to
lack of coordination.
• Annual ryegrass toxicity:
staggering, collapse, trembling,
convulsions and death.
Diagnosis
• Clinical signs.
• Ryegrass testing.
• Rumen sample & blood test for 49
confirmation at a veterinary laboratory.
Phalaris toxicity
Problem Diagnosis
Sudden death and stagger syndrome • Post-mortem — examining the brain.
from ingestion of Phalaris aquatica
containing toxic alkaloids, which can Treatment
lead to death in severely affected • No effective treatment.
animals. Generally, occurs a minimum
10 days after grazing, whereas Prevention

nervous symptoms can be delayed for • Management — provide cobalt
2-5 months. supplementation in lick blocks or
drenches. Cobalt stimulates the
Signs and symptoms proliferation of microbes in the rumen
• Head nodding, a wide based gait, capable of destroying the toxic
walking on their knees, or knuckle at alkaloid causing staggers syndrome.
the fetlocks.
• Abnormal eating behaviour.
• Heart attack progress from stagger,
sudden death.
Photo credit: NSW DPI
Phalaris.
50
Photosensitisation
Problem Treatment
Inflammation of the skin through • Environment — provide shade.
consumption of photosensitising • Management — avoid access to
substances (e.g. St John’s wort, green feed/weeds.
buckwheat, parsley, or from liver • Veterinary care — treat and prevent
damage (caused by plants such as secondary skin infections and
caltrop, Brachiaria spp., Panicum spp. flystrike.

Paterson’s curse, lupins (lupinosis), etc).
Sunlight activates these substances Prevention
resulting in local damage. Does not
• Environment and diet — avoid
require prolonged exposure to sunlight.
grazing cattle on hepatotoxic and
phototoxic plants.
Signs and symptoms
• Management — screen out animals
• Affected area, likely non-pigmented with skin lesions.
skin become itchy, swelling, forming
blisters and scabs.
• Irritation and restlessness.
• Seeking shade.
Diagnosis
• Clinical signs — need to differentiate
between sunburn.
Photosensation.
51
Pink eye
Problem Treatment
Rapidly spreading bacterial infection • Pink eye will normally heal without
(likely Moraxella bovis in cattle) in the treatment.
eye combined with irritation or trauma to • Veterinary care — antibacterial
the corneal surface. Risk factors include treatment (systemic and topical)
dust, dryness, ultraviolet light (UV light), could likely shorten the duration of
flies, grass seed etc. disease and prevent complications

like blindness and corneal scarring.
Signs and symptoms • Simple surgery can save early cases.
• Bloodshot eyes, eye discharge • Application of a simple eye patch is
staining the face, closed eyelid. often very effective. Pink eye.
• Cornea goes through stages of red,
sometimes becoming an abscess,
Prevention
then blue, grey, and finally white from • Veterinary care — commercial and
scarring. prescription vaccines for pink eye.
• Environment — reduce exposure
Diagnosis to grass seeds and airborne feed
• Clinical signs. particles and fly control.
• Affected cattle should be checked for • Management — minimise stressors
grass seeds or other foreign material such as excessive handling,
in the eye, clinical presentation could crowding, and undernutrition.
be similar to pink eye. • Control flies as much as possible.
Pink eye.
52
Polioencephomalacia (PEM)
Problem Treatment
Degeneration of the brain associated • Veterinary care — injection of
with thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency thiamine and dexamethasone
from proliferation of bacteria in the depending on the presentation.
rumen that produces thiaminases. • Diet — sulphur induced PEM have
Ruminal acidosis and high sulphur poorer response to treatment.
intake through high protein pastures that Removal or replacement of feed and

are rich in sulphur put cattle at high risk. water containing sulphur. Give more
roughage.
Signs and symptoms • Humane destruction — for severely Photo credit: Dr David Champness
• Ear twitching, incoordination, affected cows humane euthanasia is

PEM affected dairy heifer.
hypersensitivity to stimulus. recommended (see page 70).
• Dull, blindness, head pressing,
Prevention
stargazing head position.
• Convulsing, comatose, or death. • Diet — provide adequate dietary fibre
and gradually change diet.
Diagnosis • Diet — prevent acidosis or
• Clinical signs. indigestion.
• Post-mortem — examination of the • Diet — avoid rations and water high
brain tissue. in sulphur.
PEM affected brain.
53
Pregnancy toxaemia (fatty liver syndrome)
Problem Diagnosis Prevention
Breakdown of fat in the liver, producing • History and clinical signs. • Management — ensure good body
ketones, which accumulates in the brain • Blood and urine test for ketones. condition at calving (BCS 3)
and becomes toxic (same pathway as • Diet — ensure proper nutritional
acetonaemia). Treatment management, adequate energy, and
This can be caused by an increase • Veterinary care — includes fluid feed during lactation.
demand for glucose in pregnant cows, therapy, caesarean, or induction of • Diet — minimise period of feed

from feed deprivation, inadequate calving. deprivation, rapid diet changes, and
energy in feed impeding utilisation of • Veterinary care — intravenous avoid unpalatable or low energy
fat in the liver, causing fat build-up. Fat injection glucose, calcium feeds.
cattle (BCS >4) in the last two months of borogluconate and magnesium salt
pregnancy are at a higher risk. is more effective than given under
the skin.
Signs and symptoms • Veterinary care — mild case can be
• Depression and lethargy; reduced treated with propylene glycol and
appetite, may appear stubborn or electrolytes.
confused. • Diet — encourage affected cattle to
• Rapid respiratory rate, with sweet start eating green feed.
acetone-like odour in their breath.
• May become recumbent before
calving (calves may be aborted or
premature) and eventually die within
2 weeks.
54
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids toxicity
Problem Treatment
Cattle grazing on plants (e.g. Paterson’s • Management — avoid further
curse, rattle weed, tansy ragwort) ingestion of toxic plants.
containing pyrrolizidine alkaloid toxins • Diet — rations high in carbohydrates
that are metabolized in and damages is recommended.
the liver. More commonly occurring • Veterinary care — supportive care
during drought conditions. (e.g. fluids).

• Loss of condition, anorexia, dullness, • Management and environment
constipation, or diarrhoea. Straining — reduce exposure to toxic
and passing bloodstained faeces. plants, consider annual herbicide
• Head-pressing, yawning, aimless application.
wandering with progressive hepatic
injury.
• Photosensitisation.
• Acute exposure causing death is
rare.
Diagnosis
• History and clinical signs.
• Blood test for toxic metabolites.
Paterson’s curse.
55
Retained foetal membranes
Problem Treatment
Foetal membranes not expelled within • Treatment not required if the cow is
24 hours of giving birth (should normally eating and productive.
be expelled within 3–8 hours). May lead • Veterinary treatment — involving
to life-threatening complications like treating sick cow with systemic
metritis and toxaemia. More commonly antibiotics (procaine penicillin,
associated with early or abnormal oxytetracycline or trimethoprim

parturition or abortion. sulpha).
• Tying a stick or stone to it to provide
Signs and symptoms gentle traction often helps.
• Visible membranes at the vulva.
Prevention
• Some without any external signs,
smelly discharge • Diet — adequate nutritional
management leading up to calving,
Diagnosis avoid hypocalcaemia and negative
• Clinical signs — obvious presentation energy balance.
of membrane at the vulva.
• Veterinarian — physical, vaginal, and
rectal examination.
Photo credit: Associate Professor David Beggs
Retained foetal membrane in a dairy cow.
56
Ringworm
Problem Treatment
Circular, hairless skin lesion caused • Treatment is not necessary; it
by a fungal infection Trichophyton commonly heals in about 8 weeks.
verrucosum. Infection is caused by • Imidazole spray may stop
cattle coming into contact with infective progression of lesions and slow the
fungal spores in the environment or from spread to other cattle.
other infective animals. Ringworm can

be passed onto humans. Prevention
• Management — prevent mixing cattle
Signs and symptoms with active ringworm infection and
• Circular and coalesced lesions isolate any cases. Ringworm.

occurring on the body, mostly on the • Management — process affected
head and neck (3 cm in diameter). animals last in handling facilities and
• Moist and reddened skin initially, treat with imidazole spray at each
then dry, scaly, and grey. yarding.
Diagnosis
• Visual appearance.
• Deep skin scrapings or biopsy
sent to a veterinary laboratory for
confirmation.
57
Selenium deficiency
Problem Diagnosis
Harmful free radicals are generated from • Blood test for selenium levels.
selenium deficiency, which damage • Liver biopsy from affected cattle
muscle tissues of the heart and limbs, for confirmation at a veterinary
also referred to as nutritional muscular laboratory.
dystrophy or white muscle disease. • Soil and pasture or feed samples.
Cattle grazing on selenium-deficient Photo credit: Dr. Bruce Watt

pasture such as lush, rapidly growing Treatment
pasture, legume-dominant pasture, Selenium deficiency death.
• Management — drenching, injection,
pasture grown on selenium-deficient
pour-on methods, lick blocks of
soils or paddocks that received heavy
selenium supplementation.
sulphur-containing fertiliser application
are at risk. Prevention
Signs and symptoms • Management — addition of selenium
in pasture through application of
• Drop in production for mature cattle. fertiliser.
• Young cattle: Ill-thrift, poor growth, • Diet — provide supplementation of
chronic diarrhoea, and retention of selenium in diet for high risk cattle. Post-mortem of swollen liver.
winter coats.
• Subacute: Stiff-legged gait,
weakness and unable to stand or
walk.
• Acute: Collapse or death.
Ill thrift related to selenium deficiency. 58

Theileriosis
Problem Treatment
Caused by blood-borne protozoan • Veterinary care — systemic antibiotic
parasite, Theileria, which is transmitted treatment, however there is poor
via cattle ticks. Causes aneamia with response for severely affected cattle.
secondary reduced oxygen supply and
weakness that can be fatal. Prevention
• Management — avoid introducing

Signs and symptoms and mixing cattle from different
• Anaemia causing lethargy, weakness, Theileria exposure areas.
Photo credit: flock and herd Dr. Ian Poe
pale or yellow colour of the vulva or • Management — reduce susceptibility
third eyelid, may have a high fever. through good husbandry and
Conjunctiva anaemia caused by Theileria.
• Pregnant cows may abort and still appropriate nutrition.
births are common.
• Drop in milk production in dairy
cows.
Diagnosis
• Blood test for Theileria.
Photo credit: flock and herd Dr. Ian Poe
Vulva anaemia caused by Theileria.
59
Travel tetany
Problem Treatment
Associated with transport stress, • Veterinary care — injection of
causing electrolyte imbalance commercially available calcium
(hypocalcaemia and sometimes borogluconate and magnesium
hypomagnesaemia) rather than a sulphate solution.
disease. Caused by periods of food • Veterinary care — sit the animal
and water deprivation while being upright if laying on their side to

transported, grazing lush pasture, heavy avoid aspirating regurgitated rumen
feeding with grain prior to transport, and contents.
forced exercise after transport increases
risk. Older, fatter, pregnant, or lactating Prevention
animals are at a higher risk. • Management — adequate roughage
and avoid prolonged feed deprivation
Signs and symptoms before transportation.
• Restlessness, incoordination, • Management — avoid working cattle
sometimes aggression. immediately after long periods of
• Knuckling, staggering, laying on transport, especially those of higher
their side, frothing at the mouth, and risk.
grinding teeth.
Diagnosis
• History and clinical signs.
• Blood serum sample to test for
electrolyte imbalance to confirm.
60
Vibriosis (Campylobacteriosis)
Problem Diagnosis
Infectious venereal disease by • Vaginal mucous sample from infected
Campylobacter fetus causing major cows and heifers sent to a veterinary
reproductive loss through infertility and laboratory for confirmation.
abortion. The bacteria are spread by • Testing bulls is not reliable.
infected bulls to susceptible cows and
heifers through mating. Treatment

• Usually self-limiting with
Signs and symptoms development of immunity in cows,
• No clinical signs heifers, and bulls.
• Should be suspected with high
Prevention
percentage of early embryonic loss,
poor conception rate, or poor calving • Vaccination — vaccines
rate. commercially available, mostly
• Occasional abortions, usually around treating infected bulls.
6 months of pregnancy.
61
Management guides

62
Good biosecurity
On-farm biosecurity involves proactively managing and preventing risks caused by weeds, pests and diseases entering, emerging,
establishing or spreading.
Good biosecurity principles Boot wash procedure

• Principle 1: Record all livestock movements, purchases,
sales and treatments. Remove excess foreign material from
• Principle 2: Always buy livestock from reputable 1 the sole of your boots away from the
production zone and washing area - you

sources. may do this by banging boots together or
• Principle 3: Make sure all purchased livestock have an using a tool to scrape out the boot tread.
animal health declaration from the vendor.
• Principle 4: Develop a treatment program for new
livestock (e.g. drenching, lice treatment, vaccination). Wash boots/footwear in a bucket filled with
Farm visitors 2 water and use a scrubbing brush if required

to remove all excess foreign material. Clean
Visitors to your farm pose a potential risk of introducing any tools or equipment in the same bucket
of water.
diseases and pests.
It is important to do a risk assessment of visitors, including

whether they have recently been overseas.
• Principle 1: Keep visitors (friends, agents, etc) out of

3 Finally, rinse clean boots/footwear and
tools in a separate bucket of disinfectant or
use a spray bottle containing disinfectant.
livestock production areas.
• Principle 2: If people need to access production areas,
clean all tools, equipment, and footwear.
• Principle 3: Visitors returning from overseas travel
should avoid contact with livestock and farms for 7 days.
4 Carefully and mindfully dispose of dirty
water and waste disinfectant.
63
One Biosecurity
What is One Biosecurity? Why register?
The One Biosecurity program is free for South Australian All producers in Australia must have a farm biosecurity
livestock producers and has been designed to help plan (Livestock Production Assurance requirement). One
producers register, manage, and promote on-farm Biosecurity will generate an approved biosecurity plan in a
biosecurity. The platform can also be used as a resource for simple, free, online process.
guidelines and advice on livestock diseases.
Other benefits include:

Developed in collaboration with key industry groups, One
Biosecurity recognises the important role producers have in • generating an Animal Health Declaration
protecting and growing our state’s livestock industry. • assisting with purchasing decisions
• providing credible assurance to existing domestic and
Once registered, you will be self-guided through two core international markets
online components: • improving government and industry disease surveillance
and early detection of animal health emergencies.
• Biosecurity Practices Questionnaire (score 1-5 stars)
• Endemic Disease Risk Rating modules (Risk Rating for Contact
a series of diseases including Johne’s disease, footrot, For help registering your property and completing your
lice, pestivirus and ovine brucellosis). risk assessment contact 1BSupport@sa.gov.au or call
08 8429 3300.
Scan QR code to learn more

about One Biosecurity or visit
www.onebiosecurity.pir.sa.gov.au
64
Vaccination
Vaccination is the key to preventing some cattle diseases.
Why vaccinate?
Cattle are vaccinated to protect against some of the
common serious infectious diseases. Vaccination stimulates
the body’s defence system to build immunity to a particular
disease or combination of diseases and when given to cows

prior to calving can provide helpful antibodies in colostrum
for healthier calves. Vaccinations should be administered to
livestock as part of an annual management plan.
Which vaccine is best?

Cattle vaccines are available from many different suppliers
to provide protection against clostridial diseases, pestivirus,
Johne’s disease, leptospirosis, salmonella, bovine
respiratory disease and many others.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to vaccination and

many things to consider including, timing, cost, additional
supplements and stock type. Producers should consult
Photo credit: Animal Health Australia
their local veterinarian or PIRSA Animal Health officer for
professional advice to best suit their situation. Location of vaccinations.
65
Parasite prevention
Cattle worms Faecal egg count
There are 6 main types of worms responsible for the worm • Faecal egg counts are the best method for monitoring
problems occurring in Australian cattle herds: worm burdens in a herd of cattle.
• The number of worm eggs in a cow’s faeces is used to
1. Brown stomach worms (Ostertagia ostertagi) estimate the number of worms the animal is carrying.
2. Black scour worm (Trichostrongylus spp.) • Generally, 2 pools of 5 samples. 5 grams of faeces per
3. Thin-necked intestinal worm (Nematodirus spp.) animal is needed for up to 5 animals. Do this twice for 2

4. Stomach hair worm (Cooperia oncophora) pools of 5 samples.
5. Large bowel worm (Oesophagostomum Radiatum) • The advantages are:
6. Barbers pole worm (Haemonchus placei) » Relatively simple and inexpensive.
» If sampled correctly it gives a good assessment of
Assessing worm burden worm burden.
Scouring and ill-thrift are generally associated with worm » Gives rate of pasture contamination by worm eggs.
infestations, however this is not the always the case and » It is not necessary to sacrifice any sheep.
can be a poor indicator of the worm burden in cattle.
Total worm count
There are two reliable ways of assessing worm burdens in
cattle - faecal egg counts and total worm counts. • The total number of worms in cattle can be counted and
identified at post mortem.
• It provides an accurate count of the number of worms in
an animal, but it does involve sacrificing that animal.
66
Cattle worms
Worm control programs Drench resistance
When to drench - a faecal egg count is the best practical Drench resistance occurs once a population of a species
guide currently available to decide on the need for of worm can survive a dose of a drench that would have
treatment. previously killed it. Worms killed by a drench are said to be
susceptible to the treatment.
Choosing a drench - when choosing a drench, you need to
know the specific properties and potential uses of all of the The rate of development of drench resistance can be

different drench groups and the current drench resistance influenced by many factors such as:
status of your property. Get good professional advice on
this from your veterinarian • The chemical group and persistence of the product
involved.
Paddock management – where possible, put newly • The frequency of treatments.
drenched cattle into a clean paddock that has not been • The worm species involved.
recently grazed, as it will greatly assist in breaking the life
• Environmental factors such as climate.
cycle of the worms.
See “Wormboss” website for further information on worm
control.
Scan QR code for the

‘Wormboss’ online
resource or visit
www.wormboss.com.au
67
NLIS obligations
The National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) is How do you do this?
Australia’s system for identifying and tracing cattle, sheep
and goats. The database records the lifetime location data • All livestock movements to a different PIC must have a
and movement of all livestock in Australia using individual national vendor declaration (NVD), even if the owner of
identification (cattle) and flock identification (sheep and the livestock does not change. It is also advisable to use
goats). All physical locations are identified by a Property a National Cattle Health Declaration.
Identification Code (PIC). • The NLIS database must be notified when one or more
sheep are moved to a different PIC.

When livestock are moved to another PIC, being sold, • The NVD details are included on the livestock transfer on
adjusted or relocated to another property, this movement the NLIS database.
must be recorded on the NLIS database.
• Access the NLIS database at www.nlis.com.au
Who is responsible? Support
Depending on the livestock movement that is occurring, Call Integrity Systems Company (ISC) Support on
different parties are responsible for recording livestock 1800 683 111 for database issues, LPA, eNVDs or
movements on the NLIS database, as either mob-based PIRSA NLIS Help Desk on 1800 654 688.
movements with visual NLIS tags or individual animal
movement with electronic RFID NLIS tags.
Online Moving between Show/ Field Day

Saleyard
purchases two properties Sporting Event
webaddress.com.au
Private Agistment On property

Abattoir
purchases movements auctions
YOU Others
68
Fit to load
It is an offence to load or transport an animal in a way that Maximum time off water
causes it unnecessary harm. The person in charge of the
animal is responsible — if in doubt, leave it out. Class of Maximum time Minimum
animal off water spelling period
An animal is not fit to load if it:
Cattle over 6 48 hours 36 hours
• is not strong enough to undertake the journey
months old
• cannot walk normally, bearing weight on all legs (e.g. old

or new fractures, injury, deformity, foot abscess, joint Calves 30 days 24 hours 12 hours
infection) to 6 months old
• is severely emaciated or visibly dehydrated
Cows known 24 hours 12 hours
• is suffering from severe visible distress or injury (e.g.
to be more
swollen pizzle, exhaustion, panting, flystrike)
than 6 months
• has a condition that could cause it increased pain or pregnant,
distress during transport (e.g. ingrown horn, cancer excluding the
(vulva, udder, ear), swollen testicles, advanced mastitis last 4 weeks
• is blind in both eyes
• Is within two weeks of calving and the estimated journey Calves 5 to 18 hours
time or time off water is likely to exceed four hours. 30 days old
travelling
without mothers
Scan QR code to learn more or visit
(12 hours
www.mla.com.au/isitfittoload maximum
journey)
Scan QR code for ‘Australian Animal Welfare

Standards and Guidelines for Cattle’ or visit
www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/cattle
69
Humane destruction
Figure 11.1 Recommended position and direction of fire for the humane killing of cattle
(A) Indicates the frontal method,
(B) indicates the poll method. For blunt trauma in calves

less than 24 hours old, use position A.
Confirming death after any method of destruction is

essential - check for loss of consciousness and deliberate
movement, dilated pupils, absence of the ‘blink’ reflex when

the eyeball is touched and absence of breathing, jaw tone
and tongue tone.
Notes:
Sourced
1. from:
(A) Australian
indicates Animal
the frontal Welfare
method, Standards
(B) indicates and
the poll Guidelines
method. fortrauma
For blunt Cattlein calves less than 24 hours old,
use position A 70
In general, firearms are the most acceptable method of humane killing for cattle. The distance between the end of the
firearm barrel and the cattle is expected to be between 10 and 100 cm. The only approved target organ is the brain. Before
firing, the cattle’s head must be still.
There are two effective aiming points at the head: frontal (A) and poll (B). The frontal method is the preferred target site.
& further reading
Acknowledgments

71
Acknowledgments & further reading
The information for this publication has been collected from:
Allen, A 2022, Transport Tetany in Ruminants, MSD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, 2013, Ketosis
Veterinary Manual, https://www.msdvetmanual.com/ (acetonaemia), https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-
metabolic-disorders/transport-tetany-in-ruminants/ priorities/agriculture/animals/dairy/ketosis-acetonaemia,
transport-tetany-in-ruminants?msclkid=872dde58d0ee11ec QLD
ae26a0acd084600a
Department of Primary Industries and Regions, 2017,

Bailey, G 2014, Bloat in cattle and sheep, Primefact 416 3rd Theileria, https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animal_
edition, NSW. health/cattle/theileria, South Australia.
Bailey, G 2015, Pregnancy toxaemia in beef cattle, NSW DPI Department of Primary Industries and Regions, 2018,
Primefact 335 2nd edition, NSW. Photosensitisation in livestock, https://www.agric.wa.gov.
au/livestock-biosecurity/photosensitisation-livestock?pag
Besier, S 2018, Botulism in cattle, Department of Primary e=0%2C1&msclkid=eaeabfefd0f311ecaa8b3e2db6ae31ed,
Industries and Regions, Agriculture and Food, WA. WA
Bildfell, R 2022, Pyrrolizidine Alkaloidosis in Animals, Department of Primary Industries and Regions 2018,
MSD Veterinary Manual, https://www.msdvetmanual. Thiamine deficiency induced polioencephomalacia
com/toxicology/pyrrolizidine-alkaloidosis/pyrrolizidine- (PEM) of sheep and cattle, https://www.agric.wa.gov.
alkaloidosis-in-animals?autoredirectid=18379 au/livestock-biosecurity/thiamine-deficiency-induced-
polioencephomalacia-pem-sheep-and-cattle, WA
Cotter, J 2019, Worm control in beef cattle, Department of
Primary Industries and Regions, https://www.agric.wa.gov. Department of Primary Industries and Regions, 2019,
au/livestock-parasites/worm-control-beef-cattle, WA Cobalt deficiency in sheep and cattle, https://www.agric.
wa.gov.au/livestock-biosecurity/cobalt-deficiency-sheep-
Dairy Australia, Calf Scours, https://www.dairyaustralia. and-cattle?msclkid=37a804ced0ef11ec9a05d1f207348818,
com.au/animal-management-and-milk-quality/animal- WA
health/calf-scours#.YnsQeYxByUl
72
Department of Primary Industries and Regions, 2019, Meat & Livestock Australia, Perennial ryegrass, https://
Selenium deficiency in cattle, https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/ www.mla.com.au/research-and-development/animal-
feeding-nutrition/selenium-deficiency-cattle?page=0%2C1 health-welfare-and-biosecurity/poisonings/toxic-plants/
&msclkid=8f1a2fa5d0ef11ecb14b91479bc3800c, WA perennial-ryegrass/?msclkid=16bf182dd0f111ec9a19cca07
244d234
Department of Primary Industries and Regions, 2020,
Diarrhoea in adult cattle, https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/beef- ParaBoss, Treating lice: when, how and
cattle/diarrhoea-adult-cattle?msclkid=0108a43bd0c911ec8 what chemical group, http://www.liceboss.

903a61702695362, WA com.au/cattle/treatment/treating-lice.
php?msclkid=8ffa437ed0ec11ec8f152815e5e0b926
Hum, S 2007, Vibriosis of cattle, NSW DPI Primefact 451,
NSW. Robson, S 2018, Nitrate and nitrite poisoning in livestock,
NSW DPI Primefact 415 2nd edition, NSW
Jubb, T, Perkins, N, & Mellor, T. The Veterinary Handbook
for the Livestock Export Industry. LiveCorp and Meat & Walker, B 2006, Grain poisoning of cattle and sheep. NSW
Livestock Australia. DPI Primefact 330, NSW.
Local Land Service NSW, Phalaris staggers, https://www. Walker, B & McKinnon, R 2002, Lumpy jaw and wooden
lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/south-east/articles,-plans-and- tongue in cattle. Agfact A0.9.10 2nd edition, NSW.
publications/phalaris-staggers, NSW
Zelski, R 2007, Leptospirosis in cattle herds, NSW DPI
Meat & Livestock Australia, 2005, Neonatal calf diarrhoea in Primefact 445 1st edition, NSW
suckler beef herds, NSW.
Meat & Livestock Australia, Grass tetany, https://www.mla.

com.au/research-and-development/animal-health-welfare-
and-biosecurity/diseases/nutritional/grass-tetany/?msclkid
=0a4b380bd0cc11eca1ca6e74c06f25fd
73
Useful contacts and online resources
Emergency Animal 1800 675 888
One Biosecurity
Disease Hotline www.onebiosecurity.pir.sa.gov.au
PIC Registration Office (SA) 1800 654 688 Biosecurity SA
08 8207 7919 www.pir.sa.gov.au/biosecurity/animal_health
LPA NVD Helpline 1800 683 111 Farm Biosecurity

www.farmbiosecurity.com.au
NLIS Database Helpdesk (National) 1800 654 743
NLIS Hotline (SA) 1800 654 688 ParaBoss (WormBoss, LiceBoss, FlyBoss, TickBoss)
www.paraboss.com.au
RSPCA SA (Welfare) 1300 477 722
Livestock SA 08 8297 2299 ‘Is the animal fit to load?’ Guide
www.mla.com.au/isitfittoload
Glenside 08 8207 7900 Livestock SA
Clare 08 8842 6222 www.livestocksa.org.au
Local PIRSA Mt Gambier 08 8735 1300
Name/clinic:
Animal Health Kingscote 08 8553 4949 Local
Offices
Pt Augusta 08 8648 5160 Veterinary
(bolded offices Contact number:
have PIRSA Murray Bridge 08 8539 2110 Clinic
veterinarians) Nuriootpa 08 8568 6400
Pt Lincoln 08 8688 3400 4
Struan 08 8762 9100

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Cattle

Funded by the Red Meat and Wool Growth Program.

Funding for disease investigations 6 Clostridial disease (enterotoxaemia) 30

Key to disease diagnosis by signs and symptoms 7 Cobalt deficiency 31

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

This guide has been designed as a quick-reference tool to

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Printed and digital resources are referenced throughout to

You will also find a list of useful contacts and websites on

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Subsidies are available to support private veterinary

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

For further information, contact your local veterinarian, who

Scan QR code to learn more

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Spring Summer Autumn Winter

• Coccidiosis • Actinobacillosis (wooden • Botulism (chewing on • Coccidiosis (black

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Foot and mouth disease Lumpy skin disease

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Photo credit: Department of Agriculture,

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Humans can contract anthrax if they

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Signs and symptoms

• Blisters inside mouth, on lips and

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Photo credit: Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

A cow after the scabs have fallen off leaving

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Photo credit: Michel Bellaiche

A cow showing raised nodules on its hide which

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

or lactating are at a higher risk. • Veterinary care — treat concurrent

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

by an obstruction or functional problem dorsal left flank and allow gasses to

Diagnosis Distended left flank from bloat.

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

of age) to infected livestock.

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Sunken eyes indicating dehydration prior to

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Photo credit: Dr Lisa Martin

Loss of pigment in hair associated with copper

Cattle Diseases | The Farmers’ Guide | 1st edition | April 2023

Signs and symptoms Prevention