Redwater is caused by the blue tick. Signs include fever, lack of appetite, red urine, and pale eyes and gums. If not treated, it can lead to death. Treatment involves keeping cattle calm and injecting them with Berenil or Imizol. Prevention involves vaccination and testing cattle annually.

2. Redwater is caused by the blue tick. Left is the
male with the female on the right

3.  Signs of red water are fever, lack of appetite,
red urine, pale to yellow gums and eyes, and
sometimes nervous signs such as difficulty
in walking
 This disease can lead to deaths if the animals
are not treated in time

4.  Treatment involves keeping the cattle calm.
They should not be driven over long
distances and should be injected with Berenil
or ImizolThe dose for Berenil is 5 ml of made
up solution (1 packet mixed with 12,5 ml of
sterile water) for each 100 kg (for example,
20 ml for a 400 kg animal)The dose for
Imizol is 1 ml for each 100 kg (for example, 4
ml for a 400 kg animal)

5.  Brucellosis can cause abortion in cows and is
also highly infectious to people

Drink pasteurised/
treated milk!People get infected by drinking
untreated milk from animals which have the
disease or by handling themSigns of disease
in people are tiredness, headaches, night
sweat, muscle pain and loss of appetite


6.  Prevention involves vaccination and testing of
the blood of the animal
 All female calves are vaccinated between 4
and 8 months of age. A live vaccine is used
and it is best that it is injected by your
veterinarian or animal health technician.
Pregnant animals must not be vaccinated,
because they will abort
 Cows should also be bled by your state
veterinarian or animal health technician yearly
to check if they are free of brucellosis

7.  Cows testing positive for brucellosis are
branded with a C brand on the neck. Do not
buy a cow with this brand, because she is
infected and may spread the disease to your
other cows

8.  Note that abortion can be caused by many
different diseases, of which brucellosis is one
of the most important. Some of these may be
spread by the bull. If your cows are aborting
it is very important to get the cause identified
by your state veterinarian. Care must be
taken when handling aborted calves. Wear
gloves to protect you from becoming infected

10.  Cattle with tuberculosis often become very
thin over time
 People can get TB from cattle by drinking
infected milk
 You should have your herd tested for TB
every year by your state veterinarian. This
involves a skin test
 Animals testing positive are given a T brand
on the left side of the neck

11.  Cattle measles is a stage of
a tapeworm in cattle. When
people eat affected meat which
is undercooked, they develop tapeworms in the gut
 Cattle are infected when they pick up tapeworm eggs
when grazing on pastures which are polluted because
of unhygienic toilet practices by infected people
 Infected cattle do not look sick and measles can only
be seen in the meat at slaughter
 Cattle measles can lead to downgrading of your meat
 Prevention involves good hygiene on farms. Use
toilets, and not the veld

14.  Anthrax, a highly infectious and fatal disease
of mammals and humans, is caused by a
relatively large spore-forming rectangular
shaped bacterium called Bacillus anthracis -

16.  Sudden death (often within 2 or 3 hours of
being apparently normal) is by far the most
common sign;
 Very occasionally some animals may show
trembling, a high temperature, difficulty
breathing, collapse and convulsions before
death. This usually occurs over a period of 24
hours;
 After death blood may not clot, resulting in a
small amount of bloody discharge from the
nose, mouth and other openings/

17.  On the clinical signs described above;
 Rod-shaped bacteria surrounded by a capsule
are visible in blood smears made
from surface blood vessels

18.  Post-mortem examinations should not be
undertaken on suspected anthrax cases
(including any cow that has died suddenly for
no apparent reason) until a blood smear has
proved negative);
 If a carcass is opened accidentally, the spleen
is usually swollen and there is bloodstained
fluid in all body cavities.

19.  Due to the rapidity of the disease treatment is seldom
possible, although high doses of penicillin have been
effective in the later stages of some outbreaks.
 Prevention
 Infection is usually acquired through the ingestion of
contaminated soil, fodder or compound feed. Anthrax
spores in the soil are very resistant and can cause
disease when ingested even years after an outbreak.
The spores are brought to the surface by wet
weather, or by deep tilling, and when ingested or
inhaled by ruminants the disease reappears.

20.  Where an outbreak has occurred, carcases
must be disposed of properly, the carcase
should not be open (exposure to oxygen will
allow the bacteria to form spores) and
premises should be quarantined until all
susceptible animals are vaccinated.

21.  Rabies does not often occur in cattle, but they
can be infected when bitten by a rabid dog or
jackal
 Cattle can either become very aggressive and
excited, (e.g.with bellowing), or develop the
"dumb" form, when they are quiet
 Once cattle show signs of rabies, treatment is no
longer possible
 People can become infected when feeling inside
the mouth of a salivating animal for a possible
blockage, and then being bitten
 Prevention is by vaccination

35.  Botulism can occur when cattle eat hay or silage
polluted by carcass material or bones when
grazing, or poultry litter
 Cattle will eat carcass and bone material when
there is a lack of feed during winter or if they
have a phosphorus deficiency
 This disease causes paralysis and the animal
usually dies
 Treatment is only possible in the early stages and
requires an antitoxin
 Prevention involves vaccination and good
nutrition during winter. You should also burn or
bury all carcasses, bones or decaying material

36. 
Black quarter is an infectious bacterial
disease caused by Clostridium chauvoei, a
Gram-positive bacterium and is characterized
by inflammation with gaseous oedema of
skeletal muscle and severe toxemia.

37.  Black Quarter

38. 
BQ is most commonly caused by Clostridium chauvoei.
These are Gram-positive, rod-shaped; anaerobic that can
produce environmentally-persistent spores in unfavorable
conditions. These spores can remain in the soil for years in
an inactive state, and return to their infectious form when
consumed by grazing livestock and infect the large
muscles of the animal where the bacteria grow and
produce large amount of gas. Contaminated pasture is a
predominant source of these organisms, which are also
found naturally in the intestines of animals. Disease can
occur over many years in areas where there is soil or
manure contamination with the bacteria, and it is
extremely difficult to remove the spores from the

39. 
It is seen in livestock all over the world,
usually affecting cattle, sheep and goats.

40. 
The diagnosis is by physical examination and
confirmation of gram positive rods in the slide
made out of serous fluid from the site. During
post-mortem examination, a diagnosis is usually
made very quickly, as the affected muscle is
generally mottled with black patches. These
patches represent dead tissue, killed by the
toxins that the bacteria release when they infect
a live tissue. If viewed under a microscope, small
rod-like bacteria can be visualized to confirm the
diagnosis.

41. 
Treatment is generally unsatisfactory due to
the rapid progression of the disease; however
penicillin is the drug of choice for treatment.
Treatment is only effective in the early stages
and as a control measure.

42. 
Prophylactic vaccination with a combined vaccine
containing formaldehyde inactivated cultures of
Pasturella multocida and Clostridium chauvoei
adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide gel will give
good immunity against BQ along with
Haemorrhagic Septicaemia.
What is the vaccination schedule?
Primary vaccination: six months of age or above,
followed by booster dose after one month.
Revaccination: Annually

44.  Tetanus occurs when animals are infected
through wounds, or during castration or
dehorning
 The animal becomes very stiff and death
results
 Penicillin treatment may be possible in the
early stages
 Prevention is by vaccination

45.  This disease is spread to cattle by biting
insects
 It causes lameness and sometimes the animal
lies down
 The animal will usually get better on its own
within 3 days
 It is important that the animal is given food
and water if it is unable to stand
 Prevention is by vaccination

46.  This disease is another important cattle disease
in many areas. It is spread among animals by
contact and also by biting insects
 It causes lumps in the skin, but can also lead to
death if the lumps are inside the animal
 Lumpy-skin disease can lead to a downgrading
of your meat
 Prevention is by vaccination
 If your cattle get this disease, you should speak
to your state veterinarian

48.  Milk fever is a disorder mainly of dairy cows
close to calving. It is a metabolic disease
caused by a low blood calcium level
(hypocalcaemia). Between 3% and 10% of
cows in dairying districts are affected each
year, with much higher percentages occurring
on some properties. Jersey cows that are
mature and fat and graze lush, clover
dominant pasture before calving are most
susceptible

49.  Low blood calcium level. Around calving time,
cows need to mobilise large amounts of
calcium from body stores such as bone. If
this occurs too slowly the amount of calcium
in the blood may fall below optimal levels
resulting in milk fever

50.  Older, high producing cows in good
body condition, shortly before or after
calving. Occasionally occurs a few weeks after
calving when cows are in oestrus.

51.  Milk fever is usually diagnosed by the cow’s
history and her response to treatment. If the
cow is found dead, laboratory testing can
help rule out other possible causes of sudden
death.

52.  Cows with milk fever need an injection of calcium
(usually calcium borogluconate solution) preferably
early in the course of the disease. There is little
evidence that milk fever treatments containing
additional minerals are any more effective than
straight calcium products. If the cow is found early,
oral calcium supplements or a calcium injection
under the skin can be very effective. Injections under
the skin can cause problems such as swelling and
infection. Your vet may need to give a treatment into
the vein but this requires careful monitoring to
prevent heart failure

53.  Cows calving in good or fat condition
 Jersey breed
 Cows with history of milk fever
 High green feed diet during the transition
period
 Feeds that have had recent application of
potash

54.  Changing the cow’s diet during the transition
period (from 4 weeks before calving until 4
weeks after calving) can reduce the occurrence of
milk fever and other metabolic diseases, and
optimise production and fertility. The simplest
approach is to restrict the amount of green feed
in the last 2 weeks of pregnancy and provide hay
from sources that not recently been treated with
potash fertilisers. At the other end of the scale
cows may be fed a total mixed ration that
includes a balance of dietary cations and anions.

55.  Pneumonia is a common problem, particularly
in calves during the housing period. Disease
can be caused by several different viruses and
bacteria and is often referred to as the
bovine respiratory disease(BRD) complex.

56.  Viruses and bacteria are spread through
the air in droplets from infected to
susceptible calves. Disease can be reduced by
avoiding overcrowding and the mixing of
cattle of different origins and different ages.

57.  Good housing can reduce respiratory disease.
Cattle accommodation should be dry, draught
free, comfortable and well ventilated.
 Management is important in preventing
pneumonia. Ensure that calves receive plenty of
colostrum and try to avoid or minimise stress.
Carry out stressful procedures (castration,
weaning etc) one at a time whenever possible and
introduce dietary changes gradually.

58.  Many good vaccines are now available to
protect against the main causative agents of
disease. When used correctly, they are
valuable tools for protecting susceptible
cattle. Vaccination should be discussed with
your veterinary surgeon as part of your
overall disease prevention programme.

59.  Treatment of cattle with pneumonia should
be started as soon as symptoms are seen.
Isolate affected animals to prevent infection
spreading within an air space. Your veterinary
surgeon will recommend the most
appropriate antibiotic to control any bacterial
infection. Anti-inflammatory drugs may also
be used

61.  Sheep pox and goat pox are viral diseases of
sheep and goats characterized by fever,
 generalized papules or nodules, vesicles
(rarely), internal lesions (particularly in the
lungs),
 and death.

62.  Sheep pox and goat pox result from infection
by sheep pox virus (SPV) or goat-pox virus
 (GPV), closely related members of the
Capripox genus in the family Pox-viridae.

63.  All breeds of domestic and wild sheep and
goats

64.  Capripox is endemic in Africa north of the
Equator, the Middle East, Turkey, Iran,
Afghanistan,Pakistan, India, and Nepal; parts
of the People’s Republic of China, Bangladesh
and Vietnam.

65.  SPV and GPV are often transmitted by the
respiratory route during close contact, but
they
 may also enter the body through other
mucous membranes or abraded skin. These
viruses can
 be found in saliva, nasal and conjunctival
secretions, milk, urine and feces, as well as in
skin
 lesions and their scabs. Ulcers on the mucous
membranes are important sources of virus.

66.  Early clinical signs include a rise in rectal
temperature to above 40°C, development of
macules (small circumscribed areas of
hyperaemia) in 2-5 days and later papules
(hard swellings of
 between 0.5 and 1 cm in diameter) develop
from macules.

67.  within 24 hours after appearance of generalized papules
 • Affected animals develop rhinitis, conjunctivitis and
enlargement of all superficial lymph
 nodes, especially prescapular lymph nodes
 • Papules on the eyelids cause blepharitis of varying
severity
 • Papules on the mucous membranes of the eyes and nose
ulcerate, creating mucopurulent
 discharge
 • Mucosae of the mouth, anus, and prepuce or vagina
become necrotic
 • Breathing may become laboured and noisy due to
pressure on the upper respiratory tract
 from the swollen retropharyngeal lymph nodes draining
developing lung lesions.

68.  • Papules become necrotic from vascular
thrombosis and ischaemic necrosis
 • Papules form scabs in the next 5-10 days,
which persist for up to 6 weeks, leaving small
 scarsskin lesions are susceptible to fly strike
 • Secondary pneumonia is common
 • Anorexia is unusual unless mouth lesions
physically interfere with feeding
 • Abortion is rare.

69.  By symptoms and serological tests like Virus
neutralization, indirect fluorescent antibody
test,
 Agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), Western
blotting and ELISA can be used. Specific
detection
 of viral genome can be done by polymerase
chain reaction (PCR) and virions can be
identified
 by Transmission electron microscopy.

70. 
 Vaccination is the best method to prevent the
disease in susceptible animals.
 There are live and inactivated vaccines are
available. Sheep Pox Vaccine containing cell
 cultures derived live attenuated strain of Sheep
Pox virus belonging to Kenyan or “Romanian”
 strain provides good immunity. The vaccination
is done every year in healthy sheep of above
 3 months of age.

71. 1. If culling is not possible, isolation of infected
herds and sick animals for at least 45 days
2. after recovery
3. Slaughtering of infected herd if possible
4. Proper disposal of cadavers and products -
burning or burial is often used
5. Stringent cleaning and disinfection of farms and
equipment
6. Quarantine of new animals before introduction
into herds
7. Animal and vehicle movement controls within
infected areas.

72.  Worms can lead to poor condition,
particularly in calves
 Prevention and treatment is by deworming

73.  Good hygiene, management and nutrition are the
most important factors in producing healthy cattle
 Prevention is better than cure! Vaccinate and practise
good tick and worm control
 For advice and treatment, always speak to your state
or private veterinarian or your animal health
technician. Many of the drugs can only be used by
your veterinarian
 When using drugs for treatment, make sure that you
give the right dose (the drugs must also be registered
for use in cattle) for the right length of time or they
will not be effective
 When using drugs for treatment do not sell the
animal or use it yourself for meat or milk until the
withdrawal period has passed