Entire calf herd may be stressed after hot summer By Mario Villarino

Nov. 27, 2023 — As the herd enters fall after a hot, dry summer, the entire herd may be feeling stressed. Excessive heat, short grass, and low water tanks can all stress cattle and make them more susceptible to disease. Unhygienic conditions and sudden changes in diet can also lead to illness, as can other stressful situations. In late summer, cows are likely to be emaciated from nursing their calves, bulls are exhausted from breeding, and calves are frightened from weaning. Downed cows are at risk of contracting a variety of diseases.

When cattle are stressed, they become thin and their immune systems are suppressed. Bacteria lurking in the tissues and organs of cattle can break dormancy, multiply and cause outbreaks of diseases and disorders such as: a) Clostridial disease (Clostridium blackleg group), a highly lethal group of muscle, liver and disease. b) leptospirosis (lepto), a bacterial disease that can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and weakness in newborn calves, as well as jaundice, high fever, and often death c) anaplasmosis (anaplas), a disease that causes anemia, Weakness, fever, loss of appetite, constipation, miscarriage, and sometimes deathd) Viral and bacterial pneumonia, lung diseasese) Viral and bacterial abortion, infectious diseases leading to embryonic or fetal deathf) Bacterial pyometra disease, a uterine disease G) bacterial diarrhea, gastroenteritis.

When any kind of health problem is found in a herd of stressed calves, the cattle can be considered carriers of the disease, even if they have not been recently exposed to the causative agent of the disease. Sick cattle may have been exposed and infected months before the stress occurred, resulting in disease in cattle with clinical signs. Some cattle may become emaciated from “bottle jowls” (soft swelling under the jaw) and enter a “depression” stage where they become unable to stand. In many cases, cattle may die. Producers can prevent or minimize fall and winter health problems by reducing stress caused by nutritional deficiencies, sudden feed changes, and poor sanitation.

For more information on this or any other agricultural topic, please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email at (email protected) .