This will become a huge problem for the cattle owners if they find the cattle lost their appetite. As the animals can’t speak to tell us what they are feeling, then we should find out what is the cause of their losing appetite.
We can’t let this problem to be solved on its own as it might lead to danger for the cattle. Through this article, we would find out 10 common causes of cattle losing appetite. Losing the appetite to livestock might indicate something serious is happening with the animals. It can be your first warning to lead you to more serious problems.
Let’s be more alert on Cattle disease that cause weight loss. And this is 4 reasons of your cow not eating and drinking. It might happen to your cattle. So better prepared and knowledgeable before it happens to your cattle. Let’s list out 10 common causes of cattle losing appetite.
1. Bacteria or viral infections
Bacteria or viral infection can be the reason for your cattle’s loss of appetite. Parasitic infestation should be checked if it occurs in your cattle. There are a lot of bacterial and viral infections which are very contagious and easily spread among your herd of livestock. This will be devastating for cattle owners. You should be alert with this condition and ask your vet to check on your cattle’s condition. Your vet will be able to identity and treat the cows. The earliest stage they are monitored, the faster for them to get better.
2. Toxin
Another cause for your cattle to lost their appetite can be there are toxic substances. This can be found in your cattle’s surrounding. It can be found in the form of plants which usually grow in pastures. It seems okay however it is dangerous and fatal if it’s consumed by your livestock. For example, it is biterweed. This toxic substance can lead to poisoning which cause death.
Not only from the plants, paints can introduce lead into the environment. Lead is tasted sweet to some animals. It can be irresistible for them, especially cattle. Lead shot or lead sinkers could be consumed through water fowl which can lead to poisoning too. However, it won’t show immediately when lead is poisoning your cattle. It will take some time, so you should observe their behavior.
3. Lack of minerals
Some vitamin and mineral deficiencies may be the cause of cattle’s loss of appetite. The most common minerals lacked in cattle’s diet is cobalt. Where cobalt can be found in vitamin B12. Cows with low level of cobalt will show significant loss of appetite. But once you add cobalt into their diet, their appetite will be back to normal.
4. Early stage of Lactation
If your cattle, especially dairy cows, shows loss of appetite in their early lactation, it can be caused of bovine ketosis and indigestion. Bovine ketosis is a disorder which happens in cattle exceed energy intake hence there is negative energy balance. Ketosis cause the cows to have low blood glucose concentration.
5. Parasites
Cows which is having worm won’t automatically eat more. In fact, they might eat lesser which cause problems for their health. When it is winter parasites, the problems might go deeper than only meeting the eye. As we can spot lice infestations which are visible, these is an unseen problem which can be hidden if we don’t observe our cows closely.
6. IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis)
This is what people call as ‘Red Nose Disease’ as a cow or a calf’s nose will become red and raw. The reason of that redness because the animals rub their nose very often to get rid of constant mucous discharge. This condition may lead them to loss of appetite and a fever too. This disease is contagious, so you need to quarantine the infected cows from others to prevent them from spreading it to the groups.
7. Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (BRDC)
Shipping Fever, that’s what it is called. This problem happens right after the animals being shipped. This sickness is kind of a pneumonia which animals experience due to stress. Many factors altogether happened to the cows and it makes them under extreme stress. This disease causes respiratory distress, fever, runny nose and loss of appetite. You should quarantine your cattle when they just have been shipped. Put them under observation to see if they are experiencing BRDC. Do not let them be together among other healthy cattle as it might spread to others.
8. Anemia
Anemia is not a disease for humans only. It can happen to animals too. The reason is usually because of bush ticks which are found on their body. Ticks are easily seen with our eyes. As they usually gather around the tail, the ears and underside. Ticks are the carriers of a disease knows as theileriosis. It is common around young calf but adult cows can also experience it. The symptoms shown are very similar to anemia in human. Loss of appetite, weak and lethargy. The cows which have anemia will be seen as pale/yellow colored and can have miscarriage if they are pregnant.
To understand if they hare theileriosis, the cow should be observed by taking a blood sample. Blood transfusion will be needed to treat them. Sometimes they only treated with feeding high quality feed and lots of rest. However, it won’t guarantee they will survive. Preventing the cause of this disease by reducing tick population is the best way. You can use pesticides to kill ticks in your area. However, be careful not to let your cows wander in the area after u treat the surrounding with pesticides.
Please read natural remedies to get rid of lice in cattle and 4 Organic Treatment Of Mange In Cattle to give your cows better treatment if they get lice and mange. It’s better to treat them using natural remedies than with chemical for their safety reasons.
9. Cold Cow
This is a contagious disease and affects cows in large numbers. However, there is no clear reason why this disease happens. It could be caused many things. Whether it is the consumption or carbohydrates or mycotoxin and estrogen presence in the pasture. The cows which get cold cow will show symptoms as is they are drunk. They can’t stand up properly. They will likely to fall down. Not only those, they also show signs of cold skin, decreasing of milk, weakness, diarrhea, loss of appetite and imbalance to stand up.
Milk production is affected greatly as it is almost zero production. When it happens, it will happen to majority of cattle. What you can do is to move your cattle into different pasture.
10. Wooden Tongue
This disease, wooden tongue, is an infection. It will affect the cattle greatly which can lead them to death if you are late in treating them. The reason of this disease may be of rough food and seeds or certain types of feed which wound the tongue. The bacteria which present in the tongue will enter cattle’s body through these wounds. The wounds will lead to infection and pus formation. Then the tongue will become hard and swollen. This condition will prevent the animal to be able to eat and drink because it is very painful for them.
The cows will drool excessively and they lose weight very fast. This will lead them to inability to eat. They should be treated with antibiotics like tetracycline and iodine. And they should be quarantine from other healthy cows until they are totally cured.