Down Beef Cow

Question 1

If a cow cannot stand, what is likely to develop?

Answer 1

compartmentalization syndrome

every effort possible should be made to get the cow standing, but if she cannot, then you should ensure to minimize the damage.

Question 2

If a cow is down, but will eat grain and is somewhat BAR, what are the 3 things that could be occurring to cause her to be down?

Answer 2

1. musculoskeletal injury
2. peripheral/ spinal nerve damage
3. starvation

Question 3

If a cow is down and will not eat grain, what could be 3 potential things causing her to be down?

Answer 3

1. mineral deficiency
2. toxicity
3. septicemia

Question 4

If a cow is down during the last 2 months of gestation, what could be potential causes?

Answer 4

1. starvation
2. winter tetany
3. musculoskeletal injury

Question 5

If a cow is down immediately post-calving , what could be potential causes?

Answer 5

1. musculoskeletal injury
2. mineral deficiency
3. toxic mastitis

Question 6

If a cow is down 2-30 days post-partum, what could be potential causes?

Answer 6

1. musculoskeletal injury
2. mineral deficiency
3. toxic mastitis
4. toxic metritis

Question 7

You are called to a farm because a cow never stood back up after giving birth. The calf is dead. What is the cause of this?

Answer 7

calving paralysis
she may have had a history of dystocia. If you examine the calf, it probably has a swollen head and bruised gums and her vulva is probably swollen and bruised too.

Question 8

What is the BEST way to prevent compartmentalization syndrome in a cow with calving paralysis?

Answer 8

aqua cow
+ antiinflammatories (start with dexmethasone, then follow up with flunixin or meloxicam)

Question 9

Cattle can get spinal nerve damage from lymphosarcoma, disc disease, and spinal abscesses. What is the prognosis?

Answer 9

treatment is unrewarding so poor.

Question 10

____________ occurs when cattle are fed but they are not getting the nutrients to meet their energy demands due to low quality hay. This always occurs late gestation (7-9m).

Answer 10

starvation

if this occurs again, it is an animal welfare issue.

Question 11

When are spring calving beef cow’s energy requirements the HIGHEST? (range of months)

Answer 11

Feb-May
Make sure you are providing them with higher quality hay during this time because they need to support their energy requirements during late gestation

Question 12

Early harvested forage has low or high NDF?

Answer 12

LOW

later harvested forage is higher in NDF and ADF

Question 13

What 2 factors cause a cow to eat more due to an increase in energy requirements?

Answer 13

1. cold weather
2. lactation

Question 14

What happens when cattle are fed LOW quality forage?

Answer 14

the rumen is too FULL and passage is SLOW, so they decrease or stop the intake.

Thats why its important to provide high quality forage, so they will meet their energy demands by eating less and have ruminal reserve space for times when they need to increase their consumption (cold weather and lactation)

Question 15

Why is adding protein blocks to a cow’s diet NOT going to correct any energy deficiency?

Answer 15

the primary source of deficiency is ENERGY not protein.

Question 16

When does hypocalcemia typically occur?

Answer 16

within the first 24 hr post-calving

Question 17

What is the difference in the treatment for milk fever and grass tetany?

Answer 17

nothing, CMPK for both. you can add in oral Mg to grass tetany cases if needed.

Question 18

when does grass tetany typically occur?

Answer 18

2-5 days or 20-30 days post-calving

Question 19

If you have 2 cows with mineral deficiencies, how could you differentiate whether the deficiency is calium vs magensium based on clinical signs?

Answer 19

hypocalcemia cows are dull, down, and hypothermic

hypomagnesemia cows are staggering, down, and hyperesthetic.

Question 20

What can you do to prevent hypomagnesemia?

Answer 20

> 10% Mg mineral mix 1 month prior to calving

Question 21

when does winter tetany (def in Ca, Mg, and K) typically occur?
(think of the production cycle)

Answer 21

6-9 months gestation

Question 22

What causes winter tetany?

Answer 22

• poor quality hay
• hay grown during fast-growing conditions
• poor mineral avail.

Question 23

How do you treat winter tetany?

Answer 23

CMPK and an oral Ca-Mg-K supplement

Question 24

when does toxic mastitis usually occur?

Answer 24

+/- 3 days from calving

but less commonly can occur 2-3 days after weaning

Question 25

If a cow if getting up, going down, and getting back up repeatedly, what can you suspect is the issue?

Answer 25

ANEMIA

check for anaplasmosis. this disease is worse in adult cows than young.