Calling a vet to investigate disease protects our marketsThe WA Livestock Disease Outlook provides information about recent livestock disease cases in Western Australia and diseases likely to occur in the next month. Calling a vet to investigate diseases when they occur provides surveillance evidence to our markets that we are free of reportable and trade-sensitive diseases. |
Recent livestock disease cases in WA
Deaths in cattle fed vegetable scraps
- In a mob of 18 cattle, seven died and six had breathing difficulties.
- The cattle had been fed vegetable scraps from a supermarket (including sweet potatoes), wheat stubble, hay and pellets.
- Lab testing showed a severe pneumonia with emphysema. Toxic interstitial pneumonia was diagnosed, likely due to consumption of mouldy sweet potatoes.
- Sweet potatoes can be colonised by a fungus which causes production of the toxin, 4-ipomeanol. The toxin results in severe respiratory problems when eaten by cattle and can cause sudden deaths.
- Waste vegetables may be a source of contamination not only for toxins but also animal matter. Food that is contaminated with animal matter is restricted animal material and is illegal to feed to ruminants in Australia.
Respiratory signs and sudden death in Droughtmaster cattle in the Midwest
- A total of 14 Droughtmaster cattle from a mob of 180 died suddenly within 7-10 days of being moved onto an oat stubble paddock with others showing respiratory and neurological signs.
- Deaths stopped when cattle were moved to another paddock.
- The cattle showed no further signs until fed hay cut from the oat stubble paddock. Several days later, 20 cattle died. Sheep fed the same hay were unaffected.
- Testing of the hay samples showed moderate and high risk of annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT). A faecal test from one of the dead cattle was also positive for ARGT.
- Differential diagnoses: bovine spongiform encephalopathy (exotic) in animals showing neurological signs, thiamine deficiency, grass tetany. Discuss with your DPIRD vet subsidies available for testing where signs may be similar to exotic diseases such as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
- Paddock management strategies to reduce the risk of ARGT in livestock include hay testing prior to feeding out, managing grazing of the paddock to remove seed-heads before they become toxic, controlling the ryegrass or sowing a safe ryegrass variety. Read more on these control strategies.
In autumn, watch for these livestock diseases:
Disease, typical history and signs |
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Gastrointestinal worms in cattle
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Pregnancy toxaemia in ewes
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Calf scours
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Foot-and-mouth disease in sheep – would you recognise the signs?
An outbreak of the exotic disease, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), in Australia would be devastating to our producers and economy. Being aware of the signs of FMD and knowing how to report them is important for every producer and vet. In cattle, FMD can cause blisters on the mouth, tongue, feet and teats, lameness, drooling and unwillingness to rise. In sheep however the signs can be quite subtle and may only result in mild lameness but can also cause blisters on the mouth and coronary band.
If you see signs that are similar to FMD in your livestock, call the emergency animal disease hotline on 1800 675 888 or contact your vet.
Protect your livestock markets: call a vet when animals are sick
Australia’s ability to sell livestock and livestock products depends on evidence from our surveillance systems that we are free of livestock diseases that are reportable or affect trade. Data from livestock disease investigations provide evidence that WA is free from these diseases and supports our access to markets.
Read more about animal health surveillance in WA or watch the video.
Feedback and subscriptions
We welcome feedback. To provide comments to the monthly email newsletter, WA livestock disease outlook, email waldo@dpird.wa.gov.au. To subscribe or to see previous issues, see the archive page.