Herd Bull w/ Digestive Problems

[smoky]

My 7 year old herd bull has kept the "runs", "squirts", or whatever you want to call it all summer long. He has looked thin this summer while with the cows, but has otherwise been healthy, including getting them bred. A few weeks back, I pulled him from the cows and began feeding him and he is still very loose stooled, kinda like when on ryegrass. None of the cows are like this.

I thought a couple of months back he may have had coccidiosis, because I thought I saw a little blood in the fecal matter. I took a fresh sample to my vet and they checked it and said it was normal.

Any thoughts? I'm sure his hollow, thin looking condition is the result of not getting proper nutriion from what he's eating. I would prefer to keep him another year as he is an extremely easy handling bull that throws some awesome calves.

Thanks for any replies,

Smoky

 

[msscamp]

What are you feeding him? How fast is he losing weight? When you took the stool sample to the vet, did they check for worms? Based on your post, the age of the bull, plus continous diarrhea, plus losing weight would be a red flag for the possibility of Johnes Disease.

 

[smoky]

Thanks for the reply. I have considered both Johnnes as well as BVD.

He is not losing weight as much as he's staying thin. He has stayed thin through the summer while on good pasture (cows are in good shape). He's been on a 12% ration mixed by our local co-op at about 7 lbs per day plus free range bahia. I was planning on feeding him up to about 15 lbs per day, but I was starting him slow on feed to let his gut adjust.

I also thought about trying some probiotics to aid in digestion.

Smoky

 

[MikeC]

Draw some blood and have a complete serology test.

De-worm him twice, two weeks apart.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Thanks for the reply. I have considered both Johnnes as well as BVD.

He is not losing weight as much as he's staying thin. He has stayed thin through the summer while on good pasture (cows are in good shape). He's been on a 12% ration mixed by our local co-op at about 7 lbs per day plus free range bahia. I was planning on feeding him up to about 15 lbs per day, but I was starting him slow on feed to let his gut adjust.

I also thought about trying some probiotics to aid in digestion.

Smoky

like mike said get some blood drawn

 

[TheBullLady]

Even though the immediate Johnes infected cow is gone, you're going to need to watch your herd carefully from now on for others with symptoms. Keep in mind, the 7 year old cow has been spreading the disease in her feces for that many years. Generally cattle in close quarters pass it easier, since they lay in the feces and calves nurse the dirty udders, but it can still spread.

 

[milkmaid]

Baxter78

Sounds to me like you are doing the right thing by taking a proactive approach. Your doing the right thing by having your whole herd tested. Keep testing them if any turn up positive until you no longer have any positives. Then once you have no positives I believe for 5 years you can be come a certified free herd. Good Luck



TNMASTERBEEFPRODUCER

Thanks TN. You are correct brother I like to take a proactive approach on things. Even though the vet said the likelyhood is slim that any of the other cattle would have it I am still having them all tested as it will help me sleep better at night.

Baxter78

Am I the only one who sees similiarities in these two posts?

Also, this obviously isn't the "Baxter Black, DVM" whose writings in the Western Horseman that I'm familiar with.