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The five M's of down cows
By Betsy Freese
Successful Farming Livestock Editor
2/22/2005, 11:14 AM CST
Consider this helpful rule when you examine a downer
The reasons a cow goes down are many, says veterinarian David Van Metre, Colorado State University. Errors in ration formulation or inadequate supplementation of range-fed animals can lead to malnutrition. Mixing of groups of animals may result in injuries due to fighting or mounting behavior. Ice, mud, smooth concrete, and steep slopes may cause healthy cattle to slip and fall.
Cattle that are down from musculoskeletal injuries are typically bright and alert. On the other hand, depression in a down animal is often a sign of severe disease.
When you first examine a downer, consider a helpful rule, says Van Metre: "Common things occur commonly." He has made a list of "The 5 M's of Down Cows" in order of how commonly they occur:
Mastitis
Metritis
Musculoskeletal / neurologic disease
Metabolic diseases
Massive sepsis
In this list, mastitis means severe mastitis, often with swelling and heat in the affected quarter, with the milk appearing watery or blood-tinged.
Cows affected by metritis that go down are usually toxic cases. Enlargement of the uterus with smelly, red-brown discharge is a classic finding.
Metabolic diseases includes disorders of minerals and electrolytes, as well as disorders of energy metabolism.
Massive sepsis is the least common condition, but needs prompt diagnosis, due to the the animals' suffering. Sepsis is often caused by a perforated ulcer, a rectal or uterine tear, or, rarely, hardware disease with abdominal contamination.
This leaves musculoskeletal/neurologic disease, a very large category. Severe, acute laminitis occasionally results in an affected animal being unable to rise. Vertebral fractures in cattle can occur as a result of breeding activity, entrapment of an animal in a fence or head catch, or improper handling in squeeze chutes. One of the most common examples is maternal obstetric paralysis, also known as calving paralysis. Arrest of the fetus within the pelvis may result in damaged nerves when the fetus compresses them against the pelvic bones of the cow.
Regardless of the cause, measures should be taken to prevent injury caused by attempts to stand, says Van Metre. The surrounding area should be cleared of any objects that might injure an unsteady animal during unsuccessful attempts to rise and walk. A deep bed of sand can be placed beneath the down-side hind limb and around the animal to provide padding and a non-slip surface. Frequent turning of the animal may help prevent pressure damage to the muscles and nerves of the down-side hind limb. Hip lifters and floatation tanks may aid in helping recumbent cattle to stand.
Move the patient, if necessary, to a safe and well-bedded area. You can do this by pulling the cow onto a plywood skid and dragging the skid to the desired area. In the summer, shade should be provided, and the animal should be placed in an area that provides air circulation for cooling. Sand is a good bedding material for downers; it drains well and allows for heat loss, particularly when shaded. A disadvantage of sand is abrasion; animals down for several days on a sand bed may develop ulcers or deep abrasions over pressure points. Grass or loose dirt makes satisfactory bedding as well.
Milking the down dairy cow should be performed at least once daily to monitor for mastitis while maintaining lactation. Rigid adherence to hygiene, teat dipping, and bedding management are necessary to reduce the likelihood of mastitis.
The most basic physical therapy for the down cow involves changing the down-side hindlimb on an hourly basis. Slings, when well designed, can work well. However, slings do not allow for several hours of comfortable standing, and may require frequent adjustment if the cow struggles while suspended.
Another therapy is a flotation tank. The cow is loaded onto a sturdy nylon and steel mat, and dragged by tractor into the open tank. The mat then becomes the floor of the floatation tank. The doors of the tank are closed to seal the cow inside, and warm water is used to help the cow to stand. Once the tank is full and the cow is standing in chin-deep water, the majority of the cow's weight is supported by water. At the end of the flotation period, which may last 8-12 hours, the water is drained. The cow is unloaded onto grass or dirt to provide adequate traction for her wet feet. Cows that are unable to stand are removed from the tank via the mat and moved to the bedding area. In a study of 70 recumbent cows, there was a success rate of 46% in returning cows to ambulation with a flotation tank. The greatest success rate was seen for calving paralysis (78%), with an average time to standing of 4.25 days for these animals. Cows down for less than a day required an average of 2.8 days to stand, while those down for two or more days required 5.3 days to stand.
Cows that stay down are now required by law to be euthanized rather than transported to market. There are no federal regulations for on-farm disposition of downer cattle. Veterinarians determine if a downer cow should be treated, euthanized, or tested for diseases such as BSE.
Take care.
By Betsy Freese
Successful Farming Livestock Editor
2/22/2005, 11:14 AM CST
Consider this helpful rule when you examine a downer
The reasons a cow goes down are many, says veterinarian David Van Metre, Colorado State University. Errors in ration formulation or inadequate supplementation of range-fed animals can lead to malnutrition. Mixing of groups of animals may result in injuries due to fighting or mounting behavior. Ice, mud, smooth concrete, and steep slopes may cause healthy cattle to slip and fall.
Cattle that are down from musculoskeletal injuries are typically bright and alert. On the other hand, depression in a down animal is often a sign of severe disease.
When you first examine a downer, consider a helpful rule, says Van Metre: "Common things occur commonly." He has made a list of "The 5 M's of Down Cows" in order of how commonly they occur:
Mastitis
Metritis
Musculoskeletal / neurologic disease
Metabolic diseases
Massive sepsis
In this list, mastitis means severe mastitis, often with swelling and heat in the affected quarter, with the milk appearing watery or blood-tinged.
Cows affected by metritis that go down are usually toxic cases. Enlargement of the uterus with smelly, red-brown discharge is a classic finding.
Metabolic diseases includes disorders of minerals and electrolytes, as well as disorders of energy metabolism.
Massive sepsis is the least common condition, but needs prompt diagnosis, due to the the animals' suffering. Sepsis is often caused by a perforated ulcer, a rectal or uterine tear, or, rarely, hardware disease with abdominal contamination.
This leaves musculoskeletal/neurologic disease, a very large category. Severe, acute laminitis occasionally results in an affected animal being unable to rise. Vertebral fractures in cattle can occur as a result of breeding activity, entrapment of an animal in a fence or head catch, or improper handling in squeeze chutes. One of the most common examples is maternal obstetric paralysis, also known as calving paralysis. Arrest of the fetus within the pelvis may result in damaged nerves when the fetus compresses them against the pelvic bones of the cow.
Regardless of the cause, measures should be taken to prevent injury caused by attempts to stand, says Van Metre. The surrounding area should be cleared of any objects that might injure an unsteady animal during unsuccessful attempts to rise and walk. A deep bed of sand can be placed beneath the down-side hind limb and around the animal to provide padding and a non-slip surface. Frequent turning of the animal may help prevent pressure damage to the muscles and nerves of the down-side hind limb. Hip lifters and floatation tanks may aid in helping recumbent cattle to stand.
Move the patient, if necessary, to a safe and well-bedded area. You can do this by pulling the cow onto a plywood skid and dragging the skid to the desired area. In the summer, shade should be provided, and the animal should be placed in an area that provides air circulation for cooling. Sand is a good bedding material for downers; it drains well and allows for heat loss, particularly when shaded. A disadvantage of sand is abrasion; animals down for several days on a sand bed may develop ulcers or deep abrasions over pressure points. Grass or loose dirt makes satisfactory bedding as well.
Milking the down dairy cow should be performed at least once daily to monitor for mastitis while maintaining lactation. Rigid adherence to hygiene, teat dipping, and bedding management are necessary to reduce the likelihood of mastitis.
The most basic physical therapy for the down cow involves changing the down-side hindlimb on an hourly basis. Slings, when well designed, can work well. However, slings do not allow for several hours of comfortable standing, and may require frequent adjustment if the cow struggles while suspended.
Another therapy is a flotation tank. The cow is loaded onto a sturdy nylon and steel mat, and dragged by tractor into the open tank. The mat then becomes the floor of the floatation tank. The doors of the tank are closed to seal the cow inside, and warm water is used to help the cow to stand. Once the tank is full and the cow is standing in chin-deep water, the majority of the cow's weight is supported by water. At the end of the flotation period, which may last 8-12 hours, the water is drained. The cow is unloaded onto grass or dirt to provide adequate traction for her wet feet. Cows that are unable to stand are removed from the tank via the mat and moved to the bedding area. In a study of 70 recumbent cows, there was a success rate of 46% in returning cows to ambulation with a flotation tank. The greatest success rate was seen for calving paralysis (78%), with an average time to standing of 4.25 days for these animals. Cows down for less than a day required an average of 2.8 days to stand, while those down for two or more days required 5.3 days to stand.
Cows that stay down are now required by law to be euthanized rather than transported to market. There are no federal regulations for on-farm disposition of downer cattle. Veterinarians determine if a downer cow should be treated, euthanized, or tested for diseases such as BSE.
Take care.
