Cow carrion disease is an epidemic disease with a high incidence, the disease has seasonal characteristics, it is better to occur in the rainy season, through the statistics found that the incidence of a dairy herd can reach up to 40%. After the cow is infected with the disease, the cow's hoof is damaged, and the hoof cannot bear the weight of the cow's body, which in turn forms a restriction on the movement of the cow, reduces the milk production of the cow, and makes the cow in the milk production period eliminated, resulting in economic losses for farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research on the epidemiology, clinical diagnosis and prevention and control measures of cow carrion disease, so as to form the prevention and effective treatment of the disease, and to ensure the health of the limbs and hooves of dairy cows.
1 Epidemiological analysis
1.1 Prevalence surveys
Conduct an epidemiological survey of cattle carried out for dairy cattle breeding in a certain place, obtained the first-hand investigation data of the disease, selected multiple dairy farmers in a certain place, randomly sampled the limbs and hooves of 200 cows, and found that there were 32 cows with cow rot hoof disease, with a high incidence.
1.2 Prevalence analysis
At this stage, cattle hoof rot has become the second largest type of disease in dairy cows, which has a negative impact on the efficiency of dairy farming. Affected by the natural environment and climatic conditions of the region, the incidence of the disease varies from region to region. Moreover, the disease tends to occur in the wet and rainy season, such as high temperature and rainy summer, wet barn, coupled with inadequate feeding management, unqualified health conditions in cow houses, which will increase the incidence of carrion disease in dairy cows. In the case of dairy farms, the incidence of the disease increases to 40% in the other three seasons, in addition to the lower incidence in winter. In addition, the disease occurs in dairy cattle groups, there is no age limit, but it has the characteristics of fetal frequency, usually in 2-4 births, the incidence is higher, and has a certain relationship with cattle breeds, German cattle are not easy to develop, and Simmental cattle have a higher incidence.
2 Clinical diagnosis
2.1 Clinical manifestations
At the beginning of the disease, the cow's hind hooves are unstable, dare not step on the ground, often lift the back hooves, the cow's movement is restricted; after the cow stands, frequent hoof changes, irritability, and the limb and hoof joints are bent, can not remain upright, the cow's hooves hit the ground; through the observation of its walking, it is found that the affected hooves have lame performance, and the crown of the cow's hooves has a painful feeling. In the later stages of the disease, the severely ill cows will show a "three-legged jump", the hooves can no longer step on the ground, which will affect the feed intake, the lack of nutrient supply will promote the gradual decline in milk production, and the cattle will gradually lose weight. Once the sick cattle are lying on the ground for a long time, it is more difficult to stand, and they need to be eliminated.
2.2 Clinical examination
The use of cattle body preservation device to fix the cow, and then hoisting its hoof for clinical examination, knocking on the hoof, the sick cow has painful manifestations, the side hoof horn damage is small, the bottom of the hoof with a knife to cut open the examination, will find that there are many small holes, after squeezing hard, the small hole will flow out of the black liquid, accompanied by a putrid odor. Using forceps, we go deep into the hole and find that the condition has progressed to the part of the hoof, and if it continues to develop, it will detach from the skin.
3 Treatment
3.1 Disinfection
After the cattle body is preserved, the hoof is hoisted and fixed, the hoof is first cleaned, then the spoilage of the affected area is removed, then the 0.5% potassium permanganate is used for disinfection, and finally the hoof is soaked with 20% copper sulfate fungicide, and the soaking is more than 10min.
3.2 Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory
After the completion of the disinfection of the cow's hoof, the hoof should be antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. One is to use penicillin, cod liver oil, distilled water to make a mixture of drugs, apply to the affected area of dairy cows, once a day, for 8 days; the second is to use potassium permanganate, sulfa into a powder, apply to the affected area, use gauze to wrap the hooves, once a day, for about 7 days. In the process of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment, in order to prevent the affected hooves from being affected by the contaminants of the cow house, a plastic bag should be used to wrap it after being medicated to prevent the contaminants in the barn from delaying the recovery speed of the affected hooves.
4 Prevention and control points
4.1 Nutrition should be comprehensive
Cows in the milk production period need more nutrients to meet the needs of their body metabolism, need to increase calcium, phosphorus, protein, vitamins and other substances in the feed, and increase their exercise, receive sufficient exposure to sunlight, in order to promote the synthesis of vitamin D in their bodies and enhance the resistance of the cow body.
4.2 Strengthen barn management
It is necessary to keep the barn clean and hygienic, remove the feces and sewage in the barn in time, keep the barn floor dry, and check all the active areas of the cow to avoid the presence of sharp objects on the surface and cause damage to the hooves.
4.3 Regular care of cow hooves
Every 6 months, all cows' hooves are repaired, and farmers should observe and check the hooves of dairy cows at any time in order to detect the disease in time, and timely treatment in the early stage of the onset of putrefaction in dairy cows can obtain good treatment results.
4.4 Preserve a good environment
The wet living environment of dairy cows is the main cause of carrion disease in dairy cows, farmers should pay close attention to weather changes, do a good job of moisture-proof work in the barn, and can also set up the barn in a dry position, like the hillside of the rising sun.
4.5 The breeding density should be reasonable
Usually 1.2 heads/m2, it provides enough space for cow activities, and it is necessary to achieve reasonable grouping, according to the different age groups of cows, so that cows can grow healthily in a good spatial environment.
5 Heilongjiang is a major dairy farming province, in recent years the incidence of rotten hoof disease in dairy cows remains high, and it tends to occur in the rainy and wet season. After the cow is infected with the disease, although it will not cause death, but its hooves are damaged, the movement is restricted, affecting the intake of its feed, and then reducing the milk production of the cow, the long-term non-healing is bound to increase the cost of treatment, and the proportion of eliminated is relatively large, bringing great economic losses to farmers, and also seriously affecting the healthy development of local dairy cows. In order to reduce the losses caused by the disease, farmers need to analyze the epidemiology of the disease in depth, and can make a correct diagnosis after the cow has fallen ill, as well as effective treatment, to help the cows improve the speed of recovery. In addition, dairy cattle hoof rot disease is the focus on prevention, farmers can strengthen the daily feeding management, and according to the epidemic characteristics of the disease, clarify the main points of prevention and control, and develop an effective prevention and control plan, which can reduce the incidence of the disease.
Author: Li Zejun Deputy Senior Veterinarian Mainly engaged in animal husbandry and veterinary work