WA Livestock Disease Outlook - April 2013 - Agric.wa.gov.au
WA Livestock Disease Outlook - April 2013 - Agric.wa.gov.au
WA Livestock Disease Outlook - April 2013 - Agric.wa.gov.au
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In late <strong>au</strong>tumn be on the lookout for...<br />
<strong>Disease</strong><br />
Pregnancy toxaemia in<br />
ewes<br />
Hypocalcaemia<br />
in ewes<br />
Salmonellosis<br />
Calf scours<br />
Usually affects late-pregnant ewes.<br />
Typical history and signs<br />
Affected ewes typically separate from the flock and appear blind.<br />
Over a few days they lie down, develop muscle twitching and die.<br />
Read more here or search ‘pregnancy toxaemia’ at agric.<strong>wa</strong>.<strong>gov</strong>.<strong>au</strong><br />
Usually affects ewes in late pregnancy or early lactation, often after stressful<br />
events.<br />
May be seen in sheep grazing cereal regrowth or high oxalate pastures.<br />
Typically c<strong>au</strong>ses sudden onset uncoordinated gait with muscle tremors and<br />
death within 24 hours.<br />
Read more here or search ‘hypocalcaemia’ at agric.<strong>wa</strong>.<strong>gov</strong>.<strong>au</strong><br />
Most common in intensively farmed livestock.<br />
C<strong>au</strong>ses profuse diarrhoea. Sheep may be found dead and pregnant ewes may<br />
abort.<br />
Stress and high stocking density are common precursors to an outbreak.<br />
Read more here or search ‘salmonellosis’ at agric.<strong>wa</strong>.<strong>gov</strong>.<strong>au</strong><br />
Typically affects young calves in late <strong>au</strong>tumn and early winter.<br />
Commonly c<strong>au</strong>sed by viruses (e.g. rotavirus), protozoa (e.g. cryptosporidium)<br />
or bacteria (e.g. salmonella or E. coli).<br />
Calves can quickly dehydrate so it is important to provide supportive care.<br />
Read more here or search ‘calf scours’ at agric.<strong>wa</strong>.<strong>gov</strong>.<strong>au</strong><br />
For more information about these diseases, contact your private veterinarian or local Department of<br />
<strong>Agric</strong>ulture and Food (DAF<strong>WA</strong>) veterinary officer.<br />
If you notice any unusual signs of disease in your stock or have unexpected stock deaths, contact your<br />
private veterinarian, local DAF<strong>WA</strong> veterinary officer or phone the Emergency Animal <strong>Disease</strong> hotline on<br />
1800 675 888.<br />
Would you recognise foot-and-mouth disease in your cattle?<br />
Australia has not had an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for over 100 years, but it is<br />
important we do not become complacent. Farmers and all other people who work with livestock need to<br />
know what FMD looks like and report any suspect animals immediately.<br />
Signs of FMD in cattle include:<br />
severe depression, lack of appetite<br />
a sudden drop in milk yield<br />
sudden death in young calves<br />
reluctance to move progressing to severe lameness<br />
copious drooling and lip smacking<br />
blisters may be visible in the mouth and on the lips and around the top of the foot but are often not<br />
obvious until they rupture.<br />
If you suspect FMD, immediately contact your veterinarian, local DAF<strong>WA</strong> veterinary officer or phone<br />
the Emergency Animal <strong>Disease</strong> hotline on 1800 675 888. The faster the disease is detected, the faster<br />
it can be eradicated and the lower the social and economic impact of the disease.<br />
For more information on FMD click here or search ‘FMD’ at agric.<strong>wa</strong>.<strong>gov</strong>.<strong>au</strong><br />
DAF<strong>WA</strong> welcomes your feedback on <strong>WA</strong>LDO. Please provide comments to katie.webb@agric.<strong>wa</strong>.<strong>gov</strong>.<strong>au</strong>.<br />
Disclaimer: The Chief Executive Officer of the Department of <strong>Agric</strong>ulture and Food and the State of Western<br />
Australia accept no responsibility whatsoever by reason of negligence or otherwise arising from the use or<br />
release of this information or any part of it.