large animals

what is an ewe?

adult female sheep

what is a Ram?

an adult male sheep

what is a wether?

a castrated male sheep, often raised for meat.

what is yearling ewe called?

A young female sheep aged between one and two years, often not yet had offspring.

what is a neonate?

a lamb

what is castrated neonate called?

werther lamb

what is an intact male sheep neonate called?

It is called a ram lamb.

what is a female lamb called?

ewe lamb

what is the act of parturition in sheep called?

The act of parturition is called lambing.

what are adult female goats called?

Doe/nanny

what are adult male goats called?

Buck/Billy

what are castrated male goats called?

Castrated male goats are called wethers.

what are immature female goats called?

yearling doe

What are neonate goats?

kids

what are intact male neonate goats?

buck kid

What are female baby goats called?

Doe kid

what is the act of parturition called in goats?

Is called kidding

what is the normal temperature for sheep and goats?

101-104 F

what is the normal Pulse rate for sheep and goats?

12-25 breaths per minute

Breed distinctions for sheep?

fiber and meat

Breed distinctions for goats?

Dairy, meat and fiber

What is used for Scrapie Identification in small ruminants and what is Scrapie?

• The national Scrapie Eradication Program ( NSEP) requires ear tags on sheep and goats that are transported from their farm origin ( with some exceptions for animals traveling directly to slaughter).

• Scrapie is an incurable, fatal, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system of sheep and goats.

• federal and state regulators require producers to officially identify their sheep and goats under the NSEP

• The ID tags must indicate flock of origin for tracking purposes

Is detecting Scrapie difficult?

• yes it is difficult to detect

• it can take 2- 5years for clinical signs to develop, and requires brain tissue to detect. ( can only be detected post mortem)

• incidence of scrapie has decreased dramatically in the us since the early 2000

Rumen contractions

• are very important for digestion and overall health of ruminants. They facilitate the mixing of ingested feed with saliva and support the fermentation process in the stomach.

• listen for the contractions

• sounds like a growling in the gut that gets louder

• should have 1-2 contractions per minute

how many rumen contractions should be heard per minute

1-2 contractions

Rumination

movement of swallowed ingesta back to the oral cavity for additional chewing and mixing with saliva

Regurgitation

The process of transporting reticulorumen contents back to the oral cavity

Eructation

Removal of gas produced by Fermentation

What is the purpose of rumen contractions?

1. mix reticulorumen contents before moving to omasum. This is the mixing or primary contractions

2. Enable regurgitation of rumen contents back to the mouth as part of the rumination process. this is the rumination contractions

3. Enable removal of fermentation gasses by eructation. Eructation or secondary contractions

Where do you listen for the rumen contractions?

The left paralumbar fossa

Blood collection and medication administration in sheep

Venipuncture

jugular blood draw is performed standing up

cephalic blood draw performed in a set up position not used frequently

Oral administration with a balling gun ( drenching)

Subcutaneous injection ( axilla and flank fold)

intramuscalr ijection is given in the lateral cervical muscles, longissimus musc

Barber pole worm ( haemonchus contortus)

• A serious threat to small ruminants worldwide

• highly pathogenic, blood feeding worm

• causes acute anemia in lambs and kids causes bottle jaw due to hypoproteinemia, death, chronic weight loss in adult

What Parasite causes this?

Barber pole worm ( haemonchus contortus)

Why are cattle and small ruminants dehorned

Dehorning improves the safety of herd mates and personnel and improves operational efficiency

What are polled Breeds

Breeds of cattle naturally lacking horns, allowing for safer herd interactions and management practices.

Goats poll gene is linked to what

Hermaphroditism

what is disbudding

• A procedure performed on young calves or kids to prevent horn growth, typically involving the removal of horn buds.

• Animals are conscious during the procedure, but they can be sedated

• Local anesthetic is applied for pain management

When should disbudding be performed?

• Should be done in animals as young as possible, as the fully developed horn contains the cornual diverticulum of the frontal sinus

• happens after 6 months of age

• if an adult animal is dehorned, it can create a hole to the sinus cavity

Local anesthesia for cattle during dehorning

• In cattle, the cornual nerve block is used

• one site

local anesthesia in goats for dehorning

• cornual branches of lacrimal and intratracheal nerves

• two sites are used

The landmarks for cornual nerve block

Midway between the lateral canthus of the eye and the base of the horn, along the ridge of frontal bone

Mechanical/physical dehorning

• Barnes dehorning tool is an example

• that uses mechanical force to remove horns, typically performed to minimize animal injuries and improve management.

Thermal/casuistic dehorning

• Thermal: Involves using heat to destroy horn tissue and prevent regrowth, often employing a thermal cautery tool. With this method, there is no surviving tissue that creates the horn

  • minimizes blood loss

• Caustic dehorning: a paste is applied to the horn bud and causes tissue necrosis

castration of sheep and goats

• Typically done in the first week of life

• Many different methods

  • Surgical: scrotal incision/clamp and cut with emasculator

  • Elastrator: causes necrosis and sloughing

  • Emasculator: a clamp.

Cesarean section in ruminates

• A surgical procedure used to deliver offspring when vaginal birth is not possible, often performed in cases of dystocia or complications during labor.

• The rumen is easier to manipulate than the rest of the intestinal tract, so cesarean sections are done in the left paralumbar fossa in ruminants

• Done using the left flank approach and the inverted L block

  • left side is used due to how big the Gi tract is to minimize complications and allow access to the uterus.

Tail docking in lambs

• is performed to prevent fly strike due to fecal soiling and to maintain hygiene in sheep management. The procedure may involve cutting the tail to a certain length or using a rubber ring to constrict blood flow.

• When the tail is docked too short, there is a higher incidence of rectal prolapse

• The band should be placed distal to the tail folds

• Performed within 24 hours of life

• The methods that are used are similar to castration methods

  • rubber ring

  • docking iron

  • emasculators

  • burizzo/crushing blade

    • Analgesia is provided by local anesthetics and NSAIDS

Rumen Acidosis ( grain overload)

• Overconsumption of carbohydrates causes an overgrowth of bacteria in the rumen, lowering the pH.

• It can be life-threatening or subclinical

• Happens more often in sheep than goats

  • Symptoms: discomfort, teeth grinding, rumen stasis, and possible sudden death

• treatment:

  • Supportive care (IV fluids)

  • Surgery ( rumenotomy, go into the rumen and take everything out)

Bloat

• Accumulation of Frothy gas bubbles in the rumen that cannot be eructated; sometimes it is simply free gas bloat

• often due to the consumption of lush, legume pastures ( alfalfa)

  • characteristics: left-sided abdominal distension and labored breathing

  • treatment: passage of an orogastric tube ( into the rumen) and administration of anti-frothing agents or rumen fistula

• Frothy bloat is seen with alfalfa

Listeriosis

• An abnormally elevated pH in the rumen can allow Gram-positive bacteria to multiply; Listeria monocytogenes can proliferate and cause neurological symptoms and late-term abortions in ewes

  • characteristic circling

  • Small ruminants are particularly susceptible

  • Treatment: Procaine penicillin G and supportive care

parturient Paresis ( milk fever, hypocalemia)

• This is an acute onset of hypocalcemia

• can occur before or after parturition

• Caused by inadequate calcium intake during late pregnancy ( a time of increased calcium requirements by the ewe/doe)

  • Symptoms: weak hind limbs, decreased rumen motility, decreased rumen contractility

  • Treatment: IV calcium gluconate + oral calcium

Calcium’s role in the production of milk

Secretion of calcium into the milk exceeds the capacity for absorption from the intestine, and mobilization from the skeleton is not fast enough to replace what is lost in the milk

polioencephalomalacia ( pem/thiamine deficiency/polo syndrome)

• This is a neurological condition in ruminants caused by a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1), leading to changes in the brain's gray matter.

• Ruminants rely on rumen microbes to produce thiamine! They don’t get it from their diet

• Sulfur intake, low rumen pH, and certain pastures interfere with the production of thiamine by rumen microbes

• Causes acute blindness, stargazing, head pressing, recumbency

• Common in sheep and goats

what is the treatment for polioencephalomalacia?

• Thiamine ( vitamin B1) 10mg/kg IV as the initial dose, then given every 6-8 hours SC

• Dexamethasone .2mg/kg IV once for cerebral edema

Pregnancy toxemia ( ketosis)

• Affects late-pregnant ewes and does due to inadequate energy intake, leading to fat mobilization and resulting in increased ketone bodies in the bloodstream.

• About 80% of fetal growth occurs in the final weeks of pregnancy, which requires a tremendous amount of energy ( glucose); fat stores are mobilized for gluconeogenesis

• Reduced feed intake in the dam due to enlargement of the uterus causes ketone production as an alternative energy source

• Because the sheep is using ketones as an energy source, it ends up in hypoglycemia

  • Fat females and females carrying multiple fetuses are most susceptible

• Treatment: oral administration of propylene glycol ( converted into glucose precursors in the rumen and the liver, leading to an increase in blood glucose)

What is the problem with the body producing ketone bodies

• if they are produced by the liver faster than the body can utilize them for energy, they accumulate in the blood

• The blood then becomes acidic; then we can see cerebral swelling

Urinary calculi ( urolithiasis)

• This affects male sheep and goats, especially wethers

• Urinary stones lodge in the urethra and prevent urination

• Straining to urinate = immediate veterinary attention ( bladder can rupture)

• Proper calcium: phosphorus ratio in diet is crucial for prevention ( at least 2:1)

• retrograde urinary catheterization not possible

• Treatment: surgery ( tube cystostomy is better than a perineal urethrostomy)

white muscle disease ( nutritional myopathy)

• white muscle disease is a nutritional myopathy found in all large animals, including sheep and goats

• Caused by a deficiency of selenium +/- vitamin E

• Clinical signs include muscle stiffness, ill thirst, and cardiopulmonary signs due to all the skeletal muscles and cardiac muscles being affected

• Young rapidly growing animals are the most affected

• Treatment: supplement selenium and vitamin E

azalea toxicity in goats

• Grayanotoxin is a neurotoxin found in plants in the rhododendron family

• Blocks voltage-gated sodium channels, causing neurologic symptoms and cardiac rhythm disturbances

• Goats are particularly sensitive to small quantities

• Goats will preferentially graze on ornamental azalea plants ( commonly found in the environment of pet goats)

Contagious ecthyma ( orf, soremouth)

• Most common skin disease in sheep and goats caused by a virus in the pox family ( parapoxvirus)

• Lesions are typically found on the lips and nostrils but also eyelids, teats, udders, and feet

• Increased severity in young animals

• Can confirm diagnosis with PCR testing

• No effective treatment; self-limiting; recovered animals will be highly resistant

• Zoonotic disease transmissible to humans

Vaccination protocols for sheep and goats

• Kids and lambs

  • Clostridium perfringens type C and D, and Clostridium tetani (CD and T) given at 4- 6 weeks of age

  • tetanus toxoid should be administered at the time of tail docking at 2 weeks if dam was not vaccinated

• does and Ewes before breeding

  • clostridium perferinges type C and D and Clostridium tetani

• abortive disease: Campylobacter fetus, chlamydia psittici

• caseous lymphadenitis

intact male cow

Bull

castrated male cow

Steer

young male cow

bullock, bull calf

female cow

Cow

female cow that has never been breed

Heifer

Newborn cow

Calf

cow act of giving birth

Calving

to calve and begin new lactation period

freshen

How can cattle be ID

tags, collars, leg bands, tattoo, brand

Cattle temp

100-102.5

cattle pulse rate

40-80 minutes

cattle respiratory rate

10-30 breaths per min

Cattle are moved by herding/ driving. how is that performed

• voice

• Proper body position ( be aware of pressure points)

• Whip

• Paddle

• electric rod

Considerations when moving cattle

• Move in a slow, controlled manner to prevent them from being startled

• Any change in light can make them leary

• Be aware of cow/calve separation

Cow kick

• Cows can kick 6-8 feet

• When kicking with the hind limbs, it starts as a forward motion, circles laterally, then goes out behind the animal

• Creates a sideways half-circle sweep

• They can reach as far forward as their shoulder with their hind limbs

Head chute

• Usually used for beef cattle and bulls

• to restrain and immobilize them during handling, examinations, or veterinary procedures.

• The body is shut in a chute

Stanchion

• A device used to hold cattle in place, typically for feeding or milking. It confines the animal's head and neck, allowing for safe handling and management.

• Usually used in dairy cows

• Only the head is held in place

nose lead or tongs

• A device used for controlling a cow's direction and movement by applying pressure to the nose. It is typically made of metal or heavy-duty nylon and is often employed in handling and managing cattle.

• Can be used on all cattle except calves

nose ring

• A device inserted through the nasal septum of a cow, usually used for controlling and leading the animal. It allows handlers to manage cattle by applying pressure on the nose, similar to a nose lead.

• It is commonly used for larger cattle and facilitates easier handling during various procedures.

ropes

can be used for added restraint for procedures

tail jacking

• A method used to control cattle by lifting and applying pressure to the tail. This technique helps to manage the animal's movement and can be beneficial during procedures, ensuring safety for both the handler and the animal.

• can be used on all cows

Flanking

• used in calves

• calf is placed in a recumbent position

Casting

• A restraint technique used primarily on large animals, especially cattle, involving the use of ropes to immobilize the animal by rolling it onto its side or back. This method provides control and is often utilized for veterinary care.

Body condition scoring in cows

• A system used to evaluate the nutritional status and overall health of cows by assessing their body fat and muscle condition. This scoring helps in managing diets, breeding decisions, and overall herd management.

• Indicates energy balance and helps to identify underweight or overweight animals.

• Has a scale of 1 to 5 with increments of 0.25

  • BCS 1= emaciated cow

  • BCS 3 = average body condition

  • BCS 5= excessively fat

What areas are used to evaluate a cow’s BCS

• Rump/ pelvic area

• tailhead

• hooks

• pins

• thurl

• lion

• ribs

• spine

Where is the V angle formed on the cow

formed between the hooks, the thurl, and pins

Where is blood taken on a cow

• coccygeal vein

• jug vein ( skin in this area is thicker than expected)

• subcutaneous abdominal milk vein ( not used often due to hematoma formation)

Brachiocephalicus

dorsal border of the jugular groove

sternocephalicus

ventral border of the jugular groove

What to do when milk sampling

1. Palpate the udder and teat for signs of mastitis

2. Wash; treat with a sanitizing solution

3. Dry the teat thoroughly

4. Sliding pinch technique to strip milk from within the teat canal

5. Release and return fingers to the base of the teat

California mastitis test ( CMT)

• One of the most commonly used field tests to identify individual cows affected with mastitis

• basis for the test is that inflammation in the udder stimulates migration of white blood cells into the affected glands

• DNA released from cells in the milk is detected by the reagent used in the CMT

  • Each quarter is milked into a separate paddle cup

  • Reagent added in equal volume to milk

  • Gently rotate the paddle to swirl contents

  • Read the test in 10 seconds

• Changes in consistency = somatic cell count (SCC)

• changes in color = change in PH

• alkaline/normal = purple, acidic/abnormal = yellow

Balling gun

used for tablets and boluses

Drench

used for oral suspension

Rumen intubation requires what

requires a Frick speculum

Where to not inject SQ and IM injections

The gluteal or hamstring muscles, there is a risk of sciatic nerve injury

Intramammary infusions

are administered directly into the mammary gland for treating mastitis.

Hoof trimming in cattle

• The bovine hoof wall grows about 5mm/month and requires trimming to facilitate a flat, level weight-bearing surface

• Trimming allows for inspection for abscesses, foot rot, and lesions in the interdigital cleft

• Application of a hoof block on the healthy claw can relieve weight bearing on the diseased claw

Euth methods

1. IV injection of barbiturates ( requires caution with carcass disposal)

2. IV injection of potassium chloride while under general anesthesia

3. Penetrating captive bolt ( must be used by trained personnel )

4. Conditionally acceptable techniques

   1. IV injection with chloral hydrate while under sedation

   2. gunshot to the head

   3. electrocution after animal is rendered unconscious by another method

Caudal epidural analgesia

• For obstetrical procedures and prolapses

• First intercoccygeal space

• 1 mL lidocaine per 100 kg body weight

Intravenous regional analgesia (Bier block)

• is a technique that provides analgesia to a specific limb by injecting a local anesthetic into the venous system while restricting blood flow with a tourniquet.

• IV injection of local anesthetic distal to a previously placed tourniquet

• Up to 30 mls of 2% lidocaine can be used

• Tourniquet should not be left on for longer than 2 hours ( should be released slowly)