metabolic disease in farm animals

METABOLIC DISEASES IN FARM ANIMALS

Metabolic disease- refers to a group of conditions caused by deficiencies in certain essential nutrients

  • in one or more of the following

  • fats

  • protein

  • carbohydrates

  • minerals

  • vitamins

  • water

commonly occur at high times of high physiological stress or demand for these nutrients

  • ex late pregnancy, early lactation

The signs of these conditions can overlap and look similar

  • can have more than one disease

KETOSIS- carbohydrate deficiency

  • affect primarily dairy cows

  • negative energy balance (use fat reserve)

Symptoms

  • loss appetite

  • weight loss

  • decreased milk production

  • acetone smell in breath-milk

  • nervous sign (aggression, excessive salivation)

  • dull coat

MILK FEVER- (hypocalcemia) mineral deficiency (low calcium)

  • affect dairy cows, (post-calving)

  • due to high demand for calcium during lactation

Symptoms

  • effect contraction/relaxation of muscles

  • weakness or inability to stand

  • muscle tremors

  • decreased milk production

  • loss of appetite

  • rapid breathing

Treatment, calcium drip, then increase calcium in feed

FATTY LIVER DISEASE (HEPATIC LIPIDOSIS)

  • It affects dairy cow, goats, and other ruminants

  • too much carbs and fats

  • overnutrition during late pregnancy or early lactation

  • fat accumulation in the liver

Symptoms

  • reduced appetite

  • weight loss

  • dull coat

  • decreased milk yield 

  • lethargy

HYPOMAGNESEMIA (GRASS TETANY) Spring disease

  • affect cattle, sheep, and goats

  • Magnesium deficiency is often seen in grazing on lush pastures with low magnesium content. 

Symptoms

  • muscle tremors

  • increase heart rate

  • convulsions

  • death if untreated

MILK OR LACTATION TETANY

  • calcium and magnesium deficiency 

  • affect dairy cows, early lactation period

Symptoms

  • restlessness

  • muscle tremors

  • incoordination

  • collapse

milk production 

- calcitonin- calcium in blood (from bone)

-parathyroid hormone (PTH)- calcium out of blood (to bone)

HYPOGLYCEMIA (low blood sugar)

  • affects mostly neonates or animals under stress

  • low blood sugar from inadequate intake

Symptoms

  • weakness

  • lethargy

  • tremors

  • collapse or death (severe cases)

RUMEN ACIDOSIS (ACIDOTIC DISEASE)

  • affect cattle, sheep, goats and sometimes pigs

  • consumption of high carbs, low fiber

  • overproduction of lactic acid in rumen

Symptoms

  • loss of appetite

  • diarrhea

  • bloating

  • lameness

NITRATE POISONING

  • Affects cattle, sheep, and goats

  • high levels of nitrates in forages or water (fertilizer or polluted water sources)

Symptoms

  • brown-colored mucus membrane

  • rapid breathing

  • lethargy

  • death (severe cases)

PARTURIENT PARESIS (POSTPARTUM PARALYSIS)

  • Affects dairy cows sheep and goats

  • occur immediately after calving

  • calcium or phosphorus deficiency

Symptoms

  • inability to stand

  • weakness

  • reduced appetite

TOXEMIA OF PREGNANCY (PREGNANCY TOXEMIA)

  • affect sheep and goats (late pregnancy)

  • poor nutrients or energy imbalance

  • fat mobilization and production of ketone bodies

Symptoms

  • decreased appetite

  • weakness, lethargy

  • coma death (severe cases)

anemia- deficiency in iron or vitamin B12, B6

robot