Name:_____________________
Date:______________________
Class:______________________
Notes
Beef Health
Topic #3084
Ashlee Gibson
Objectives
 To identify general health symptoms
 To understand causes, signs, prevention, and control of different diseases
 To know ways and location to administer medicine
General Health Information
 Body Temperature
o Range of 100.5 F to 103 F (101.5 F)
o Taken rectally

Respiration
o Rate of breathing
o 10 to 30 breaths per minute

Heart Rate (Pulse)
o Regular throbbing caused in the arteries by the contractions of the heart.
o
When taking a pulse, count for 15 seconds and then multiply by four to
get a full minute reading.
o 40 to 70 beats per minute
General Signs of illness
 Head Down

Not alert

In the corner

Will not stand up

Coughing
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
Nasal or eye discharge

Diarrhea

Heavy Breathing

Rough coat

Change in body temperature
Respiratory Diseases

“Shipping Fever”
o Cause: Viral or Bacterial
o Sign: high fever, coughing, weight loss, diarrhea, nasal and eye
discharge, could cause abortion
o Prevention: Vaccination
o Control: Antibiotics

Example: IBR, BVD, BRSV, Pasteurella
Clostridial Diseases

Blackleg & Malignant Edema
o Cause: Organisms in soil that enter through mouth or open sore
o Signs: Swelling over heavy muscle areas. Gas bubbles and fluid beneath
skin
o Prevention: Vaccination
o Treatment: Penicillin
Digestive Diseases

Caused from incorrect feeding or rations
o Bloat: Gas build up in rumen

Cause: Rich Feeds

Sign: Bulge towards last rib and hip

Treatment: Take away feed, movement, in severe cases stomach
tube or puncture is needed
o Flounder
2

Cause: high concentration of feed

Sign: Limping

Treatment: Could lead to lameness
External Parasites

Flies, Lice, Mites, and Grubs
o Annoy and irritate and Transmit Disease
o Sign: Visible, rubbing, hair loss
o Control Face oilers dust bags, ear tags with insecticides, spraying or
dipping cattle with insecticides
Internal Parasites
o Roundworms, Tape worms, and Flukes
o Attach to wall of digestive tract
o Signs: Poor weight gain, rough hair coat, diarrhea or constipation
o Prevention and control: Dewormer
Other common diseases

Foot rot
o Cause: Bacteria enters through cut in hoof
o Sign: Limping
o Prevention: Keep pasture of feedlot clear of sharp objects and dry area
o Treatment: Antibiotics and/or foot wrap

Warts
o Cause: Virus
o Sign: Growth that looks like a cauliflower
o Prevention: Isolation of infected animals
o Treatment: Vaccines or manually remove

Ringworm
o Cause: Fungus
3
o Sign: Loss of hair
o Prevention: Isolate infected animals and keep area dry
o Treatment: Fungicides or sunlight

Pink eye
o Cause: Bacterial infection of the eye
o Sign: eye discharge, white dot in the middle of the eye
o Prevention Fly control, keep pen clean
o Treatment: Keep in cool, darkened pen, apply antibiotic ointments
Immunization

Pick the type of vaccine for diseases that need to be controlled

Some vaccinations prevent more than one disease
Ways to Administer Medicine

Intramuscular (IM)

Intranasal

Intravenous (IV)

Oral

Subcutaneous (Sub Q) Under the skin
Where to inject?
In front of shoulder, not in rear
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