Livestock Nutritional Diseases Webquest (CLF3156)
Name: ____________________________
Date:
____________________________
Period:
____________________________
Udder Disaster!
www.cartoonstock.com
Old McDonald had a farm and on that farm there were some cows. You are Mr. McDonald’s
trusty veterinarian and you receive a call from him early this morning. Three of his cows are very
sick! You rush to the farm and find that each cow is having different symptoms. One cow looks
more critical than the others, but each one needs your help as soon as possible!
Instructions:
First, use your web resources to diagnose each cow with their respective nutritional disease
and give evidence to support your conclusions. Second, decide in which order you will treat the
cows and explain why. Third, come up with a plan of action. Describe, in detail, how you will
treat the individual cows, explain their recovery processes and determine the outlook for each.
When describing their outlooks, please make a recommendation for each cow on if treatment is
a practical option. Last, develop a prevention plan for the herd that Mr. McDonald can use to
help prevent these nutritional diseases in his cattle in the future.
After you have completed your individual assignment, gather into groups of three to discuss
your findings. If your answers differ, compare your evidences and come to a consensus on a
diagnosis. Prepare to present and prove your findings to the rest of the class at the end of the
period.
Created by AgEd 410, Spring 2013 - Lori Sanborn and Kirsti Whitmyre
1
Livestock Nutritional Diseases Webquest (CLF3156)
Case Studies:
Old Bessy:
The first cow you come upon is lying on her side in her stall. She struggles to a standing
position, staggers and falls back down again. Old McDonald informs you that she just recently
calved. You take her temperature and it is below normal. Although she is eating, she seems
very weak. As you continue to watch her, you notice that she continues to turn her head and
hold it over her right shoulder.
Miss Daisy:
The second cow you examine is a yearling heifer. The first thing you notice about her is her
body condition. She is extremely emaciated, unusual for a dairy cow that isn’t lactating and has
never calved. You look closer and notice her oddly shaped joins. Her legs seem to be bowing at
the knees and she is walking stiffly. You ask about her eating habits and Old McDonald informs
you that she has been off her feed for several weeks.
Little Susie-Lou:
The last cow you are asked to see is an eight-week-old dairy heifer-calf. Although young, the
calf is small for it’s age. You notice some emaciation and ask about it’s appetite—Old McDonald
informs you that the calf rarely nurses. You run your hand down her back and notice that her
coat is coarse and that there is some swelling behind her shoulders. You decide to check her
gums and they are pale and yellow.
Nutritional Diseases to choose from:Diseases may not be used more than once.
Osteomalacia
Stiff-Lamb Disease
Night Blindness
Milk Fever
Anemia
Goiter
Selenium Poisoning
Urinary Calculi
Nitrate Poisoning
Web Resources:
 http://www.thecattlesite.com/diseaseinfo/212/fatty-liver-syndrome
 http://www.thebeefsite.com/articles/1926/beef-cattle-nutritional-disorders
 http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/management_and_nutrition/nutrition_cattle/nutrition_
and_disease_in_dairy_cattle.html
 http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/Animals-feed-and-environment/Animal-health/Animalhealth-fast-facts/Downer-cows.aspx
 http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/agriculture/pests-diseases-and-weeds/animal-diseases/beefand-dairy-cows
 http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/index.html
Created by AgEd 410, Spring 2013 - Lori Sanborn and Kirsti Whitmyre
2
Livestock Nutritional Diseases Webquest (CLF3156)
Diagnosis:
Old Bessy’s disease:
Evidence:
Miss Daisy’s disease:
Evidence:
Little Susie-Lou’s disease:
Evidence:
Treatment Order (who would you help first):
First:____________________________________________
Second:_________________________________________
Third:____________________________________________
Why:
Created by AgEd 410, Spring 2013 - Lori Sanborn and Kirsti Whitmyre
3
Livestock Nutritional Diseases Webquest (CLF3156)
Plan of Action:
First cow you treat:
Treatment:
Recovery Process:
Outlook:
Second cow you treat:
Treatment:
Recovery Process:
Outlook:
Created by AgEd 410, Spring 2013 - Lori Sanborn and Kirsti Whitmyre
4
Livestock Nutritional Diseases Webquest (CLF3156)
Third cow you treat:
Treatment:
Recovery Process:
Outlook:
Prevention Plan: Please be clear, thorough and detailed.
Conclusion:
These skills can be applied in many different facets of life. Students will be able to use their
proficiency in livestock nutritional diseases when caring for their Supervised Agricultural
Experience projects which could include meat, production or breeding livestock. As well, these
skills can be put into use in future careers as animal dieticians, animal nutritionists, veterinarians,
veterinary technicians, or livestock producers.
Created by AgEd 410, Spring 2013 - Lori Sanborn and Kirsti Whitmyre
5
Livestock Nutritional Diseases Webquest (CLF3156)
Grade Breakdown:
Case Diagnosis
Treatment Order
Plan of Action
Prevention Plan
Organization
Creativity
Spelling and Grammar
Group Presentation
5 points each (15 pts total)
5 points
5 points each (15 pts total)
15 points
5 points
5 points
5 points
20 points
85 points TOTAL
Created by AgEd 410, Spring 2013 - Lori Sanborn and Kirsti Whitmyre
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