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Debris in pastures potential health risk to cattleOklahoma Insulation and building debris present in pastures after high winds can cause problems for cattle producers, difficulties that potentially may have a significant effect on animal health and time management costs. Cattle will eat just about anything that looks interesting in the pasture, cautions Dr. Dave Sparks, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian and area food animal quality and health specialist. "Producers are going to have to pick up as much debris from their pastures as possible," he said. "This can be a painstaking, labor-intensive process given the potential amount of small debris." Insulation can cause bloat, impaction and gastro-intestinal problems when consumed, including possible hemorrhaging of the rumen. Nails and other small pieces of metal can cause "hardware" disease, health problems associated with the consumption of metal. Sparks said a single piece of wire consumed by a bull, cow, heifer or calf can drop down into the reticulum, the first stomach, where it potentially can pierce the heart. Other problems sometimes associated with "hardware" disease are the shutting down of the rumen, depression, acute pain and decreased milk production. "Cattle producers may want to use rumen magnets, if there appears to be a significant amount of metal debris in pastures," Sparks said. "A rumen magnet may be a health-care investment well worth the money." Local large animal veterinarians have information on rumen magnets, including associated costs and availability. "Insulation debris is more problematic, because of the small size," Sparks said. "Producers are unlikely to rid their pastures of every bit of insulation. If animals exhibit symptoms of insulation-related problems, producers should contact their local veterinarians immediately." Treatment of cattle suffering from insulation problems is symptomatic. "Your local veterinarian will treat on a case-by-case basis," Sparks said. "This might mean employing a treatment with laxatives, mineral oil, fluid therapy or, in appropriate cases, surgery." Nails and other sharp metal objects of various sizes also create a significant hazard to the feet and legs of animals. "It's very common for these objects to cause puncture wounds and cuts in the feet and legs of livestock," Sparks said. Often, these metal objects have been carried by wind or washed into water holes, ponds or other areas accessible to livestock and are a potential source of injury. "It's prudent for livestock owners to keep this in mind when they have animals showing lameness," Sparks said. "If an animal is lame for more than one or two days and the lameness continues to worsen, it should be examined by a veterinarian." Additional information on after-the-storm cleanup practices is available through all Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension county offices, located in local telephone directories or at http://countyext2.okstate.edu on the Internet. 4/21/08 Date: 4/17/08 Advertisement
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