Management Managing Mud Problems by Heather Smith Thomas

disease. If they must stand in deep cattle are concentrated in small mud, this situation is also a stress. areas, coming into contact It’s harder to keep warm when with manure, they are more standing in cold mud. vulnerable to massive infection with these protozoa — especially Problems for calves calves, because they have not Mud also harbors bacteria and yet developed any immunity other pathogens, especially from or resistance and because they manure, which can affect cattle often nibble dirt or mud or pick health — especially in baby calves. up the pathogens when nursing A mix of mud and manure in a dirty udder. If cattle must lie a calving lot can lead to dirty on contaminated ground, such udders. When the newborn calf as mud mixed with manure, the suckles, he ingests bacteria along hair coat becomes dirty also, and with the colostrum. It’s a race calves pick up the pathogens when between the antibodies from licking and grooming themselves. colostrum and the pathogens, One of the things that can and if he nuzzles a dirty udder lead to increased incidence of (or makes a few false tries on the illness in calves is the use of big cow’s dirty flank or brisket before bale feeders in wet weather — in he finds a teat) the pathogens win. calving lots or pens or pastures Some of the bacteria that can where there are cow-calf pairs. cause deadly scours in newborns If footing around feeders gets or toxic gut infections in older churned to mud, there is more calves are present in the soil chance of the cows having dirty wherever there have been cattle legs and udders. If conditions feces, and wet conditions make it are muddy, bale feeders much easier for calves to ingest should be moved regularly to these pathogens. Dry ground is cleaner, drier ground. If this always a safer environment for is impossible, clean material calves than mud; they are less apt such as straw should be put to pick up scour-causing bacteria around feeders regularly to keep or the toxin-forming bacteria footing clean and dry. Increased that cause acute and often incidence of scours has been fatal intestinal infections. Some noted on a number of farms and clostridial infections (such as ranches after they began using C. perfringens, which causes various big bale feeders, especially if the types of “enterotoxemia”) and cows’ udders must be dragged E. coli infections are much more through deep mud when the prevalent in muddy conditions cows are using the feeders. than in dry or frozen ground. ud is the enemy of good even when temperatures drop to Calves nibbling mud or drinking Problems for all cattle health. Wet seasons zero and below. from mud puddles are always at Other bacteria that lurk in mud Mcreate stress for livestock: When the hair becomes wet, risk for digestive tract infections. include the pathogens that a wet hair coat loses its insulating however, it lies down flatter and Calves born on wet, muddy cause foot rot in cattle. Foot rot quality and cattle suffer more loses this insulating layer of air. ground are also more vulnerable is an infectious condition that stress in wet cold weather than If cattle must lie in mud, the hair to naval ill or joint ill. If the causes inflammation in the foot, in dry cold weather. Under dry becomes muddy and matted and umbilical stump comes into resulting in severe lameness. The conditions, the hair is fluffy and also loses its insulating quality. contact with contaminated swelling and lameness develop has tiny air spaces between each Cattle chill more readily, and this ground or bedding before it dries very suddenly. One day the hair, holding a layer of warmer stress can lead to illness; stress and seals off, it offers an open animal is fine and the next day air next to the body. A good clean inhibits the immune system and doorway for pathogenic bacteria. the foot is so sore the animal may hair coat can keep cattle warm makes cattle more vulnerable to A calf born in the mud may need not put any weight on it. antibiotics as well as intensive There are several bacteria that disinfecting of the navel stump can cause foot rot, but the most (applying iodine or some other common culprit is Fusobacterium good disinfectant several times) necrophorum. Cattle are apt to until the stump is completely dry. pick up the infection if there is Infection may localize at the navel a break in the skin. Wet areas, or may enter the bloodstream where cattle must walk through and cause septicemia. In the mud or bogs or stand in mud in latter instance, the bacteria attack a pen, are the most likely places various organs and create a to pick it up. Foot rot can occur potentially fatal infection or may year round, but prevalence is localize in certain areas such as always higher during wet seasons the joints, to permanently cripple or in wet, muddy pastures. The the calf. bacteria persist in wet areas Protozoan pathogens are around springs, swamps or wet also lurking in mud wherever ground. Also, the skin of the there have been cattle. Coccidia feet becomes softer and more and cryptosporidia are spread tender when wet and more easily via manure. Coccidiosis and nicked and scraped, so foot rot cryptosporidiosis infections in is very common in wet weather A muddy haircoat reduces its insulating ability, causing the cattle to become chilled and stressed in cold conditions. calves are always more common or in situations when cattle walk in wet conditions. Whenever through mud. 20 He re for d Wo r l d / January 2010 www.hereford.org After the bacteria gain entrance to the same bacteria is often involved in the foot, inflammation and swelling navel infection). start quickly. Usually the swelling Many cases of foot rot will Managing Mud Problems is around the coronary band above eventually clear up on their own by Heather Smith Thomas the hoof, between the toes or at the without treatment, but the animal heel, depending on the site of entry. will be lame longer and may spread The swelling may spread toes on the the bacteria around the pen or affected foot apart. The enlargement pasture for the whole time the foot may include the area above the hoof, is swollen and discharging. It’s always extending upward past the fetlock better to treat the problem rather joint in some cases. In severe cases the than wait to see if it will get better. t n

animal will have a fever (which may If you can clear it up quickly, there a ry cause temporary infertility in a bull). will be less contamination and much B less risk of permanent damage to the o by Mike foot. If neglected, the infection may t

A good prevention eventually get into the joint, causing Pho infectious arthritis. The use of big bale feeders in wet weather can increase incidence of calf sickness because the area measure in pens is the around the bale becomes heavily trodden and soiled, and if the mud is deep enough can contaminate the cows’ udders. Producers who use big bale feeders should move the feeders regularly and put straw creation of mounds or Minimize mud problems around the feeder to keep the footing clean and dry. built-up humps of soil Anything you can do to minimize mud and dirty conditions in cattle mud (which create rough ground humps of soil or bedding where cattle or bedding where cattle lots and pastures can help decrease that may cause hoof injury). Covering can be on dry ground. Concrete slabs frozen ground or deep mud with by feed bunks or feeders can also give can be on dry ground. the incidence of problems. During calving season, the calving cows should straw can be helpful in preventing cattle a dry place to stand, especially if be moved periodically to clean, dry foot rot. Thoroughly cleaning pens these are kept cleaned off periodically. Lameness may hinder ability to ground, or extra bedding should be after the cattle are removed and The use of concrete around watering travel to feed and water or reduce the used in the calving lot (with more put liberally sprinkling lime over the pen areas and feed bunks where animals amount of time the animal spends in as needed) to cover the mud and surface can often avoid infections in congregate can be very helpful, grazing. The animal may spend keep the cows from becoming wet and feedlots. Leaving a pen vacant for minimizing contact with mud. HW most of its time lying down and lose dirty. Using your driest pastures and at least a week after liming will help weight. The swelling in the foot usually lots (well sodded instead of churned to control foot rot bacteria. Maximizing breaks open, often between the toes mud or higher, drier areas with better drainage in pens is essential to good or the heel, and discharges pus after drainage) will help prevent a lot of wet cattle management and will also a few days. This drainage will further weather problems. help prevent constant contact with contaminate the pen or pasture, Incidence of foot rot can be manure-laden mud. putting other animals at risk for foot minimized if pens are clean and dry, A good prevention measure in pens rot, and calves at risk for navel ill (since and free of sharp stones or frozen is the creation of mounds or built-up

www.hereford.org January 2010 / He re for d Wo r l d 21