There are a number of common conditions which affect the digestive system of weaned or older dairy cattle. These conditions include:
Displaced abomasum (sometimes also called LDA, RDA or twisted stomach)
Rumen acidosis
Bovine Johne's Disease
Woody tongue
More information about calf scours can be found on the calf scours page.
Displaced abomasum (LDA or RDA)
The term displaced abomasum is used to describe conditions where the abomasum (the animal's fourth stomach) becomes displaced from its normal position on the lower right-hand side of the abdomen. The displacement may either be on the left (left displaced abomasum or LDA) or on the right (right displaced abomasum or RDA). The condition may also sometimes be called a twisted stomach. An LDA is much more common than an RDA.
Symptoms of cattle with LDA include:
Decreased milk production
May be a lower volume of soft or pasty manure
Usually affects freshly calved cows, less than one month after calving
May be other diseases such as milk fever, retained placenta or lameness
Symptoms of cattle with RDA include:
Cow becomes rapidly unwell
Abdominal pain which may see the animal lying down, kicking its belly or looking at its flank
May be cold to touch due to shock and have sunken eyes
May be enlargement of the abdomen on the right-hand side
Left and right displaced abomasum are non-infectious conditions caused by reduced rumen fill and reduced activity of the abomasum. The condition may occur as a complication of other diseases such as rumen acidosis, milk fever, retained placenta or lameness. Good transition cow management is important for prevention of left and right displaced abomasum.
Animals likely to be affected
Most cows with a left or right displaced abomasum will have calved less than one month before developing the condition. Cows fed a high-concentrate, low-fibre diet are at higher risk of displaced abomasum.
Confirming the diagnosis
The diagnosis of left or right displaced abomasum requires examination by a veterinarian. The veterinarian will listen to the abdomen with a stethoscope and may flick the ribs to look for a characteristic 'ping' sound on either the left or right-hand side. It can sometimes be difficult to distinguish between a gassy rumen (the animal's second stomach) and a displaced abomasum. Therefore, the veterinarian may take a sample of fluid from the abdomen or blow down a stomach tube whilst listening with a stethoscope.
A suspected RDA is a veterinary emergency. Left and right displaced abomasum are treatable surgically by a veterinarian.
There are several different surgical techniques for the treatment of LDA. The choice will depend on both the specifics of the case and the veterinarian's preference. Rolling may be used to correct LDA but re-occurrence is very common if it is not combined with a surgical technique such as stitching or "toggling" the abomasum to the abdominal wall.
Additional supportive treatments such as propylene glycol (also known as pink drench), fresh cow powders, IV fluid therapy and anti-inflammatories may also be given.
The prognosis for cows with an LDA corrected surgically ranges from good to excellent. Cows that are very unwell with RDA have a poor prognosis even with surgery and should be humanely euthanased.
Freshly calved cows, within one month of calving
Inadequate transition cow management
High-concentrate, low-fibre diets
Other diseases such as rumen acidosis, milk fever, retained placenta or lameness
Good transition cow management is the most important way in which to prevent left and right displaced abomasum. More information about transition cow management can be found on the transition cow management page.
This section describes salmonella in adult cattle. Information about salmonella in calves can be found on the calf scours page.
Important note: Salmonella can infect humans (called a zoonotic disease), so particular care should be taken with personal hygiene when handling affected animals.
Foul-smelling diarrhoea which may contain gut lining
Animals are lethargic and obviously unwell
Sunken eyes caused by dehydration
May have a high temperature (greater than 39.5°C)
Salmonella can also cause abortion, meningitis, joint infections and pneumonia.
Salmonella is caused by bacteria of the Salmonella species. There are several different species of salmonella affecting cattle.
Salmonella may occur in dairy cattle of all ages.
A diagnosis of salmonella requires laboratory testing of a manure sample.
Spread of the disease
Salmonella may be spread by direct contact between infected animals, by contamination of feed or water sources and contamination of the environment. Salmonella organisms can survive for long periods of time in the environment.
Importantly, some animals may become carriers of salmonella and are a permanent source of infection within a herd.
Treatment for early cases of salmonella usually involves treatment with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. More severe cases will often require veterinary treatment with IV fluid therapy. Affected animals should be isolated to reduce spread of the disease.
Antibiotic resistance in salmonella bacteria is a serious human health problem worldwide. As salmonella can be transferred from infected cattle to humans, it is important to take care with the choice of antibiotic. To do this, manure samples from affected cows should be tested to confirm the presence of salmonella and identify any antibiotic resistance.
Ceftiofur (an antibiotic with a nil milk withholding period) should only be used to treat salmonella based on laboratory testing and never be used for mass medication.
Contamination of the environment by affected or carrier animals
Contamination of feed or water by birds and rodents
Stressful events such as calving, overcrowding or sudden dietary changes
Purchasing animals with an unknown health status
High rates of grain feeding
Supplementing with high rates of magnesium oxide
Liver fluke infection
Prevention of salmonella should include practicing good biosecurity and avoiding contamination of feed and water by infected animals.
A vaccine is available in Australia against two salmonella species, Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella dublin. Before considering vaccination, it is important to confirm these species are involved in salmonella cases on your farm.
Vaccination of cows pre-calving may provide some protection to calves. However, this requires excellent colostrum management to be effective. More information about colostrum management is available on the rearing healthy calves page.
Diarrhoea in weaned young stock between six to 12 months of age
Poor growth rates or ill-thrift
Lethargy, depression and dehydration
Yersinia is caused by a bacterial organism called Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
Young stock between the ages of six to 12 months are most likely to be affected. Yersinia occasionally occurs in younger and adult animals.
A diagnosis of yersinia requires laboratory testing of a manure sample.
Yersinia may be spread by direct contact with infected animals and by contamination of the contamination of the environment by infected animals.
Early cases of yersinia usually involves treatment with an antibiotic.
Cold, wet weather
Inadequate nutrition
Infection with intestinal worms
Stress, such as times of weaning, yarding or transport
Addressing the risk factors above and ensuring good nutrition may be helpful in preventing yersinia. Dairy Australia's Heifers on Target resources can be used to assess whether the diet is meeting the nutritional needs of young stock.
For information on rumen acidosis visit the Ruminal Acidosis page.
Bovine Johne's Disease (BJD)
More information on Bovine Johne's Disease (BJD) is available on the BJD page.
There are two forms of bloat:
Pasture bloat (also known as frothy bloat)
Bloat secondary to other disease (e.g. abscess or infection around the nerves controlling the rumen)
This section describes pasture bloat.
Sudden death with very enlarged abdomen
If found before death:
Enlarged abdomen on the left-hand side
Abdominal pain demonstrated by bellowing, kicking the belly, standing up and lying down
In milder cases, reduced milk production or growth rates of young stock
Bloat can be caused by consumption of lush, immature legumes such as clover or lucerne, or pasture and crops with high protein and low fibre levels. It is also occasionally associated with feeding of finely ground grain. This causes gasses to be trapped in the rumen by the formation of foam in the rumen which is unable to be burped out by the cow.
All grazing dairy cattle are susceptible to bloat.
Sudden death of multiple animals grazing lush immature legumes, pasture or crops with very enlarged abdomens is strongly suggestive of bloat. Post-mortem examination of an animal that has died recently by a veterinarian will reveal characteristic foam in the rumen. In animals that are still alive, gas is unable to be released when a veterinarian passes a stomach tube.
Emergency rumenotomy (also known as a bloat stab) may be required to save a severely affected animal's life. These animals will be severely distressed, having difficulty breathing with the tongue hanging out. Farmers will need to call their veterinarian immediately to repair the wound and administer antibiotics to counter infection.
Mildly to moderately affected animals may be treated with a bloat drench.
Other animals should be moved off the at-risk pasture and given hay or silage.
Consumption of lush, immature legumes such as clover or Lucerne, or pasture and crops with high protein and low fibre levels.
The most effective preventative is administering anti-foaming agents, special detergents or rumen modifiers. This may be achieved by:
Feeding bloat prevention in the bail
Adding bloat prevention to drinking water
Spraying at-risk pasture with bloat oil
Bloat blocks
Drenching twice a day with bloat prevention products
Applying bloat oil to the flank
The effectiveness of the preventative measures listed is variable. Farmers should consult with their veterinarian or nutrition advisor to decide which option is best for their herd.
Pain and difficulty eating and swallowing
Swelling under the jaw
Woody tongue is caused by a bacterial organism called Actinobacillus lignieresi. This bacteria is normally present in the mouth of cattle but causes infection of the tongue following trauma or abrasions to the tongue.
Dairy cattle of any age can be affected by woody tongue.
A diagnosis can be made by examining the tongue for pain, swelling and firmness. Ulcers may also be observed on the tongue.
Treatment for woody tongue involves an injection with sodium iodide by a veterinarian and/or a long course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Sodium iodide may cause abnormalities of the coat and eyes, and occasionally abortion if used in late pregnant animals.
Consuming course forages containing fibrous stalks
Volcanic or gravelly soils
There is no specific prevention for woody tongue.
Animal Health Information
Mastitis and Milk Quality