Content
Rickets in young cattle is a dangerous chronic disease characterized by impaired calcium-phosphorus metabolism and vitamin D deficiency, accompanied by bone dystrophy, muscle weakness, impaired functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems of young cattle. This dangerous disease can manifest itself at any time in the life of a young animal. However, most often rickets in calves are diagnosed in the first months of life, as well as in grown up young cattle for fattening.
The reasons for the development of rickets in young animals
Hypovitaminosis D is a disease of young growing animals associated with a deficiency of vitamin D, an imbalance of phosphorus and calcium in the body. Leads to the development of rickets. Also, rickets can occur against the background of a deficiency in the body and other vitamins, vital micro- and macroelements, as well as with insufficient ultraviolet radiation and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
The main causes of rickets in young cattle:
- vitamin D deficiency;
- violation of the ratio or deficiency of calcium and phosphorus in the body of a young animal;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- violation of acid-base imbalance in the body;
- lack of exercise;
- no exposure to ultraviolet rays in the summer (stall-free maintenance), in winter and spring - no UV irradiation by means of mercury-quartz lamps;
- keeping in dark, damp and cold rooms.
The cause of rickets in calves in the neonatal period is a violation of vitamin and mineral metabolism in the body of a cow, as well as monotonous and poor feeding of a pregnant animal. Often this disease occurs in calves born from cows with hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia.
This disease can manifest itself in any period of growth and development of young cattle. Most often, young animals under the age of one year are sick with rickets.
Rickets symptoms
Rickets in young cattle develops slowly, so it is rather difficult to determine the presence of this disease in the first days.
Calves born of metabolic cows are very weak. A clear symptom of rickets in newborn calves is a poorly developed skeleton. Soreness is noted on palpation of the hind limbs, pelvic bones, and lower back.
Also typical symptoms for rickets are:
- enlargement of the joints;
- weakness of the limbs;
- incorrect positioning of the forelimbs and their deformation;
- the appearance of the so-called "rickety rosary" - seals of the thoracic (distal) ends of the ribs;
- change in the shape (deformation) of the bones of the skull.
In the first weeks and months of life in calves affected by rickets, there is a refusal to feed and a perversion of appetite. Calves start:
- eat dirty litter, soil, dry feces;
- lick wool;
- gnaw walls;
- drink slurry.
Against the background of a perverted appetite in calves with rickets, gastroenteritis and diarrhea develop. The hair of calves with rickets becomes dull and tousled, and the skin loses its elasticity.In calves affected by rickets, as a rule, the change of teeth is delayed. They also stagger and fall out. Young cattle sometimes have frequent attacks of suffocation and muscle cramps (tetany).
Calves 3-6 months old have a developmental delay and no weight gain. The animal moves a little and stays more in a lying position. Sick calves stand up slowly and often step over their limbs. The front legs of an animal sick with rickets are widely spaced in a standing position.
In severe cases of rickets in calves, the following are observed:
- breathing disorder;
- myocardial dystrophy;
- tachycardia;
- anemia.
Rare movements of a calf with rickets are accompanied by a characteristic crunch in the joints and lameness. The sick animal's movements are very slow, tense, and the steps are shortened. On palpation of the joints, pain is noted. In critically ill animals, bone fractures often occur.
Young cattle at the age of one year also suffer from this disease. In well-developed and well-fed animals, the indicators of body weight gain are reduced as a result of poor eating (lack of appetite) and low feed digestibility.
Heifers sick with rickets lie for a long time, do not show interest in feeding, move in short steps. When examining the heifer, there is an increase in joints, a curvature of the spine, the limbs are brought under the body.
Diagnosis of the disease
When making a diagnosis, the veterinary specialist evaluates the animal's feeding ration, analyzes the clinical signs of the manifestation of the disease. When making a diagnosis, the indicators of laboratory (biochemical analysis) blood are also taken into account with the definition:
- the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in the blood of a sick animal;
- reserve blood alkalinity;
- alkaline phosphatase activity.
If necessary, the veterinary specialist should conduct an X-ray or histological examination of the tissue of the epimetaphyseal zone of the bones. Rickets in young animals have similar symptoms with:
- articular rheumatism;
- white muscle disease;
- Urovsky disease;
- hypocuprosis (or acuprosis).
Therefore, in the differential diagnosis of rickets in young cattle, the veterinary specialist must exclude these diseases.
Treatment of rickets in calves
When rickets are detected in newborn calves and young cattle, sick animals must be isolated from healthy ones and placed in a dry, warm and spacious room.
First of all, it is necessary to revise the diet of young animals. It should consist of easily digestible feed rich in protein, vitamins A, D, calcium, phosphorus, macro- and microelements.
Sick animals are introduced into the diet and the feeding is increased:
- succulent grass;
- vitamin hay from clover and alfalfa;
- red carrots;
- whole milk and skim milk;
- yeast feed.
The following are used as mineral dressings:
- shell and bone meal;
- feed chalk;
- tricalcium phosphate, calcium glycerophosphate.
In the treatment of rickets in young cattle, oil, alcohol solutions and emulsions of vitamin D are prescribed.
Ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) is prescribed intramuscularly:
- long-term treatment with fractional doses of 5-10 thousand IU for a month or more;
- 75-200 thousand IU every 2-3 days (within 2-3 weeks);
- a single dose of 500-800 thousand IU.
In the treatment of rickets, complex preparations are also used:
- orally appoint "Trivitamin" (solution of vitamins D3, A and E) 5-10 drops daily or intramuscularly 1-2 ml once or three times a week;
- "Tetravit" (solution of vitamin D3, F, E and A) intramuscularly 2 ml once or twice a week.
Calves sick with rickets are prescribed fortified fish oil at 0.4-0.5 g per 1 kg of animal body weight. Orally during feeding three times a day for 7-10 days.
Calves with rickets are irradiated with UV lamps. Group irradiation of calves is carried out in special rooms. In good sunny weather, young animals should be released for a walk in spacious outdoor yards.
Forecast
With the timely detection of the disease (especially in the early stages), as well as with proper treatment, the animal with rickets quickly recovers. With late detection of symptoms of the disease, incorrect diagnosis and the appearance of complications, the prognosis is unfavorable or doubtful.
The course of the disease in young cattle is chronic. Rickets in calves is dangerous with the following complications:
- bronchopneumonia;
- anemia;
- severe exhaustion;
- myocardial dystrophy;
- chronic gastroenteritis;
- catarrh of the stomach and intestines;
- decrease in the resistance of the body of a young animal to infectious diseases.
Preventive actions
Prevention of rickets in young cattle provides for a whole range of veterinary and zootechnical measures. First of all, the calves need to provide a complete diet. The deficiency of vitamins, micro- and macroelements is compensated by the introduction of vitamin-mineral complexes into the diet of young animals.
Calcium, phosphorus, vitamins of group B, D, A and E are especially necessary for animals during pregnancy and feeding of calves with colostrum. Pregnant cows are injected intramuscularly with a vitamin D preparation - 250-1000 thousand IU 4-6 weeks before the approximate date of calving. In case of mineral or D-vitamin deficiency in cows, the first time colostrum is given to the newborn calf, 50 thousand IU of vitamin D should be fed.
The room where the young are kept should be spacious, light and warm. Crowded keeping of animals in damp dark rooms is unacceptable. In summer and sunny weather, young animals need to be provided with exercise in the fresh air. In the spring, autumn and winter, it is necessary to organize irradiation under special ultraviolet lamps.
Conclusion
Rickets in young animals occurs as a result of a violation of mineral metabolism in the body, as well as a deficiency of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus. This dangerous disease is primarily a consequence of a violation of the norms of feeding, keeping calves and pregnant cows. With timely treatment, sick calves recover quickly; in severe cases, they die from serious complications.
