Keep them on their feet

摘要

The average cost of treating and nursing a 'downer cow' can be as much as 120 pound, not to mention the additional financial cost and genetic loss if she fails to recover. But according to veterinary surgeon Richard Murray up to 90 percent of casesof downer cow syndrome could be avoided, as Angela Rhodes reports. Downer cow syndrome occurs primarily in the days just before and after calving. Cows typically become recumbent because of metabolic disorders, infections such as E coli mastitis or simple injury. "Those that fail to respond to treatment and don't get up are then downer cows," explains Dr Murray, lecturer in Farm Animal Studies at Liverpool Vet School. Metabolic disorders, and milk fever in particular, account for most cases of downer cow syndrome that are dealt with by farmers; for vets in practice they make up about 50 percent of cases. Milk fever occurs when the amount of calcium being directed to the udder for milk production exceeds the levels being mobilised from the bone.