The wellbeing of an animal depends on factors such as the quality and quantity of feed consumed (nutrition), water intake, parasitic infestation, predators, disease incidence as well as numerous management and environmental factors.

 

Farm Animal Diseases: Symptoms, Causes And Prevention

Can an animal live and produce forever? The answer is no!

 

Part of the characteristics of living thing is that they live, and due to disease, old age, mismanagement or accidents, they might be unproductive and cease to live.

 

 

Even animal diet might be balanced yet contain toxic substances. Animal health is however a major factor to be considered towards increasing productivity in farm animals.

 

 

Due to occurrence of zoonotic disease (disease that can spread from animals to humans), prevention of animal diseases across international borders to safeguard of human health is crucial.

 

 

Disease is any condition that results in departure from the normal function of the animal body; two or more diseases can affect an animal at the same time.

 

IMPORTANCE OF FARM ANIMAL DISEASE PREVENTION

1. Healthy animals grow and reproduce at a faster rate when compared to sick animals
2. Healthy animals produce higher quantity and quality meat, milk and eggs
3. It is costly or expensive to control diseases in farm animals
4. Zoonotic diseases can be transmitted to human thus affecting the productivity of humans
5. When sick animals die, there is loss of income to the farmer; also, it leads to loss of proven or choice animals e.g. breeding animals.

 

BASIC SYMPTOMS AND CLINICAL SIGNS OF FARM ANIMAL DISEASES

These are abnormal conditions exhibited by the animal. There are different forms of abnormalities. It is important to explain differences signs and symptoms.

 

FARM ANIMAL DISEASE SYMPTOMS

Symptoms can only be described by the person or animal feeling them, the individual feeling pain only knows that he or she is feeling pain

 

FARM ANIMAL DISEASE SIGNS

Signs are visible or palpable indicators of diseases. Paleness of eye, blood discharge from nose, salivation etc. Signs are indicators of a problem. Other signs may include difficult respiration, ruffled skin or feathers, high temperature.

 

 

Sometimes signs can indicate symptoms. For example, a howling dog might be hungry, a mucus discharge can indicate cold or infection. An animal scratching its body might indicate mange or flea infestation.

Presence of eggs in faeces may signify the occurrence of parasites. Diarrhea, gnashing of the teeth, ruffled feather, unsteady gait, blood spots in urine or feces, restlessness, noise making etc. may explain disease conditions.

 

 

PREDISPOSING FACTORS TO FARM ANIMAL DISEASES

These are factors that can create favorable conditions that cause diseases in farm animals:

 

Malnutrition

It can make an animal prone to disease. Overeating can cause indigestion, obesity, bloat. Young animal denied of colostrum can develop low immunity and may fall sick easily

 

Harsh Weather Conditions

It can make an animal susceptible to diseases e.g. cold causes pneumonia and can negatively affect the production of milk, egg, wool etc.

 

High humidity and poor ventilation can aid development of agents causing diseases. High environmental temperature leads to heat stress. Pigs are vulnerable to heat stress, that is why they wallow in water

 

Injury

Injury to udder can bring about diseases e.g. Mastitis

 

Poorly Treated Wounds

This can lead to infection of tetanus causing organism

 

Improper Use of Equipment

Some equipment that can cause disease are milking equipment, debeakers etc.

 

Over-crowding of Animals

This can predispose farm animals to problems of diseases, especially air-borne diseases

 

Uncontrolled Mating

This can lead to sexually transmissible diseases

 

Allergies

It can make an animal become ill, causing eye smarting, skin or breathing problems

 

Poor Handling of Farm Animals

Animals may be injured when not properly handled, and the injury may be source of infection

 

Poor Sanitation

Dirty housing environment can predispose animals to diseases

 

Improper Use of Drugs

Overdose, under-dose or use of fake veterinary drugs can lead to disease conditions in farm animals

 

Poor Housing

Animal kept under leaking roof or bare floor with poor ventilation may be prone to disease

 

Consumption of Toxic Substances

Farm animals may also get diseases if toxic substances care consumed along with the feed

 

Inbreeding Depression

Mating of closely related animals may lead to manifestation of some diseases e.g. umbilical or scrotal hernia in pigs

 

GENERAL SIGNS FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF SICK ANIMALS

1. Isolation: The animals will isolate itself and this may be accompanied by inactivity or sluggishness.
   

1. Loss of weight (emaciation)
2. Loss of appetite (anorexia)
3. Unusual secretions from natural opening of the body e.g. eyes, nostril, ears, anus
4. Ruffled feathers or rough hairs or coat
5. Swelling of the joints
6. Increase in body temperature (fever)
7. Diarrhea
8. Anemia
9. Difficult breathing
10. Coughing
11. Excessive salivation
12. Gnashing of teeth
13. Slow movement among the herd
14. Death

 

CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES BASED ON THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF INFECTION

1. Epizootic Disease

Prevalent among all animals but temporarily e.g. tick borne disease

 

2. Endemic Disease

Prevalent among farm animals in particular area or location e.g. trypanosomiasis

 

3. Infectious Disease

Disease that is easily transmitted by air, water, food or any other means

 

FARM ANIMAL DISEASE CAUSING AGENTS

Basically, there are five main disease causing agents (pathogens). These are: bacteria (singular: bacterium), rickettsia, fungi (singular: fungus), viruses and protozoa (singular: protozoon). There are also nutritional diseases caused by imbalance diets.