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There are a number of different reasons why
this may occur, as Jonathan Stockton of
Kingsway Vets explains: ‘There's a long list of
possible causes for why a cow can go down,
broadly they fall into four main types: trauma,
metabolic disease, neurological problems and
toxic infections’.
What to do
‘Cows which are found down on concrete or
in cubicles should be moved immediately if
secondary traumatic injury is to be avoided,’
advises Jonathan. ‘Significant damage to the
muscles of the hindquarters and sciatic nerve
can occur within six hours, so it's important to
act promptly.
‘Cows should be moved into a box with a
deep bedding of straw, sand or sawdust, or
out to grass if it's appropriate. The 'bedding
up' around cows that have gone down on a
concrete yard or in cubicles, is futile. Once the
animal has been moved and bedded up in a
better location, it is worth taking the time to
assess the symmetry of the hindquarters and to
flex and extend the hind limbs to check for
fractures or dislocations. If in doubt, the vet
should be called.
‘Under current legislation cows may be
presented for post-mortem meat inspection,
(ante-mortem inspection, shoot and bleed on
farm), following an accidental injury. So
prompt diagnosis of fractures may allow the
animal to be slaughtered on farm, and prevent
unnecessary suffering, whilst achieving some
financial recompense. The outcome for a
downer cow is often determined by the ability
and commitment of those nursing the cow,’
says Jonathan ‘However, a lot of unrewarding
and unnecessary work can be avoided by
choosing which cows to nurse.’
Poor candidates for nursing success are
those cows which:
l
Have done the splits, and have one or both
hind legs nearly at right angles to the body.
l
Have their hind legs extended behind them, or
have both their hind feet touching their elbows.
l
Have been down on concrete for an
extended period.
l
Only attempt to rise using their forelimbs,
or don't attempt to rise at all.
l
Have had a calf stuck part way out for a
long period of time.
l
Want to lie on their side, despite propping
with bales or machinery.
The assessment
and treatment of
downer cows...
A
'downer cow' is defined as a cow which remains in sternal recumbency
- i.e. sitting up on its brisket with legs tucked underneath - for unknown
reasons. This is a situation which typically occurs around calving time
after a difficult calving or due to milk fever.
Veterinary Surgeon
Jonathan Stockton
XLVets Practice
Kingsway Veterinary
Group, Skipton
JONATHAN STOCKTON,
KINGSWAY VETERINARY GROUP
DOWNER COWS
7
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
The causes of downer
cow syndrome
1. Trauma
- femoral neck fracture, hip
dislocation, rupture of the Achilles
tendon (Gastrocnemius muscle above
the hock), pelvic fracture, anaemia
due to blood loss
2. Metabolic disease
- ketosis (beef
sucklers), unresponsive milk fever
3. Neurological problems
- calving
paralysis, peroneal and sciatic
nerve paralysis
4. Toxic infections
- septic metritis, acute
E.coli
mastitis
This heifer fell coming out of the
parlour, 6 weeks after calving. She was
moved into a box and examined by
Jonathan Stockton, who discovered
a fractured femoral neck, and so she
was slaughtered on-farm.