This autumn, I’ve noticed more cows with what I’d call chronically dirty tails. It’s particularly noticeable at scanning. There may only be about 5% or 10% of the herd displaying these clinical signs, but it’s much higher than what I can remember in other years.
Cows with chronic scour or loose faeces are unmistakable. Most of their tails are covered in bead-like dung droplets attached to the hairs for the entire length of the tail. These cows aren’t suffering from a bout of diarrhoea. This is a prolonged looseness in the dung, which in most cases does not affect production at this late stage of lactation, but may signal something else. Diet may well contribute to this syndrome.
Rumen fluke is always something to watch out for, especially where such clinical signs occur. A faecal sample is the easiest way to confirm any suspicions.
Liver fluke is also a possibility and more so as the year progresses.
Stomach worms are maybe less likely than the former, but are still important especially in younger cows, first and second lactation ones in particular.
A useful liver fluke guide can be obtained from the reports on any animals from the herd going for slaughter in the abattoir. It’s important to remember where negative results are returned that this is no guarantee of the absence of any of those pathogens.
A final but important consideration should be given to watching these cows closely during the housed period in particular, as it’s common for some cows like this to develop dung rings or dung doughnuts around the tail itself.
Over time, they get thicker and can part strangulate the more distant part of the tail. Some of these animals may end up losing the end of their tails which can affect any future overseas sales opportunities.
Michael Sexton works at Riverview Vets, Bandon, Co Cork, part of XLVets. XLVets is a group of progressive practices who are working together to achieve a better future for agriculture and veterinary in Ireland. For information, see www.xlvets.ie
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