3 minute read
From the State Vet’s Office
Reporting Large Die-offs:
The Magic Number is FOUR
If you have read more than a few of the articles that I have written over the past several years, you should know that I continually hammer on the point that producers should report large die-offs in addition to other possible foreign animal disease red flags. Today I want to focus on the importance of reporting large die-offs. These events are usually not tied to a foreign animal disease outbreak, but it is important to rule out a foreign animal disease that could devastate animal agriculture. It is also important that we hopefully help the producer find out what is affecting the animals and stop the losses.
Since there is a need to answer the question, “What is a large die-off,” I have gone with the number four. If someone has two hundred cows maybe four doesn’t seem like that many, but it is a number that I believe would keep us from missing a foreign animal disease. Most often, large die-offs, four or more dead animals in proximity timewise, is going to be some sort of toxin. However, I think it is important to identify the toxin or the infectious agent in the event it is caused by a virus or bacteria.
Early in my time as State Veterinarian, I received a call one afternoon on my way home from my office in Montgomery. Someone in Baldwin County had just lost 50 cows. They were fine yesterday and today they were dead. That was back when agroterrorism was high on our radar screens. We were able to establish
that the toxin was an insecticide that had been used according to the label guidelines on a crop. Rain had moved the insecticide through the sandy soil and concentrated it in the cow pasture.
On another occasion we were recently alerted that someone had lost four cows over in West Alabama. The deaths had occurred almost immediately after the producer had put protein tubs out for his cattle. It turned out that the urea that was part of the nitrogen source in the tubs had not been mixed thoroughly and the cows had died from urea toxicity.
This past summer, we had one producer who lost over 10 cows. It turned out to be blue-green algae toxicity. Actually, cyanobacteria is a more correct name for the toxic agent, but it looks like algae to the casual observer. It has not seemed to be much of an issue here in Alabama that we are aware of. However, I believe that is another reason it is important to report large die-offs. That way we can make veterinarians and the animal agriculture community aware of the diseases and toxins that are active.
We have seen large die-offs from nitrate poisoning, arsenic toxicity, anhydrous ammonia poisoning, perilla mint and some industrial chemicals that I can’t specifically remember the name of the agent. Some large die-offs are over by the time the dead animals are discovered. There are other times when knowing what the agent is allows the producer to act to at least cut the losses. None of this would be possible without working with our laboratory system and the fisheries laboratory at Auburn in the case of bluegreen algae. The toxicology lab at our Auburn facility has always done an excellent job.
Reporting large die-off is me wanting to make sure we do not have a foreign animal disease that is about to explode onto the scene. And it is important that we provide instructions for the proper disposal of the carcasses. It is also me wanting to help you find out what is causing the large die-offs so appropriate actions can be taken to keep it from happening again. If you have six dead cows under a tree that was lightning struck during a thunderstorm, I don’t need to know about that. But if you lose four or more cows and the cause is unknown, please contact your local veterinarian or my office at 334-240-7253. Remember I am from the government and I’m here to help.
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Government guaranteed loans for agricultural related products.
Clint Butler (662) 726-6017
Marcia King (662) 726-6019
James Williams (601) 683-1278
