Why EBL should be eliminated
Enzootic bovine leukosis, commonly known as EBL, is a disease found mainly in dairy cattle. While the incidence of EBL in Saskatchewan is not high and it presents no threat to human health, its eradication would increase Saskatchewan’s status on the international market, says Shelagh Copeland, a veterinary pathologist with the provincial agriculture department.
“EBL is a disease that has slowly spread throughout the world. In fact, some countries are not allowed to buy animals from a herd containing one or more animals testing positive for EBL,” she said.
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The virus may cause malignant lymphosarcoma or leukemia in cattle. It may also depress the immune system, or cause a slight increase in infection fighting cells, but no signs of disease.
The predominant signs of EBL are loss of weight, decreased milk, enlarged lymph nodes, decreased appetite, weakness of back legs, fever and respiratory difficulties. Bulging eyes, diarrhea and constipation are also symptoms.
There is no treatment for animals with EBL. Transmission of the virus requires close, prolonged contact and it is believed most infections result from blood contamination by insects or needles.
“To prevent EBL, needles should be sterilized if used between animals and insect vectors should be controlled,” said Copeland. It is also important that animals introduced into the herd be tested for EBL at least 30 days prior to admission.
To test for EBL, blood samples must be sent to accredited laboratories.
An EBL-free herd may be certified through Agriculture Canada.
– Saskatchewan Agriculture
Cold weather can bring colic
As the temperature turns colder, horses need more feed to replace energy loss brought about by harsher weather.
But horse owners must practise sound management in altering rations if problems with colic or founder are to be avoided, said Dave Freeman, equine specialist with the Oklahoma extension service.
Concentrate composition and amounts should be increased gradually over a period of several days, especially if the horses are already consuming large quantities of grain, Freeman said.
“If ration changes occur too rapidly, horses may suffer from colic.”
A horse’s anatomy makes it susceptible to colic – acute abdominal pain. It has about 100 feet of intestines, most of which float free in the abdomen making it easy for the intestines to become tangled or displaced.
Nutritional causes of colic include mismanagement such as abrupt changes in diet, consumption of mouldy grain or hay, overfeeding energy at a single feeding or improper digestion and impaction of nutrients brought on by ineffective deworming programs.
Horses suffering from colic may exhibit symptoms such as restlessness, pawing, looking at their sides constantly or violent rolling.
Owners who see signs of colic in a horse should remove all feed, hay and water, then call a veterinarian.
Horses that will lie quietly can be allowed to do so. However, colic-suffering horses should not be allowed to roll.
– Oklahoma State University
