Case report

Tail tip necrosis in a confined cattle feeding operation

Authors

  • Daniel U. Thomson Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • Wade Taylor Oakley Veterinary Services, Oakley, KS 677 48
  • Tom Noffsinger Benkelman, NE 69201
  • Julia A. Christopher Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • Benjamin W. Wileman Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • John Ragsdale Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol43no1p18-22

Keywords:

bovine, tail tip necrosis, feedlot, abnormalities, bacterial diseases, cattle feeding, disease prevalence, disease surveys, epidemiology, feedlot effluent, joints (animal), lungs, necrosis, postmortem examinations, tail

Abstract

In this study, tail tip necrosis in cattle fed in a confinement feedlot in Nebraska, USA was reported. One-time capacity of the feedlot was 80,000 head and reported prevalence of tail tip necrosis was 1%. Cattle were fed for 120-150 days before signs of the disease were noted. Thirty percent of affected cattle died because of failure to respond to therapy or were marketed prematurely because of chronic diseases. Abnormalities of the tail, joints, and lungs were found during post-mortem examination. Arcanobacterium pyogenes was isolated from all sampled sites. Tail tip necrosis is common in confinement feedlot facilities where cattle are housed on slatted floors and can lead to bacteremia and death.

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Published

2008-12-31

How to Cite

Thomson, D. U., Taylor, W., Noffsinger, T., Christopher, J. A., Wileman, B. W., & Ragsdale, J. (2008). Case report: Tail tip necrosis in a confined cattle feeding operation. The Bovine Practitioner, 43(1), 18–22. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol43no1p18-22

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Articles