Content
The health of a cow is one of the main concerns of its owner. You cannot get milk from an animal that is not feeling well. Even a lack of desire to eat can affect milk yield. And if you feel unwell, the milk may disappear altogether. If a cow does not eat, does not drink, or does not chew cud, this means that it is necessary to find out the reason as quickly as possible. Even if the animal looks healthy on the outside, there is something wrong with it. And this “not so” is very serious. Lack of cud in cows always means problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
What is “chewing cud” in cows?
If you believe the Huck brothers, the extinct aurochs was not fundamentally different from domesticated cattle: a large body on short legs, a powerful neck and a broad-browed head. Such an animal is not adapted to long running when escaping from predators. His weapon is stealth, and in an open confrontation, enormous physical strength.
Turs lived on the edges of forests and tried to avoid being seen by predators.But the latter are divided into daytime and nighttime. The former see well during the day, the latter at night. But at dusk, vision fails both groups. Thus, the aurochs had only short pre-dawn and pre-sunset minutes to forage for food.
Evolution has followed the path of “collecting as much food as possible and quietly eating it in a safe shelter.” The rumen, the largest section of the stomach, acts as a backpack. Although it is more likely an expanded pocket of the esophagus.
Having quickly grabbed whole stems of grass, the aurochs retreated into the undergrowth at the edge. A motionless dark animal in the bushes is difficult to spot. There, lying down, the tur calmly ate everything that it quickly grabbed while grazing at dusk. To do this, he regurgitated the plucked grass in small portions and chewed it again. It is this process that is called chewing gum today.
Nobody changed the principles of digestion in domesticated livestock. A cow does not eat short grass because it does not have incisors on its upper jaw. She grabs the plants with her tongue, “winds” them up and picks them off as best she can. Sometimes with roots and soil. Having filled the rumen with food, the cow lies down on the cud.
The work of the proventriculus is structured in such a way that regurgitation occurs due to contraction of the walls of the rumen. The food crushed during the chewing process enters another part of the stomach. Only there does the real digestion of feed begin.
A cow has only one true stomach: the abomasum, the other 3 sections are the proventriculus.
List of reasons why a cow does not chew cud
Any disease affecting the cow's digestive tract will lead to the cessation of rumination. In infectious diseases, there are other symptoms that can be used to make a preliminary diagnosis. But sometimes a cow loses weight for no apparent reason.This usually means that the disease is not infectious. But it does not become any less dangerous.
The lack of chewing gum is caused by:
- traumatic reticulitis;
- tympany;
- rumen atony;
- rumen acidosis;
- poisoning;
- calving;
- a lot of other reasons.
The cause of the problem can be immediately recognized only in two cases: it is known that the cow is about to calve, and the swollen sides of the animal are visible to the naked eye. In all other cases, if the cow suddenly loses her appetite and chews cud, you need to call the veterinarian.
Traumatic reticulitis
Grabbing grass along with soil and everything that a person might throw out for grazing, the cow often swallows sharp, hard objects. But you can do without damaging the mucous membrane. To disrupt the functioning of the rumen, it is enough for the animal to swallow a certain number of bearing balls. The heaviness in the scar will not allow the muscles to contract properly, and the work of the proventriculus will stop.
Traumatic reticulitis has very varied symptoms, making diagnosis often difficult. When blunt objects accumulate in the rumen, the disease develops gradually. The cow is losing weight, eating poorly, and her milk yield is decreasing. But all this happens slowly.
In case of acute reticulitis, that is, a foreign body has pierced the rumen wall, the deterioration of the cow’s condition occurs quickly:
- the temperature rises briefly;
- observe general oppression;
- chewing gum disappears due to weakening rumen contractions;
- pain appears.
Treatment of traumatic reticulitis is carried out using a magnetic probe, which is pushed into the scar. Before the procedure, the cow is kept on a starvation diet, but is given plenty to drink. The liquid helps clear the rumen of feed.
It is better to entrust the insertion of the probe, in the absence of the necessary skills, to a veterinarian. More than one similar procedure may be required, since a cow’s rumen sometimes accumulates a whole warehouse of scrap metal.
If the offending item cannot be removed, the cattle are usually slaughtered. Surgery is expensive and impractical because it is difficult to locate the puncture site. The exception is animals that are valuable in breeding terms.
All metal and other debris eaten by a cow along with food settles in the largest proventriculus - the rumen.
Tympany
There is only one option when tympany is a disease and not a symptom. It's called primary. It occurs as a result of a cow eating a large amount of easily fermented or spoiled feed. In calves during the transition from dairy feeding to plant foods. In all other cases, this is a symptom of another disease, which is called secondary tympany.
Scar swelling can be acute or chronic.
In acute cases, the cow eats and drinks poorly, the volume of her rumen quickly increases, and her cud disappears. The latter disappears due to the fact that the walls of the scar expand as a result of the accumulation of gases and cannot contract normally. Primary acute tympany develops due to poor-quality and fermenting feed, secondary - due to blockage of the esophagus, infectious diseases and poisoning.
Chronic tympany is always secondary. Occurs due to other types of diseases. The scar periodically swells, but the symptoms are blurred. The cow eats and drinks, but gradually loses weight.
Atony
The difference between hypotension and rumen atony is the degree of symptoms.With the first, the number and strength of contractions of the scar walls decrease, and with the second, they disappear completely. One of the reasons for primary atony may be that the cow drinks little water.
The rest is “traditional”:
- spoiled food;
- excess straw and branches in the diet;
- feeding large amounts of fermentation waste;
- excess concentrates;
- lack of exercise;
- crowding;
- long transportation;
- other improper conditions of detention.
In acute hypotension, rumen contractions are weak. The gum may be limp, short, sparse, or absent altogether. In acute atony, the scar stops contracting completely. The cow does not drink water well, which causes mild dehydration. You can notice this by the dryness of the manure. Acts of defecation are rare. Symptoms of the disease may not be noticed if you rarely have contact with the cow. Acute atony cannot be determined by other signs, temperature, pulse and respiration. These indicators are almost normal.
With chronic atony, the deterioration of the cow's condition alternates with improvement. Diarrhea gives way to constipation. Exhaustion is progressing.
Treatment begins only after the cause of the disease has been established, since otherwise attempts to help can cause harm. The veterinarian prescribes therapy.
Rumen acidosis
This is the name given to increased acidity in the rumen. Acidosis occurs chronically or subacutely.
The reasons for the development of the disease are feeding a large amount of carbon feed:
- apples;
- sugar beets;
- corn;
- silo;
- grain concentrates.
All of these feeds are considered “milk-based”, and owners sometimes increase their share at the expense of those containing a large amount of fiber: hay and straw.Such unbalanced feeding leads to changes in the composition of the microflora in the rumen, an increase in the concentration of fatty acids and the development of metabolic acidosis.
The cow will refuse to eat, but may drink a lot of water in an attempt to reduce the acidity. The animal's condition is depressed, its gait is unsteady. Feces are liquid, gray or yellow-green in color.
The diagnosis is made based on medical history and laboratory tests of rumen juice, so a veterinarian is indispensable. Treatment is carried out using drugs that reduce acidity. Changing the cow's diet is a must. If the causes are eliminated and treated in a timely manner, the prognosis for acidosis is favorable.
Poisoning
When poisoned, cows are not always depressed. Some poisons cause stimulation of the nervous system. Most often, the main symptom of food poisoning is intestinal upset. With almost all types of poisoning, cows stop eating, but may drink more than usual. Atony of the rumen or tympany is often observed, which automatically means the absence of chewing gum.
When poisoned, cows often cannot rise to their feet.
Calving
Chewing cud is a sign of a calm, relaxed state of the cow. In case of any distractions, fear, pain, etc., chewing gum stops. Before calving, not only hormonal changes in the body occur, preparing the cow for milk production. About a day before the birth of the calf, the position of the internal organs begins to change: the stomach drops, the ligaments of the hip joint become elastic. The threshold of contractions begins, which also does not add peace of mind to the cow.The cow often does not eat or even drink before calving.
In case of complications after calving, there will also certainly be:
- bad feeling;
- refusal of food;
- reluctance to drink;
- lack of chewing gum;
- desire to lie down.
Elevated temperature is possible with the development of inflammatory processes.
But even without complications, at first the cow will only drink water. A warm and preferably sweetened drink should be offered to the animal immediately after calving. Whether a cow will be willing to eat on the first day depends on her health and well-being.
But there are few such cows. Basically, the first time the cud appears is when the calf, standing on its legs, begins to suck the udder. In the first 2-3 days after calving, rumination may be mild. At this time, the cow’s internal organs are still “falling into place.” This does not contribute to a relaxed state.
It’s worse if the cow refuses to eat, doesn’t drink, doesn’t try to stand up and doesn’t chew the cud. There is a high probability that she will have complications.
Postpartum complications
By and large, all postpartum complications, one way or another, lead to the fact that the cow does not eat or drink or does so reluctantly. Almost all such problems are accompanied by severe pain, in which chewing gum is always absent. The development of inflammatory processes with the onset of fever may increase thirst, but not appetite.
Most often, calving goes well, but it is better if it is not on a trampled, dirty pasture, but in a special box with clean bedding
Postpartum hemoglobinuria of cows
It most often develops in high-yielding cows shortly after calving. In Russia, it is most common in the Asian part.Presumably it can occur in other regions of the country, but there it is mistakenly mistaken for food poisoning, leptospirosis, piroplasmosis or a cold.
The etiology of the disease is not fully understood. Observations have shown that, with a high degree of probability, the main cause is phosphorus deficiency. Hemoglobinuria developed in cows that were fed large amounts of feed rich in oxalic acid.
At the initial stage of the disease, cows experience depression. The animal is not eating well, but is drinking a lot of water as it has a slight fever. Diarrhea and hypotension develop. Chewing gum becomes less intense or disappears completely. Milk yields are declining. Clear signs of hemoglobinuria appear only at the second stage of development: dark cherry urine containing protein and breakdown products of blood and kidneys.
The prognosis is usually unfavorable. Within 3 days, up to 70% of sick cows may die or be forced to slaughter. Since the disease is caused by feeding disorders, immunity is not developed.
When treating, the first thing to do is eliminate the foods that cause the disease. Give a solution of sodium bicarbonate 100 g per day to drink for a course of 3-4 days. Maintenance therapy is also carried out.
Milk fever
This problem is hard to ignore. It most often develops when high-yielding cows are fed large amounts of concentrates. Signs may even appear before calving, although the “standard” development of the disease occurs 2-3 days after the calf is born. In non-standard cases - during calving or 1-3 weeks after it.
Since paresis is paralysis of the limbs, gastrointestinal tract and other organs, the cow does not eat or drink. There is no chewing gum. It's difficult to do anything if your muscles are paralyzed.The owner will easily notice the disease, since the cow cannot stand and the neck is curved in an S-shape.
Treatment is carried out therapeutically, but it cannot be done without a veterinarian. The treatment method includes pumping the udder with air using the Evers apparatus. It is unlikely that this machine will be in the personal possession of a small farmer. It is easier to take preventive measures by providing the cow with a balanced diet. Before calving and immediately after it, sweet water is given to drink.
Judging by the protruding bones, paresis is not the only problem this cow has.
Uterine prolapse
With this complication, the cow does not eat or drink, and does not even remember chewing cud. She has a huge bag of red flesh dangling from behind, which pulls on her insides, causing severe pain. In this situation, there is no question of food, drink, or chewing gum. But the owner is unlikely to pay attention to such trifles at such a moment. To reduce the uterus, you will need a veterinarian with painkillers and several people.
One of the reasons for subsequent uterine prolapse in a cow is heavy calving, forced removal of the calf and dry birth canal
What to do if a cow doesn't have cud
Eliminate the cause. The cud will appear on its own when the cow’s condition returns to normal, she begins to eat, drink and stops experiencing pain. There was an experience of “therapy of despair” in a remote village during tympany: remove the cud from the mouth of a healthy cow and feed it to the sick one. This will help restore the bacterial balance in the rumen. Or maybe not. But it won't get any worse.
Why does a cow refuse to eat?
There are many reasons for this:
- infectious diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract;
- non-communicable diseases caused by poor maintenance and unbalanced diet;
- mechanical blockage somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract.
The most common problems with an unbalanced diet in dairy cows are ketosis and calcium deficiency.
Ketosis
Occurs when there is a lack of glucose and an excess of fats and protein in the diet. But an important role in the development of ketosis is played by a chronic lack of a complex of macroelements in feed:
- cobalt;
- copper;
- iodine;
- zinc;
- manganese
The subclinical form of the disease does not manifest itself externally, so this stage is missed in private and small farms. At the initial stage of clinical manifestations, the cow is reluctant to eat, the cud periodically disappears due to rumen hypotension, and the appetite is distorted. Since milk yield is also decreasing, the owner begins to worry. But milk yield decreases due to every sneeze.
Severe ketosis is characterized by the cow not eating or drinking. The chewing gum disappears completely due to rumen atony. The state of excitement gives way to depression. Body temperature is reduced. In addition to this, they observe:
- constipation;
- diarrhea;
- enlarged liver;
- decreased diuresis;
- acid reaction of urine and rumen contents;
- mastitis;
- reproductive dysfunction;
- postpartum complications.
Treatment of the disease is carried out with injections of glucose, insulin, Sharabrin liquid and other necessary drugs. Depending on the type of medication, some are administered intravenously, some subcutaneously, and Sharabrin liquid is administered into the abdominal cavity. So you can’t do without a veterinarian.
In addition to drug therapy, symptomatic treatment of the disease is carried out using drugs that stimulate chewing gum, cardiac and sedatives.
Easily digestible carbohydrates are introduced into the cow's diet, bringing their ratio to protein to 1.5:1. They give you sweet water to drink. A complex of micro- and macroelements is also added to the feed.
Ketosis in a cow can occur even with free grazing if the grass is poor in macronutrients
Calcium deficiency
Aka hypocalcemia. Other names:
- postpartum paresis;
- hypocalcemic fever;
- birth paresis;
- maternity apoplexy;
- maternity coma;
- milk fever.
Signs of calcium deficiency are described above in the section “Paresis in labor”.
Other reasons
In addition to vitamin deficiencies, lack of various elements and the listed gastrointestinal problems, the cow often does not eat or drink for other reasons. One of them: mechanical blockage of the esophagus.
This is a common disease in cows that ingest feed for the first time without chewing. May be complete or incomplete. If the blockage is incomplete, the animal drinks a little, but does not eat. Chewing gum also stops. A problem arises when swallowing pieces of wire, nails and other objects that get stuck in the esophagus, but do not completely block the passage.
When the blockage is complete, the cow does not eat, does not drink, and cannot chew cud. She feels anxious. Salivation, frequent swallowing movements, and rumen flatulence are observed.
With timely assistance, the cow will recover. But if the blockage is complete and treatment is not provided, the animal suffocates within several hours. So you can’t hesitate when there is a blockage of the esophagus.
What to do if a cow is not eating well
Check her health and oral health. Under certain circumstances, cattle may refuse to drink but not eat. If a cow has lost a lot of weight, but at first glance eats and drinks willingly, she most likely has stomatitis. The animal is hungry and tries to eat, but cannot chew the food.
Stomatitis
This is a common disease in domesticated herbivores that cannot lead a natural lifestyle and eat a varied diet.
Causes of stomatitis:
- improper wear of molars;
- inappropriate administration of medications that cause burns to the mucous membrane of the tongue and oral cavity;
- feeding very rough food;
- eating poisonous plants;
- diseases of the scar and pharynx;
- infectious diseases.
With stomatitis, the cow may initially swallow food, which gives the impression of a good appetite. But there is no chewing gum, and the unprocessed food is sent back into the rumen. When feeding with feed granules, the already soaked concentrate can pass into the stomach. But with a lack of roughage, gastrointestinal diseases and metabolic disorders develop.
Stomatitis, due to which the cow does not eat and hardly drinks, may be a symptom of foot and mouth disease
Why doesn't the cow drink?
If only a sick animal does not eat, then an absolutely healthy cow may not drink. Reasons why cattle refuse to drink:
- there is enough water in the lush grass in the pasture;
- the water in the drinking bowl is dirty;
- in winter the water is too cold to drink.
In summer, when grazing on lush grass, a cow may not drink water for 2-3 days. Although sometimes she probably drinks a little, it is almost not noticeable compared to the usual norm.
In winter, cows should be given water to drink at least + 10-15 °C. Otherwise, after a couple of sips the animal will refuse water. And if there is a lack of fluid, there will be too little saliva to properly soak the chewing gum.
A thirsty cow will even drink stinking water with worms, but then don’t be surprised that she refuses to eat and has no cud due to problems with the gastrointestinal tract
Prevention measures
It is always easier to prevent any disease than to treat it later. Or not treat, but immediately slaughter the cow. In addition, measures to prevent most diseases are very simple. It is enough just to keep the livestock with dignity:
- provide adequate exercise;
- make sure the cow receives the required amount of ultraviolet radiation (in other words, walk all day long);
- do not feed spoiled food;
- do not feed moldy hay;
- maintain the required proportions between different types of feed in the diet;
- monitor the cleanliness and temperature of the water.
To prevent infectious diseases, it is necessary to vaccinate the cow on time and follow the usual sanitary and veterinary rules.
Conclusion
If a cow doesn’t eat, doesn’t drink, or doesn’t have chewing gum, this is a reason to fall into a slight panic and start calling the veterinarian. You can consider yourself lucky if it is “just” typpania, and your home medicine cabinet has remedies for it. In all other cases, the cow requires the help of a veterinarian.
Why does a cow tremble when she drinks?