Three Day Sickness Alert

CATTLE producers are being warned to watch for signs of three-day sickness in their herd due to dry weather altering the usual season of the sickness.

Dr Lyndell Stone, district veterinarian for Hunter Local Land Services, said three day-sickness, also known as bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) is typically seen in mid to late summer, but this year the pattern has changed.

“In our region, it normally arrives in mid to late summer,” said Dr Lyndell Stone

“However, the dry weather seems to have changed this normal pattern and we are yet to have any convincing evidence of BEF cases this year,” she said.

Dr Stone said the late arrival of the disease combined with the minimal cases of three-day sickness last year is the perfect scenario to create sicker animals next year and urges producers to immunise older and high value cattle.

“This is on the back of very minimal distribution of three-day sickness last year,” said Dr Stone.

“If our region misses distribution of the virus again this year it means our stock will be a bit older, heavier, pregnant and/or lactating when it does arrive in a future summer with strong mosquito and virus transmissions,” he said.

“In this situation, the impact of the virus on older animals can be more severe.

“When this has occurred in the past, producers worry that they are seeing a more severe variant of the fever, however they needn’t worry as the virus is actually very stable and hasn’t changed over the years,” Dr Lyndell Stone said.

Signs of three-day sickness:

Affected animals may present with a fever of over 40 degrees, stiffness in their joints, lameness and reluctance to move. They may also drool, have watery eyes and a nasal discharge.

“Infected animals will often go down, heavy animals, such as bulls and pregnant cows, appear to be affected the worst,” said Dr Stone.

“Cattle are typically only unwell for a few days, hence the name three-day sickness – however, a small proportion of cattle can take weeks to get up,” she said.

“Three-day sickness can be diagnosed with a blood test, but only in the very early fever stage of the disease and on clinical signs,” Dr Lyndell Stone said.

To help the industry, District Veterinarians track which diseases are circulating to give early warnings and help producers decide what vaccinations and preparations they need to consider.

Your assistance in reporting suspect cases to your local District Vet is appreciated: 1300 795 299.