The most painful thing for a dairy farmer is losing her cow, either a young calf or a mature one.
Most farmers lost their livestock in the dry season due to a lack of foliage and drinking water.
Farmers had hoped to increase their livestock herd from abundant fodder from the young growing foliage.
Sadly, instead of increasing their herd, a majority have been losing their cows since the beginning of long rains.
What causes bloating in cows?
Long rains have increased the growth of foliage which cows were not used to. This has led to a condition known as bloating.
Bloating is a condition brought about by the building up of gas in the rumen. It occurs when the gas produced from the normal process of digestion is not released.
There are two types of bloating; gassy bloat and frothy bloat.
Gassy bloat occurs when the gullet is obstructed by a foreign object such as potatoes or cannot burp especially when with milk fever or tetanus.
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Frothy bloat occurs as a result of the development of a stable foam on top of the rumen liquid blocking the release of gas.
This type is the most common form of bloat. It is seasonal with peaks in rainy seasons when there is plenty of young growing forage or as a result of feeding legumes.
These young forages increase the viscosity of the rumen fluid preventing small bubbles of gas usually formed by the rumen fermentation from coming together to form a free gas that can be belched off.
What are the symptoms of bloating in cows?
Left abdomen abnormally swollen outward, is the most common sign followed by discomfort, pain, or death that may occur within 15 minutes after the development of bloat.
Unlike gaseous bloat seen in one or two animals, frothy bloat can affect up to 26% of the herd.
Sudden death may be the first sign seen by a farmer in most cases If the animal had fed on a lot of wet young forage.
What is the treatment of a bloated cow?
Passing a stomach tube is the best treatment for gassy bloat and make sure to identify the cause of obstruction once the gas is released.
Using a trocar and cannula punched through the left side into the rumen can help release the gassy blot.
This should b used as the last option by a veterinarian as it provides a chance for the introduction of infection.
Drenching the animal with an anti-bloat or using Epsom salt solution immediately after the first signs are identified can alleviate the problem and prevent a fatality.
This should be repeated daily if bloating is severe.
Avoid feeding with wet young forage and weeds. Young forages should be left to weather for at least two days.
