Cows and Goats Management
Primary 6 · Science and Elementary Technology
Cows and Goats Management
Lesson 5 of 6
16 min
Let's begin
On a farm in Nyagatare, a young calf suddenly developed a high fever. The glands near its ears swelled up and it stopped eating. Three weeks earlier, the farmer had noticed brown ticks inside its ears but had not sprayed it.
The vet's diagnosis was East Coast fever, a disease spread by ticks. The calf's illness could have been prevented. In this lesson you will learn how.
Parasitic diseases are caused by parasites: small creatures that live on or inside an animal and feed on it. Infectious diseases are caused by germs (bacteria and viruses) that spread from one animal to another.
| Parasite | Signs | Prevention and control |
|---|---|---|
| Ticks, which also spread East Coast fever (a very serious cattle disease found in Rwanda) | Ticks on the ears, neck and udder; with East Coast fever: high fever and swollen glands | Spray or dip animals regularly as the vet advises; groom and remove ticks; zero grazing |
| Worms in the stomach and liver | Thin animal, rough coat, pot belly, diarrhoea | Deworm regularly with the right dose; keep sheds dry; clean troughs |
| Mange mites and lice | Itching, rubbing, hair loss, thick crusty skin | Spraying, grooming and clean bedding |
| Disease | Animals | Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Foot-and-mouth disease (a virus) | Cattle and goats | Blisters in the mouth and on the feet, drooling, limping. Spreads very fast. |
| Mastitis (bacteria in the udder) | Milking cows and goats | Hot, swollen, painful udder; clots or blood in the milk. |
| Lumpy skin disease (a virus spread by biting insects) | Cattle | Fever and round lumps all over the skin. |
| Anthrax (bacteria) | Cattle and goats | Sudden death, sometimes with blood from the nose and mouth. Dangerous to people too. |
| Brucellosis (bacteria) | Cattle and goats | Pregnant animals lose their young. It can pass to people who drink raw milk. |
| Goat plague (PPR) (a virus) | Goats and sheep | Fever, runny eyes and nose, mouth sores, diarrhoea. Many goats can die. |
Warning
Never eat meat from an animal that died suddenly of an unknown illness. It may have died of anthrax, which can make people seriously ill. Cooking does not make it safe. Report the death to the animal health officer.
Tip
Five ways to stop the spread: Vaccinate, Spray, Deworm, Isolate, call the Vet.
Try each one first, then tap Show answer to check.
How is East Coast fever spread, and how can a farmer prevent it?
Answer: It is spread by ticks. The farmer can spray or dip the cattle regularly, remove ticks, and keep cows in zero grazing.
A cow's milk has small clots in it and her udder is hot and swollen. Which disease might she have?
Answer: Mastitis, an infection of the udder.
Why should a farmer keep a newly bought goat apart from the herd for a while?
Answer: It might carry a disease without showing signs yet. Keeping it apart stops the disease spreading to the rest of the herd.
Why should milk be boiled before drinking?
Answer: Boiling kills germs, such as those of brucellosis, that can pass from cows to people through raw milk.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Match each disease to how it is caused or spread.
Tap one on the left, then its partner on the right.
