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Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Signs of good and poor health in cattle
Healthy beef cattle show normal behaviour and appearance. They move easily,
eat well, and stay alert. Their eyes are bright, and the coat is smooth and shiny.
Dung and urine are of normal colour, smell and texture, and their growth is
steady. When cattle are sick, they behave differently. A sick animal may stop
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eating or move slowly. The eyes may look dull, and the coat may become rough.
Dung may contain mucus or blood stains. Weight loss and a swollen belly can
also be seen.
It is important to closely monitor cattle every day. Regular observation helps in
the early detection of sickness. Any sign of poor health should be taken seriously.
Quick action helps reduce losses. Table 10.1 shows the main differences between
healthy and unhealthy animals. Healthy animals show clear signs of good
condition. Unhealthy animals show changes in their body and behaviour.

Table 10.1: Main differences between healthy and unhealthy animals
Signs Healthy animal Unhealthy animal

Eyes Bright and clear Dull, sunken or watery
Coat Smooth, shiny, clean Rough, dull or dirty

Appetite Eats well Eats little or not at all
Movement Walks steadily Lame or weak movement

Temperature Normal Very high or very low
Faeces and Normal, no blood or May have blood, mucus or
Urine mucus diarrhoea
Lazy, restless or isolated from the
Behaviour Active and alert
herd
Causes of poor health in beef cattle
Poor health in beef cattle, like in other animals, can be caused by many things
including parasites, diseases, dirty living areas, poor feeding, and injuries from
poor handling.

Parasites: Parasites are small living organisms that feed on cattle. They can live
either inside or outside the animal’s body. Parasites that live inside the body are
called internal parasites or endoparasites, and those that live outside the body are
known as external parasites or ectoparasites.

External parasites live on the skin and outer body parts of cattle. They feed

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