Vets warn of flood mud scours

Following recent wet weather conditions and leading into winter, Mid Coast Livestock Health and Pest Authority vets are warning farmers to keep an eye out for flood mud scours.

Ian Poe, Mid Coast LHPA senior district vet, says Yersiniosis, also known as flood mud scours, is a condition seen during wet winters on the Mid North Coast.

"Flood mud scours is caused by a bacterial infection in the intestine which can cause profuse watery diarrhoea and death in cattle," he said.

"The bacteria which causes the disease, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, thrives in wet cold conditions. It may be shed in the faeces of many species of animals including cattle, rodents and birds.

"Animals that are stressed from concurrent low nutrition or parasite burdens are also more likely to become affected with Yersinia.

"Affected cattle are usually over 6 months of age.

"Some cattle die suddenly with no signs, however it is more common to observe cattle laying down, lethargic, off feed, dehydrated and with a profuse often grey-brown coloured, putrid smelling diarrhoea. Death usually occurs in 3 to 7 days.

"The disease can be confirmed by culturing the bacteria from a faecal sample."

Dr Poe said early treatment with appropriate antibiotics is important to prevent deaths from occurring in affected animals.

Vets from the neighbouring North Coast LHPA have investigated and confirmed a number of cases of Yersiniosis around the Kyogle, Ruthven and Grafton areas.

For more information contact the district vet with your local office of the Mid Coast LHPA.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378