Keeping careful track of the body temperature of cattle can provide valuable early warning signs to farmers. A fever is indicative of diseases or infections that can become costly if not treated in time.
Ernest Makua from Red Meat Industry Services (RMIS) addresses and highlights the critical role of monitoring livestock body temperature. He also emphasises several key points that underscore the importance and proper technique of using thermometers effectively.
Why monitor livestock body temperature?
Makua shares that the use of a thermometer is crucial for increased economic efficiency. Mortality rates and treatment costs are decreased because diseases are identified early enough for the necessary treatment.
“Better health monitoring leads to lower mortality rates and higher profitability. The primary purpose of having a livestock enterprise is to have it profitable. After having it profitable, you must also be able to have it sustainable.”
He highlights the following reasons for paying attention to the body temperature of livestock:
- Disease detection: Early detection of diseases like pneumonia and mastitis.
- Animal welfare: Regular monitoring ensures better health and productivity.
- Productivity: Healthy cattle have higher milk production, growth rates, and reproductive efficiency.
- Biosecurity: Early identification of sick animals prevents the spread of contagious diseases.
“The important thing that we need a thermometer for is for animal welfare, for keeping track of cattle health. It ensures that our animals are very productive,” he notes.
“Productive in a sense that they can also be profitable. Remember, healthy cattle are more productive in terms of milk production, growth rates, reproduction efficiency, and many more parameters.”
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What temperature is normal?
Makua stresses the significance of knowing the normal body temperatures for different age groups of cattle. The average normal body temperature ranges from 38.5 to 39 degrees Celsius.
“A normal body temperature for a calf that is a few days old will be between 38.5 and 40.0 degrees Celsius. A calf that is a few weeks old will be between 38.5 and 39.5 degrees Celsius,” he says.
At six months old, the body temperature of a calf will be between 38.5 and 39.5 degrees Celsius. The yearling’s body temperature should be between 38.5 and 39.5 degrees. For the matured cattle, the body temperature is normal when it is between 37.5 and 39.2 degrees.
Makua notes that anything above 39.2 degrees Celsius is considered a fever.
“A high fever is an indication, it is one of the primary symptoms for illnesses such as the red water disease, heartwater disease, lumpy skin disease, and many more diseases that you may find in cattle.”
Furthermore, Makua advises farmers to identify secondary symptoms before confirming any diagnoses.
Guidelines for using a thermometer
Makua shares some important tips on how to use a thermometer:
- Choose the right thermometer: Veterinary thermometers are widely available and are made specifically for use on livestock. Makua includes that the thermometer must be a digital rectal thermometer. “You must make sure that you’re using a thermometer with the right readings. Ensure it’s designed for veterinary use.”
- Prepare the thermometer: “Make sure that you clean the thermometer with disinfectant. Remember the very same thermometer you use for several animals. You have to make sure that you have the disinfectant next to you so that you can disinfect it before you use it again for the next animal.” To ease the animal from any discomfort, Makua adds that it is necessary to lubricate the thermometer before insertion. “You must also lubricate the tip with a suitable lubricant.” He shares that petroleum jelly is a sufficient lubricant.
- Restrain the animal: Makua stresses safety measures for both the animal and the person taking the temperature reading. “Make sure that you restrain the animal. Put the animal in a handling facility. Make sure that it’s very comfortable, it’s not moving in such a way that it will injure the person who is handling it or it will feel very, very stressed. That is very important.”
- Insert the thermometer: “Insert the thermometer into the rectum of the animal. You may need someone to assist you in terms of lifting the animal’s tail. Once the animal tail is up, insert the lubricated thermometer into the rectum about two to three inches for adult cattle. It could be less for calves. Thereafter, wait for the readings.” Makua adds to read the specific directions stipulated for the thermometer, as instructions may differ.
- Record and sanitise: Once the thermometer has been smoothly removed from the rectum, Makua reminds farmers to ensure that the thermometer is sanitised immediately after use. Keeping a record of temperature is very important for correct diagnoses and observation of secondary symptoms. “Once you record the information, you have to check for secondary symptoms, especially in the cases where the animal body temperature is 40 degrees for mature animals.”
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