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Cattle deaths to blackleg reported in county


In a press release, Troxel said the diagnostic lab of the state Livestock and Poultry Commission had confirmed the deaths. The disease is caused by Clostridium chauvoei, “and is easily and inexpensively prevented by a vaccine,” he said.

Blackleg typically appears during times of drought when dry conditions and short supplies of forage cause cattle to graze closer to the ground, making it easier to ingest soil particles that may contain the blackleg bacterium, Troxel said.

Blackleg usually affects young cattle between six months and 2 years of age, but it’s not unusual for adult cattle to die from the infection.

The bacteria can cause severe lameness, depression and fever, but the most common symptom is sudden death, Troxel said.



