Farm & Ranch

Investigating lumpy jaw and wooden tongue

Published

8 years ago

September 27, 2016

NTFR

By Jessica Crabtree

Most producers are familiar with the terms lumpy jaw and woody tongue. To others, the two may seem unusual when talking about cattle. However, the condition is real and looks just as it sounds and is as painful as you’d think with lumps on the upper and lower jawbones, hence the name.

First familiarize yourself with the condition. Cattle of any breed, age and sex can be affected by lumpy jaw, although studies show younger cattle seem more at risk. However, a small percentage of animals are affected at any time. Even other species such as pigs and horses can be affected by lumpy jaw.

The specific condition is entitled Actinomycosis. The tricky thing is, cattle can come down with multiple other things that are similar to swollen or lumpy jaw. It is just a matter of contacting your veterinarian as soon as symptoms persist to accurately diagnose.

The cause of lumpy jaw is bacteria. To be exact, Actinomyces bovis, but other organisms may intrude the lesion other than A. bovis. A bovis is a common bacterium found in the mouth of healthy cattle. Issues typically begin when a sharp object, such as a stick or other jagged object, enters the mouth and punctures the lining allowing bacteria to invade further into the tissue.

To read more pick up a copy of the October 2016 NTFR issue.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

5 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.