Cold cow syndrome in Cows (Bovis) | Vetlexicon
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Cold cow syndrome

ISSN 2398-2993

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Synonym(s): mycotoxin zearalenone

Introduction

  • Cause: undetermined. May be related to the intake of very high levels of soluble carbohydrates (27-43%) in the pasture or estrogenic compounds in plants and/or mycotoxins.
  • Signs: hypothermia, dullness, agalactia, ataxia, falling over and profuse diarrhea.
  • Diagnosis: based on clinical presentation.
  • Treatment: non-specific, supportive such as housing affected cattle for 24 h. Nursing care if the affected cattle are recumbent.
  • Prognosis: high morbidity (up to 80%) but low mortality.

Presenting signs

  • Up to 80% of a herd may present with dullness, agalactia (sudden and dramatic milk drop), ataxia, falling over and profuse diarrhea.
  • Affected cattle are hypothermic and feel cold to touch.

Geographic incidence

  • The disease has been reported in herds in the UK.
  • May occur on several farms in a region (outbreak).

Age predisposition

  • Most commonly reported in adult (mature) milking cows.

Gender predisposition

  • Most commonly reported in adult (mature) milking cows.

Public health considerations

  • None.

Cost considerations

  • Supportive therapy costs
  • Labor expenses associated with treating affected stock
  • Loss of production

Pathogenesis

Etiology

  • Undetermined.
  • The condition may be related to the intake of very high levels of soluble carbohydrates (27-43%) in the pasture or estrogenic compounds found in plants and/or mycotoxins Mycotoxicosis.
  • The mycotoxin zearalenone has been implicated in some disease outbreaks.

Predisposing factors

General

  • Cows freshly turned out to pasture in the springtime.
  • Does not appear to be associated with specific weather conditions.

Specific

  • The condition is commonly seen in spring.
  • Cattle grazing ryegrass pastures.
  • Intake of very high levels of soluble carbohydrates (27-43%) in the pasture.

Pathophysiology

  • Unknown.

Timecourse

  • Acute presentation shortly after cows are turned out to pasture.
  • Affected cattle recover rapidly.

Epidemiology

  • Up to 80% of a herd maybe affected.
  • Surrounding herds maybe affected at the same time (presenting as a regional outbreak).

Diagnosis

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Treatment

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Prevention

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Outcomes

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Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

  • Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
  • Veterinary information service (1984) Vet Rec 114, 603.
  • Schoental R (1983) Cold cow syndrome. Vet Rec 112 (25), 594 PubMed.

Other sources of information

  • Radostits O M, Gay C C, Blood D C & Hinchliff K W (2006) Veterinary Medicine. In: A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Sheep, Pigs, Goats and Horses. 7th edn. Saunders, China. pp 1987.