Hardware Disease Risk in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats Post Hurricane Helene

What is it?

Hardware Disease or Traumatic Reticulo-peritonitis (TRP), is when a ruminant

accidentally ingests metal or hard plastic objects like pieces of wire, screws, nails, etc; leading to the puncture of the reticulum wall (part of the digestive system). After this occurs, depending on the location of the perforation, the foreign object will then migrate towards vital organs, like the heart, lungs, spleen, and liver; causing significant damage.

Foreign objects can lodge in the lining of the reticulum, not perforating through. If this

occurs, the object can go undetected, causing minimal signs or symptoms, and will

eventually corrode away.

What Causes it?

https://www.beefmagazine.com/ca"le-disease/preven9on-is-the-best-strategy-in-hardware-disease

TPR is typically seen more in dairy cattle that are fed a whole ration and less frequent in pastured cattle because ruminants on pasture typically pay closer attention to what they are ingesting when grazing. However, with pastures being destroyed and limited in forage by flood damage, ruminants will be at a higher risk of ingesting foreign materials.

The risk will be the highest for animals in pastures that were underwater or next to

roads where debris was dumped. Trash and other objects that were lodged or blown

into forages can go unnoticed to the humane eye, increasing the risk of ingestion by the animals.

• Weight loss/anorexia
• Decreased appetite
• Bloating
• Decreased milk production
• Abdominal pain
• Grunting noises
• Discomfort
• Edema
• Scours
• Unthrifty
• Death

Treatment varies with the severity of the disease, but often results in a costly surgery.

Importance:

Signs and symptoms can appear as acute (sudden) or chronic (off and on).

Acute symptoms: Appear quickly and often become unnoticeable within a few

days, leading to loss or need for slaughter.

Weight loss/anorexia

Decreased appetite

Bloating

Decreased milk production

Abdominal pain

Grunting noises

Discomfort

Edema

Scours

Unthrifty

Death

Chronic Symptoms: Less distinctive

Same signs and symptoms as above, but can be less noticeable and

often results in going un-noticed in pastured animals.

Proper diagnosis has to occur by a veterinarian. Diagnostic tools such as ultrasound,

will be utilized along with a physical exam.

In many cases the cattle, goats, or sheep with hardware disease will become unthrifty, lose weight, and will have decreased reproduction rates; leading to decreased profits. In some instances, the affected animal will be lost to death or will need to be slaughtered, causing great loss.

Prevention: Magnets.

https://www.beefmagazine.com/ca"le-disease/preven9on-is-the-best-strategy-in-hardware-disease

Prevention is key in avoiding hardware disease. Many producers with dairy cattle routinely insert magnets into their cattle to avoid any hardware disease that might occur. The magnet (like the one above) is given orally with a bolus gun and landing inside the reticulum of the animal, catching all foreign metal objects and avoiding their migration through the abdominal wall. Magnets can be purchased for around $2 - $5 per magnet. Only one magnet is needed for each animal and is placed typically only once. Magnets can be purchased through a veterinarian or online.

Be sure to note the size of the magnet and whether it is for large ruminants (Cattle) or small ruminants (Goats or Sheep).

If you would like to learn more about placing a magnet in your animals or hardware disease, please contact Michelle South, Area Extension Agent, Agriculture – Livestock at (828)-387-5748 or mcsouth@ncsu.edu.