Cattle coughing when driven is a sign that there is a burden of lungworm in the system. In older cows it can also be a sign of reinfection with larvae – also dangerous. First cough in driven calves is often used as the trigger for first dose in suckler herds and a good complement to regular weighing from a decision-making point of view.
As a rule of thumb, cattle coughing when driven should be treated the following weekend. Cattle coughing before movement should be treated the following day and cattle exhibiting the classic 'hoose' symptom (head down, tongue out, deep cough) should receive veterinary attention quickly.
Cattle coughing when driven is a sign that there is a burden of lungworm in the system. In older cows it can also be a sign of reinfection with larvae – also dangerous. First cough in driven calves is often used as the trigger for first dose in suckler herds and a good complement to regular weighing from a decision-making point of view.
As a rule of thumb, cattle coughing when driven should be treated the following weekend. Cattle coughing before movement should be treated the following day and cattle exhibiting the classic 'hoose' symptom (head down, tongue out, deep cough) should receive veterinary attention quickly.
