Brain disorders calves

For calf rearing in dairy farming the following brain disorders are important to pay attention to: Brain necrosis and Meningitis.

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Definition

The following brain disorders are important for calf rearing in dairy farming: Brain necrosis (Cerbro Cortical Necrosis = CNN) is a non-contagious metabolic disease, as the result of a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. This leads to damage of nerves in the brain. The result is central nervous failure symptoms.
Brain inflammation (meningitis) is an inflammation of the meninges caused by microorganisms (bacteria), which can lead to damage to nerves in the brain.

Cause

Brain necrosis, the most important causes for a vitamin B1 deficiency can be considered:

• A sudden feed transition, that disrupts the vitamin B1 production in the rumen
  
• Excessive use of antibiotics in the young calf can disrupt the production of vitamin B1

Description

You cannot distinguish between brain necrosis and meningitis from the symptoms that can be observed in the calf.
The phenomena that can be observed are:

• A tricky attitude
  
• Jerky
  
• Stopped eating and drinking
  
• Muscle vibrations
  
• Cramp
  
• Reduced eyesight and vibrations of the eyeball
  
• Backward stretching of the head (head backwards)
  
• Can’t stand anymore
  
• Mortality

Treatment

Because there cannot be distinguished between brain  necrosis or meningitis from the symptoms that can be observed, the treatment consists in both cases of the following combination:

• Vitamin B1
  
• Antibiotics
  
• Painkiller, in that case inflammatory agent

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