Buffalo Management

1. Buffalo Management Training provided by InterTribal Buffalo Council

2. Buffalo Management Plans • It is important that each tribe submit a management plan to the office. • An outline is available in Word Format on the “jump drive” provided to you

3. Range • Range evaluations are important in determining what your stocking rates should be. These rates differ from region to region as well as from pasture to pasture.

4. ACTIVITY You are stocking buffalo in the following: short grass prairie pasture in eastern Wyoming; a mid-grass prairie pasture in north central South Dakota; a tall-grass prairie pasture in Iowa. All the pastures are approximately 300 acres. Please give stocking rate recommendations for each type of pasture, considering that all the pastures are in good to excellent condition, water is available throughout the pastures and the herd that will be stocked are a mix of cows, bulls, yearlings, calves, etc.

5. AUM’s

6. Consider the following: • One AUE consumes about 750 pounds of air dry forage per month • 1 bull = 1.5 AUM x 12 months = 18 x 750 lbs of forage = 13,500 lbs of forage per year needed • 1 cow/calf pair = 1 AUM x 12 months = 12 x 750 lbs of forage = 9000 lbs of forage per year needed • 1 yearling = 0.7 x 12 months = 8.4 x 750 lbs of forage = 6,300 lbs of forage per year needed • Weaned calf = 0.50 x 12 months = 6 x 750 lbs of forage = 4500 lbs of forage per year needed

7. Buffalo Health • Stocking rates can even have an effect on buffalo health. Buffalo can be susceptible to diseases and illness just like any other livestock animal – especially animals kept in captivity. • Pastures with high stocking rates can lead to disease and parasite issues.

8. Disease • Common diseases that may be found in buffalo herds (allegedly): • Brucellosis • Tuberculosis (TB) • Foot & Mouth Disease • Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) • Pinkeye • Anthrax • Pneumonia • Copper Deficiency**

9. Brucellosis • Also known as Bang’s Disease • In cattle and buffalo, the disease currently localizes in the reproductive organs and/or the udder. Bacteria are shed in milk or via the aborted fetus, afterbirth, or other reproductive discharges.

10. Symptoms • The most obvious signs in pregnant animals are abortion or birth of weak calves. • Other signs of brucellosis include an • apparent lowering of fertility with poor conception rates • retained afterbirths with resulting uterine infections • enlarged, arthritic joints.

11. How is brucellosis spread? • Brucellosis is commonly transmitted to susceptible animals by direct contact with infected animals or with an environment that has been contaminated with discharges from infected animals. • Even though it has never been scientifically proven to pass from buffalo to cattle – it is required in most states to be bangs tested and/or vaccinated (Montana) • Also, if you vaccinate for brucellosis – vaccinated animals will show a false positive when tested!

12. Brucellosis cont. • Once an infected herd is located, the infection is contained by quarantining all infected and exposed cattle and buffalo and limiting their movement to slaughter only, until the disease can be eliminated from the herd.

13. Tuberculosis (TB) • Bovine Tuberculosis is an infectious disease. • Bovine TB is a chronic disease that rarely shows symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage. The disease can lie dormant in an animal for many years.

14. Symptoms • Gradual loss of weight despite adequate nutrition. • Low-grade fever – Typical signs of fever include animals spending additional time at water sources, more frequent trips to the water source, drooping ears, mouth breathing and time spent away from the herd. • Enlarged lymph nodes (i.e. in the neck) • Difficulty breathing. • If the lungs are affected, a hacking moist cough may be present – cough may be worse in the morning, during cold weather, or exercise.

15. The greatest risk of the disease spreading is through respiration (breathing). Invisible droplets containing TB bacteria may be exhaled or coughed out by infected animals and then inhaled by other animals. Treatment: The only successful method to remove Bovine TB is to destroy all infected and exposed animals.

16. Foot and Mouth Disease • Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is caused by a fast-spreading virus, is highly contagious, and sometimes fatal. The virus is easily transmitted through direct contact between animals or indirectly through the movement of contaminated vehicles, shoes, clothing, or food. The virus can survive in the environment for up to a month. • All cloven-footed animals are susceptible to the disease including: Cattle Buffalo Sheep/Goats Elk and Deer Swine Any other split-toe animals

17. Symptoms • Blisters may form in the animal’s mouth or muzzle, causing slobbering and drooling. Later, the blisters will break, forming raw patches or ulcers. • Blisters on the feet can result in lameness. Affected animals will be reluctant or unable to drink, eat, or walk, and they will lose weight rapidly.

18. Photograph of a mouth lesion in a captive buffalo

19. Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) • VS is a viral disease that primarily affects horses, donkeys, mules, cattle, and swine. This disease also occasionally affects sheep and goats. • VS is most likely to occur during warm months in the Southwest, particularly along river-ways and in valleys.

20. Symptoms of VS • The most common clinical sign in cattle is drooling or frothing at the mouth. Infected animals suffer from blister-like lesions in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves, and teats. Mouth lesions can be so painful that infected animals generally refuse to eat or drink. Infected animals usually experience severe weight loss.

21. The symptoms are similar to foot and mouth disease; therefore, it is extremely important to seek proper vet diagnosis!

22. Treatment of VS • Producers should implement treatments to reduce secondary bacterial infection and promote healing. Supportive care, such as adding high-energy liquid gruel feed or electrolytes to the water supply, is the single most important treatment. Consult a veterinarian about lesions to treat.

23. Bovine Trichomoniasis “TRICH” • Bovine trichomoniasis (commonly called “Trich”) can be an important cause of economic loss in cattle operations that use natural service. • This disease is caused by a protozoan organism. This organism lives in the internal sheath and prepuce of the bull. In cows this organism colonizes in the internal reproductive tract.

24. Transmission • “Trich” is a venereal disease of cattle. It is transmitted from cow to cow by a bull during breeding. Bulls show no clinical signs. Cows can commonly clear the infection within a few months; however, infection in bulls over 4 years of age is usually permanent and is the main source of transmission from one breeding season to another. The disease is self-limiting in cows, as opposed to bulls, that will be permanently infected. After several heat cycles, most cows and heifers clear the infection, but this may take months.

25. Signs • Ranchers may notice the following signs when “Trich” infects a herd: • Early abortion (too early to find an aborted fetus) and return to heat • Repeated breeding resulting in long breeding seasons. • A wide range of gestational ages at pregnancy check. • In first-time infected herds, it is common to end with a 50 to 70 percent calf crop strung out over three to eight months.

26. Treatment • Visit with your vet – for testing and treatment! • There are vaccines available. The vaccines help cows/heifers to clear the infection in a matter of weeks (versus months in unvaccinated cows). In most cases, it does not prevent infection. The vaccine does not prevent infection or reduce the disease in bulls. There is no approved treatment for infected bulls.

27. How can you control the disease in your herd? If one of your bulls is positive for trich, it is recommended to cull all bulls and vaccinate all females twice, one month apart. If you want to keep your bulls, you can vaccinate all females annually, but it would be better to cull all bulls and open cows before next season. An alternative, if you don't want to cull all bulls, is to sample them at least three times at weekly intervals. With three negative tests, we will be 99 percent confident that a bull is negative. How can you prevent the disease in your herd? • Use young, fertile bulls or artificial insemination (AI). • Culture new bulls at breeding soundness exam time. • Keep a closed herd and test any animal that you buy.

28. Pinkeye • Pinkeye is a common infectious disease affecting the eyes of cattle and buffalo. The name describes the redness and inflammation of the lining of the eyelid and eyeball. • Pinkeye is non-fatal. It is known to occur at all seasons of the year. One or both eyes may be involved.

29. Symptoms • Excessive weeping of the affected eye and closure due to pain are the two signs most commonly observed. • As the disease progresses, the cornea may become cloudy or white. An ulcer (eroded circular spot) frequently develops near the center of the cornea. Temporary or permanent blindness can result.

30. Treatment • An intensive fly control program is essential to limit the spread of pinkeye in a herd. • In cattle, prevention has been aimed at reducing the population of face flies to which cattle are exposed, reducing the spread of the infective agent. The insecticide-impregnated plastic ear tags are effective in controlling the horn fly and face fly. These ear tags are also an aid in controlling the stable fly and housefly, and remain effective for up to 5 months. • Insecticide ear tags have not been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of pinkeye in buffalo. Installing insecticide applicator wicks around grain and salt feeders as well as around water sources has been used to reduce the face fly population.

32. Treatment/ Prevention • Also sprays, charged back-rubbers, and dust bags are products that can provide chemical control. • There are commercially available pinkeye vaccines on the market. They are designed for use in cattle. Since the etiological agent for pinkeye in buffalo is unknown, the efficacy of these vaccines in buffalo is very questionable.

33. Note • Handling buffalo with pinkeye can be dangerous to the handlers as well as to the animal. Buffalo that are blind in one or both of their eyes will be unable to protect the affected eye from injury during handling. They will frequently rupture the globe of the affected eye in a handling facility, or a squeeze. buffalo that are bilaterally blind from pinkeye are unable to avoid obstacles, fences, or other buffalo. This predisposes them to serious injury

34. Anthrax • Anthrax is a zoonotic disease of mammals and humans that is caused by a spore-forming bacterium. • Animals are usually infected by ingesting soil-borne spores, such as in contaminated feed or water. Spores can be ingested directly from the soil through grazing or from forage contaminated with infected soil. When periods of drought cause livestock to graze much closer to the ground, animals may ingest spores in soil they accidentally eat along with forage. • Biting flies and other insects may harbor vegetative Anthrax and have also been reported to be vehicles for mechanical transmission.

35. Symptoms • The incubation period for Anthrax in animals is typically 3 to 7 days with a range of 1 to 14 days, or more. • In cattle or sheep, the course of illness may last about 1 to 2 hours. Clinical signs such as fever up to 107°, muscle tremors, respiratory distress, and convulsions often go unnoticed. • After death, there may be bloody discharges from the natural openings of the body, rapid bloating, a lack of rigor mortis, and the presence of unclotted blood.

36. Buffalo killed by anthrax are often found on their back or side with their legs in a "saw-horse position". 

37. Vaccination & Treatment • Annual vaccination of livestock in endemic areas is recommended 2-4 weeks prior to the expected season on onset. • The anthrax bacteria is highly susceptible to a number of antibiotics. Penicillin and oxytetracycline have been reported to be good therapeutic agents. • This vaccination is recommended in South Dakota but may not be recommended in your state!

38. Pneumonia • There are many viruses, bacteria and various stressors associated with pneumonia. One type of virus has been associated with pneumonia in weaned buffalo calves. This virus has been found in the tonsils and upper respiratory tract of clinically normal buffalo. • It is thought that stressors such as shipping, weaning, mixing, overcrowding, starvation, water deprivation, and handling reduces the effectiveness of the lung's protective mechanisms. This allows viruses and bacteria to invade the lung and cause pneumonia.

39. The clinical signs include: increased respiratory rate cough nasal discharge depression anorexia weight loss. Pneumonia can be a frequent cause of sudden death in cattle. Anorexic buffalo calves will often stand along side of their pen mates with their heads in grain or hay feeders and mimic eating. Careful consideration should be given to nutritional changes, handling procedures, transportation, weather, and any other stressors that may be identified as possible contributors to the outbreak of pneumonia.

40. Treatment protocols for buffalo with pneumonia have not been reported. In cattle, many broad-spectrum antibiotics have been used to treat individuals and to mass medicate pens of cattle. If possible, long acting, broad-spectrum antibiotic preparations should be selected for use in buffalo. During an outbreak, careful surveillance of buffalo calves at risk with little or no intervention is critical to minimizing the mortalities caused by pneumonia. Keen observation by ranchers who are familiar with the behavior of buffalo calves will be essential for the identification of sick buffalo calves. Sick calves should be carefully removed from the group, treated and then returned to the group. Mass medication with long acting, broad-spectrum injectable antibiotics or through the feed or water with broad-spectrum oral antibiotics may be considered.

41. Copper Deficiency • This has been a problem experienced by few buffalo programs: Seneca Cayuga & Sisseton • Copper is important for the proper function of many enzymes in the body.   Deficiency leads to improper growth of bones, anemia, nervous tissue defects and many other abnormalities that can affect the health and productivity of your animals. 

42. Symptoms • The hair coat of affected animals tends to be lighter in color than healthy animals, and often lacks luster.  • Animals may have hind limb weakness as a result of degeneration of their spinal cord or there may be an increased incidence of fractures in the herd.  • Reproductive performance is often affected and diarrhea may be present in some animals.  

43. Testing/Treatment • Currently, the only test that gives a good indication of the copper status of an animal is liver analysis.  Liver samples can be collected from animals that die on the farm or from slaughtered animals to assess the herd’s copper status.  • Treatment and prevention of the condition is based on oral supplementation.   Copper can be supplemented in free choice minerals or fed as part of the ration in grain pellets. 

44. Parasites • Parasite problems arise out of high stocking rates. • Overcrowded conditions can lead to overgrazing, increased manure concentrations, and than on to a parasite problem. • If not properly taken care of deaths can occur. • The internal worms that may affect buffalo are the same as cattle and include: • Tapeworms • Stomach worms • Flukes There are thousands of parasites – these are just a few examples! • Possibly the most important element of herd that can be applied to buffalo is parasite control. Buffalo don’t carry a natural resistance to the effects of these pests!

45. Unhealthy appearance Will not gain weight Poor reproductive performance (infertility) Death It is important to maintain a good worming program in your management. Many wormers do not kill tapeworm! This is important to remember even when the de-wormer says its effective against a broad spectrum it is a good idea to use a separate treatment for tapeworms! Symptoms

46. Tapeworms • Tapeworms are the number one parasite that affects buffalo. • A severe infestation will cause chronic diarrhea and wasting away.

48. De-worming • If you have parasite issues or have your buffalo on small pastures – it is recommended to de-worm your herd at least once a year. • The injectable wormers are the best to use, as the pour on wormers may have problems penetrating the thick hair of the buffalo in high enough concentrations to be effective. • However, it is recommended that a vet inject the wormer and if you do not have a vet on site, pour on de-wormers are suggested. • Also keep in mind that most de-wormers require 21 days before it is safe to slaughter and eat the meat!

49. Pour-on Wormers (example) • Cydectin pour-on, labeled for use in cattle of all ages, is effective against a broad spectrum of important internal and external parasites. • Cydectin is also effective against grubs, lice and horn flies, and is the only pour-on labeled for control of the common scab mite.

50. Testing • Check fresh fecal matter by taking it to the vet – they can check if there is a parasite issue and if there is what kind of parasite problem you may have • Copper deficiency mimics a parasite problem so if you continue to see symptoms or even deaths have your buffalo checked!