Animal Diseases
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Most animal diseases do not infect humans
From a farmer's point of view diseases fall into four main categories:
- Minor diseases and diseases that are easily treated.
These must
be dealt with or the animal will not thrive but they are a matter of
routine. If the disease is genetic or the susceptibility to it is genetic
then the animal may be fattened as usual but kept out of the breeding pool.
- Diseases that are uneconomic to treat.
These are best dealt with
by avoidance or prophylactic methods. When they occur it is usually best to
cull the animal immediately.
- Diseases that might be spread to humans. These must be
treated carefully. Usually the animal and often the whole herd is culled
and the carcase disposed of under biosecurity measures.
- Diseases of husbandry.
These are rare among experienced farmers. Newcomers sometimes make basic
mistakes. Commonest are mineral deficiencies which are easily made good.
More information
- Avian Influenza - 'Bird Flu'
- A serious disease in wild birds and poultry that rarely infects humans but is serious when it does.
- BSE - 'Mad Cow' disease
- A disease of cattle that is the the subject of strict controls worldwide.
- Bovine Tuberculosis
- A disease of cattle that can be a severe threat to humans too.
- Foot and mouth Disease
- A serious disease of cloven-hoofed mammals that only very rarely infects
humans.
Farming