Cow with sunburn

hugo29

Had a simx cross cow that got bad sunburn last year ( and yes she was in Ireland) anyway I see around her eyes and back are still tender, has anyone any suggestion as to how to give her a bit of protection and any remedies
Would blinkers work or even stay on

Thanks

IPFree

Zinc oxide cream like sudocream worked for us few years back but link below reckons its condition of liver trouble. We had to keep one indoors during the day most of the summer. I reckon she realized what we were up to and any time we forgot she'd come up or stand at gap waiting to come indoors!

http://www.totallyvets.co.nz/photosensitivity-in-cattle.html

mf240

Give her multivitamin regularly to boost her liver. It's a liver thing as much as a skin thing.

pakalasa

Has she a lot of while on her? I wonder is the liver damage linked to liverfluke.

Dampintheattic

pakalasa wrote: »

Has she a lot of while on her? I wonder is the liver damage linked to liverfluke.

Thought this problem in cattle had more to do with ingesting certain plants or weeds. St Johns Worth being one of biggest culprits. Could be raving though!

The hawlk

2 liters of Bakers Yeast and give it as a drench you can get it from bakery we got it from Pat the Baker in Granard,When we asked them for some yeast the man at the bakery knew what we wanted it for,it was the vet who told us to get it.

hugo29

I think it is to do with some plant that they ingest, it brings on some condition in the liver , she withheld milk last year after getting it, just want to try to prevent as much as possible this year,

pakalasa

Dampintheattic wrote: »

Thought this problem in cattle had more to do with ingesting certain plants or weeds. St Johns Worth being one of biggest culprits. Could be raving though!

It does. But it seems to affect cows with more white in their coat. Less protection from the UV light.
I was just wondering if the liver is weakened some bit first by liver fluke, leaving them more open to the condition.

hugo29

pakalasa wrote: »

It does. But it seems to affect cows with more white in their coat. Less protection from the UV light.
I was just wondering if the liver is weakened some bit first by liver fluke, leaving them more open to the condition.

yea she has a white head and white spots, but i have an all white cow with no problems

Aiso24

hugo29 wrote: »

Had a simx cross cow that got bad sunburn last year ( and yes she was in Ireland) anyway I see around her eyes and back are still tender, has anyone any suggestion as to how to give her a bit of protection and any remedies
Would blinkers work or even stay on

Thanks

Hi there, I'm a journalist with the Irish Daily Mail working on a story on animals with sunburn today- would you be free for a quick chat?!

greysides

Aiso, you need to be aware that the condition referred to as 'Sunburn' is properly called Photosensitisation and in the situation discussed was almost certainly better considered as a plant poisoning. It is NOT sunburn as humans get it. If you want something more along that lines talk to people with outdoor pigs.

greysides

While some cows seem to be repeat offenders year on year (I presume they have an odd idea of a la carte), it sounds like the OP has a cow with tender skin left over from last years problem. If it were feasible, and around the eyes it's not, you could protect the skin with a layer of high factor sun-cream, or if that's 'not-going-to-happen, perhaps a layer of clean tractor grease just to act as a barrier. Even a bulling marker rubbed on the area perhaps?

Conmaicne Mara

greysides wrote: »

If you want something more along that lines talk to people with outdoor pigs.

greysides

Years ago, someone was having problems with pigs getting sunburnt and the skin on their backs cracking. One of the petroleum companies put their scientists to work and made up a grease to put on the pigs skin to protect and moisturise them. Then they used that fact for advertising which is how I came to read about it.

Nice picture/caption, 'Mara.

jomoloney

@ greysides,

any tips for a charollais ram , that got badly affected last year.. (head and tail area ) well covered for fluke, cobalt etc and no weeds that I know of

only cure has to house him and he cleared up very well,


seems to be reaccuring this year,

greysides

Jo....




Sorry!

Not so easy smear a ram with grease............

If it's re-occurring then the suggestions earlier about yeast, multi-vitamins are relevant. However I don't know if they'd be sufficient.

..................Maybe cut two holes for the ears and add a neck strap..................

I don't have a great solution but I'd consider plastering the areas daily with sun-factor.

Otherwise, there's 'sex tourism'...............truck the ewes into him.............

hugo29

My cow that got it last year has no problems at all this year, loves the sun,

pakalasa

I had a cow with it too, about 4 years ago. Vet said it was photo-sensitization. Whenever the weather gets sunny, I have to keep a close eye on her. A few weeks ago the area around one of her eyes became very raw. Cleared up with a day or two, but always feel that she is never 100%, even though she goes in calf no bother and rears a good calf.

bob charles

Just chilling

greysides

Dad took the kids to the beach... very domesticated.