Tales from the Dead
Performing necropsies on feedlot cattle
by Terri Queck-Matzie
“Just because an animal’s dead doesn’t mean that’s the end of the road,” says Dr. Larry Hollis, D.V.M., M.Ag., an extension beef veterinarian at Kansas State University, where he specializes in beef production medicine. “It might be dead, but it can still hold secrets.” For Hollis, performing a necropsy, or post-mortem exam, on any animal that has died unexpectedly can yield valuable information that can prevent further spread of disease and even greater financial loss for the producer.
“Too many times the producer says, ‘Why spend another
$100 on an animal that has already cost me money?’” says Hollis, “but information
gained through a necropsy may prevent others from getting sick, and ultimately
save the producer thousands of dollars.”
Hollis says a necropsy in a cow/calf or feedlot situation is warranted anytime
a death is unexpected or unusual. Too often, he says, an individual death
is overlooked because it isn’t part of a “death storm.” But that’s exactly
when it needs to be investigated, as that single death could be a sign of
a larger problem.
Determining the cause of death will enable the producer
to build a management plan to control the problem before it takes more casualties.
Does it need to be eradicated? Is it self-limiting? Does the producer need
to develop a vaccination protocol, a treatment program, or take preventative
measures?
Hollis says even the experienced producer can often misread symptoms. He
gives as example a feedlot research project he was involved with several
years ago. “We let the cowboys give their diagnosis, then we performed necropsies,”
he explains. “These were experienced guys who knew their animals, and they
were right about half of the time.”
Hollis adds most producers tend to attribute deaths to a few basic causes, like pneumonia or bloat, when in reality the reasons for premature death are many and diverse. One common misdiagnosis is mycoplasma pneumonia, which is often mistaken for a more traditional type of pneumonia. “This calls for a different type of antibiotic,” he explains.
Hollis says another advantage to performing a necropsy is discovering an unexpected secondary problem the producer may not know he has. For instance, the procedure can reveal feed hardware issues, or parasites like liver flukes. “Often these secondary problems are ones that can be fixed,” says Hollis.
Time is of the essence when performing a necropsy. The sooner after an animal dies, the better, according to Hollis. “Most problems are more easily identified in a freshly dead animal,” says Hollis. “It’s easier to tell what’s wrong in the gross necropsy and the tissues are in better shape for the lab.” He says three days after death is too long.
Most veterinarians can perform necropsies, generally at a cost of around $100. If laboratory tests are necessary, it could cost an additional $50-$100. He adds most vets would like to see their clients request the test more often, rather than wait until the death toll mounts, along with the damage to the producer’s bottom line.
“Any time you don’t know for certain why a death has occurred, it’s worth checking it out,” says Hollis. “You can learn a lot about the animal that has died, and the other animals in the lot.” ©
easy-to-read articles designed to increase overall awareness among the feedlot community.