Common Beef Animal Health Issues

At Crecora Mills, we see time and again that poor beef performance is rarely down to one single issue.
It’s usually a combination of parasites, nutrition, rumen health, and management.

Identifying and addressing these problems early can make the difference between cattle that thrive and cattle that merely survive.


Parasites & External Challenges

The most common parasite-related issues affecting beef cattle include:

  • Lungworm

  • Liver fluke

  • Rumen fluke

  • Lice and ticks

These parasites steal energy, suppress appetite, and significantly reduce feed efficiency.

For example, it’s estimated that a bull with a heavy lice burden can burn the equivalent of 1 kg of concentrate per day just fighting the infestation.

Fluke in Modern Grass-Based Systems

Lungworm, liver fluke, and rumen fluke are becoming increasingly prevalent in Irish grass-based beef systems.

Fluke infestations can cause:

  • Poor thrive

  • Weight loss

  • Reduced feed conversion

  • Delayed finishing

A structured dosing programme is essential.

⚠️ Important:
When dosing for rumen fluke, treatments only kill adult fluke. Eggs already present will hatch.

👉 A second dose 3–4 weeks later is critical.
Without it, infestations quickly re-establish.

Best Practice

  • Have a clear dosing plan and stick to it

  • Work with your vet on correct timing and product choice

  • Quarantine and dose bought-in cattle

  • Accept that parasites can’t be eliminated — only controlled


Rumen Upset & Acidosis

The rumen is effectively a 50-gallon fermentation vat, designed to break down fibrous feeds like grass and silage using billions of beneficial microbes.

These microbes need:

  • Stable intake

  • Consistent feeding times

  • A near-neutral rumen pH

What Causes Rumen Upset?

  • Rapid introduction of high-starch feeds

  • Ad-lib cereal diets

  • Sudden turnout to lush, leafy grass

  • Inconsistent feeding of straights

Rapidly fermentable feeds (e.g. barley, crimped grain) cause rumen pH to drop.
When this happens:

  • Beneficial microbes die

  • Feed efficiency collapses

  • Performance drops sharply

In severe cases, acidosis can be fatal.

Practical Prevention

  • Make all diet changes gradually over weeks, not days

  • If feeding straights, be exact with levels and consistency

  • Always provide access to clean, fresh water

  • Ensure a fibre source such as straw is available

When we formulate Crecora Mills feeds, we deliberately balance:

  • Fast-release energy (barley)

  • Slower-release energy (maize)

  • Digestible fibre (soya hulls, beet pulp)

We also include rumen buffers and yeast to stabilise digestion and reduce the risk of upset.


Housing, Hygiene & Water

Housing and hygiene are often underestimated, yet they have a huge impact on beef performance.

Overcrowding

Overcrowding is extremely common and leads to:

  • Reduced feed access

  • Increased standing time

  • Lower intake

  • Reduced thrive

Even slight pressure on space can knock daily liveweight gain.

Hygiene

Dirty sheds allow disease pressure to build over time.

Regular cleaning:

  • Reduces disease risk

  • Protects animal health

  • Extends the life of gates, barriers, and steelwork

A simple wash-down with water, followed by brushing and power washing, can dramatically improve shed conditions.

Water Access & Quality

Water is one of the most overlooked performance limiters.

Beef cattle require large volumes of water to:

  • Digest forage

  • Maintain rumen function

  • Prevent acidosis

Poor access or dirty water will:

  • Depress intake

  • Reduce performance

  • Mask underlying nutritional issues

A simple rule:

If you wouldn’t drink it, don’t expect cattle to.


Other Key Beef Health Issues Worth Thinking About

🔹 Mineral Deficiencies

  • Copper, selenium, iodine deficiencies

  • Reduced growth, immunity, and fertility

  • Often hidden but hugely costly

🔹 Pneumonia / Respiratory Disease

  • Especially in housed or bought-in cattle

  • Linked to ventilation, stress, and mixing groups

🔹 Trace Element Imbalances

  • Over-supplementation can be as harmful as deficiencies

  • Balanced minerals are critical

🔹 Stress from Handling & Mixing

  • Mixing unfamiliar cattle

  • Transport stress

  • Sudden diet changes

Stress reduces intake and feed efficiency immediately.


Our Commitment to Customers

At Crecora Mills, we don’t just sell feed — we help farmers identify what’s holding cattle back.

Our advisory team can help with:

  • Diet formulation

  • Parasite and nutrition interaction

  • Rumen health strategies

  • Improving thrive and finishing performance

From our beginnings as a farm-based operation in 1986 to operating across Crecora, Castlemahon, and Listowel, our focus remains the same:
practical advice, honest conversations, and better animal performance.

📞 Contact us to speak with one of our ruminant advisory team.

Crecora Mills – We only mix with the best.