Managing Bovine Ephemeral Fever
Channel: Local Land Services NSW
Date: 2022-09-20

Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF), commonly known as ‘three day sickness’, causes a short but significant fever, drooling, shivering, a discharge from eyes and nose, lameness and muscular soreness. 

Animals may become recumbent for a day or two. For the most part, BEF is a mild transient illness hence the name ‘three day sickness’. But some animals can be more significantly affected and cattle deaths can result. Thus the disease and the need to manage cases shouldn’t be underestimated.

In particular heavy animals such as bulls and big cows may be most severely affected. A transient infertility in bulls can occur and a small proportion of pregnant cows can abort, presumably from the high fever.

Early veterinary treatment can mediate these impacts and prevent animals from becoming recumbent. Good nursing care can be the difference between affected cattle recovering in the normal three-day window or succumbing to secondary health effects from dehydration, particularly in hot weather, or sustained recumbency.

For information on vaccinating your herd or managing BEF, please contact your private veterinarian or discuss with our team at LLS by calling 1300 795 299.