Preliminary report on osteochondrosis in cattle in the north-western parts of South Africa
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Date
Authors
Prozesky, Leon
Neser, Johan
Meissner, H.H. (Heinz)
Botha, Kenneth
Jacobs, Lubbe
Shepstone, Craig
Viljoen, Hannes
Koster, Hinner
De Brouwer, Chris
Van Zyl, Jan
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS OpenJournals
Abstract
The north-western part of South Africa, in particular, is well known for mineral imbalances.
Aphosphorosis, resulting in rickets and osteomalacia, received a lot of attention at the turn of
the nineteenth century (1882–1912). This was followed in 1997 by research on Vryburg
hepatosis, another area-specific mineral imbalance–related disease in young calves reared on
manganese-rich soil derived from the weathering of dolomitic (carbonate) rock formations. In
1982, a totally new syndrome (osteochondrosis) manifested in, amongst others, areas in South
Africa where aphosphorosis was rife. Osteochondrosis was also identified in the south-western
parts of Namibia as well as southern Botswana and other areas in South Africa. Osteochondrosis
has a multifactorial aetiology and this study focused on the role of minerals, particularly
phosphorus, in the development of the disease. A significant improvement in the clinical signs
in experimental animals and a reduction of osteochondrosis occurred on farms where animals
received bioavailable trace minerals and phosphorus as part of a balanced lick. An increase in
the occurrence of the disease on farms during severe drought conditions in 2012–2013
prompted researchers to investigate the possible role of chronic metabolic acidosis in the
pathogenesis of the disease.
Description
Keywords
Calves -- Diseases, Cattle -- Diseases, Mineral imbalances, Farms, Osteochondrosis, South Africa
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Prozesky, L., Neser, J.,
Meissner, H., Botha, K.,
Jacobs, L., Shepstone, C.
et al., 2016, ‘Preliminary
report on osteochondrosis in
cattle in the north-western
parts of South Africa’,
Onderstepoort Journal of
Veterinary Research 83(1),
a1083. http://dx.DOI.
org/ 10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.1083.