Hardware disease — traumatic reticuloperitonitis — occurs when swallowed wire or metal objects penetrate the reticulum wall in cattle, causing serious pain, infection, and production losses in dairy and beef herds.
Hardware disease causes acute and chronic pain that significantly impairs cattle welfare. The characteristic grunt vocalisation on movement reflects the discomfort of peritoneal inflammation with each step. Without intervention, the condition progresses to pericarditis, pleuritis, and death. Preventive strategies are highly effective: administering a reticulum magnet to all cattle entering the herd, rigorous removal of wire and metal from grazing areas and hay, and regular inspection of baling and fencing equipment. Farmers who routinely use prophylactic magnets in high-risk herds see significantly lower rates of hardware disease. Early recognition and prompt veterinary intervention dramatically improve outcomes and reduce suffering duration.