Bovine Ephemeral Fever: Welfare in Affected Cattle

Key Facts

• Caused by bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) transmitted by biting midges and mosquitoes
• Clinical signs appear suddenly: high fever (41-42C), muscle stiffness, lameness, and inability to rise
• Despite the dramatic presentation, most cattle recover spontaneously within 3-4 days with supportive care
• Heavy milking dairy cows and obese cattle have higher complication rates including prolonged recumbency
• Aspiration pneumonia and milk drop are the most significant welfare and production complications

Welfare Considerations

Bovine ephemeral fever causes significant acute welfare suffering. Affected cattle show obvious distress — unable to rise, with severe muscle pain causing reluctance to move and grinding of teeth. The acute phase is genuinely painful and management must include anti-inflammatory analgesia. Prolonged recumbency secondary to muscle fatigue, nerve compression, and hypocalcaemia is a serious complication requiring intensive nursing (turning, padding, access to food and water) to prevent pressure sores and secondary myopathy. The disease is self-limiting but supportive care quality determines outcomes in severe cases.

What You Can Do

• Administer NSAIDs promptly to manage fever and muscle pain — early analgesia improves recovery
• Provide recumbent cattle with deep bedding and turn them every 4-6 hours to prevent pressure injuries
• Ensure recumbent animals can reach water — provide bucket watering if trough access is impossible
• Vaccinate in endemic areas before the midge season if vaccines are locally available
• Treat secondary hypocalcaemia promptly as it compounds recumbency and delays recovery