Wooden Tongue (Actinobacillosis) in Cattle: Deep Welfare Guide

Wooden tongue is a painful bacterial infection of cattle causing progressive hardening of the tongue, severe eating difficulty, and weight loss.

Key Facts

• Caused by Actinobacillus lignieresii, a normal mouth resident that causes infection through wounds
• Affected cattle struggle to prehend and swallow feed, leading to rapid weight loss
• The tongue becomes swollen, firm, and may develop ulcers or nodules
• Early antibiotic treatment (sodium iodide or penicillin) is usually effective
• Delayed treatment leads to irreversible fibrosis and permanent eating difficulty

Welfare Considerations

Wooden tongue inflicts significant suffering through the pain of tongue fibrosis, the frustration of inability to eat, and the progressive deterioration of body condition. Welfare assessment should begin at first signs of salivation, tongue protrusion, and reduced feed intake. Prompt veterinary intervention is essential — untreated animals suffer prolonged inability to eat and may die of starvation. Soft, easily accessible feed and water support nutritional needs during recovery. Animals that fail to respond to treatment or develop irreversible fibrosis must be assessed for humane endpoint decisions.

What You Can Do

• Train farm staff to recognize early signs: drooling, difficulty eating, tongue swelling
• Implement immediate veterinary treatment — sodium iodide is the traditional remedy
• Provide softened or liquid feed during recovery to maintain body condition
• Ensure continuous access to clean water from easily accessible sources
• Establish protocols for humane slaughter of animals that fail to recover