The Department of Agriculture’s Regional Veterinary laboratories have noted a sharp increase in the prevalence of blackleg (Clostridium chauvoei) diagnoses in cattle referred to them for post-mortem, with some quite large outbreaks in farms around the country with no prior history of the disease. Blackleg is a common disease of cattle worldwide, causing acute muscle damage and usually seen as either sudden death, or death after a short illness.
The Department says there have been 29 outbreaks between 1 April 2024 and 8 August 2024 involving at least one death. The Department says most of the current reports are from the southern half of the country, but that is likely to merely reflect livestock density patterns rather than any geographical pattern or regional risk factor. The Department does not have a record of the number of animals that die from Blackleg as such information is not required to be recording and existing data is based on voluntary submissions. The disease is caused by the consumption of clostridial spores from soil, which remain dormant in muscle until the spores to germinate, and cause the disease, normally with fatal consequences. Affected animals are often found dead.
Farmers are advised to Consult their veterinarian for specific advice on diagnosis and prevention of blackleg in their livestock.
