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TheCattleSite: Diseases and Conditions
Contents of Cattle Diseases and Conditions
Wooden Tongue
Wooden tongue is a well-defined disease of the soft tissues of the mouth region in adult cattle. It is caused by A. lignieresii coccobacillus, part of the normal bacterial flora of the upper digestive tract. The bacteria usually invade the skin through a wound or minor trauma caused by sticks or straw or barley awns.
The disease is fairly acute, with swelling in the affected part, under the jaw and in the regional lymph nodes. The clinical symptoms are excess salivation, difficult mastication and inappetance.
The condition is seen either as an outbreak in several animals simultaneously or as an individual case in a single animal, often in association with a diet change (Campbell et al., 1975; Melendez et al., 1999).
Further information
Further information on wooden tongue in cattle can be found by following the links below. This information references cattle health and welfare in organic cattle production systems and is part of a compendium on animal health and welfare in organic livestock production provided by the University of Reading. (links open in new window)
It should be emphasised that the compendium is not intended as a diagnostic or self-help tool for animal health management on the farm. Diagnosis should always be carried out by a veterinary surgeon, in response to problems seen on the farm
