Nutritional failure in cattle is mainly due to lack of feed, insufficient nutrients, and increased body needs or consumption (such as late pregnancy, lactation, chronic infectious diseases or parasitic diseases, etc.), which leads to decreased physical fitness and weight loss in cattle. The backfat thickness on veterinary B-ultrasound is also constantly decreasing.

The prominent manifestation of nutritional failure in cattle is progressive weight loss in cattle. The hair of sick cattle is rough and messy, lacks luster and is easy to fall off; the skin is dry, has reduced elasticity and is easy to desquamate; the visible mucous membrane becomes lighter, even pale, or has varying degrees of yellowing; the body temperature does not change significantly or sometimes decreases; the respiratory and pulse rate changes greatly, that is, less when quiet, but significantly increases after work or exercise, and even dyspnea or palpitations; loss of appetite, fatigue, intolerance to work, etc. When seeing these clinical manifestations, veterinary B-ultrasound should be used to check whether the backfat thickness and eye muscle area have changed.

The prevention of nutritional failure in cattle should strengthen feeding management and reduce the occurrence of other diseases. First of all, in the winter and early spring when forage is scarce, sufficient forage should be prepared as early as possible, and attention should be paid to keeping warm. On sunny days, cows can be allowed to bask in the sun more often, and the pens should be kept clean and sanitary. Pregnant cows (especially in the late pregnancy) and lactating cows must be given full and sufficient nutrition. Pregnant cows should also undergo veterinary B-ultrasound examinations.

When treating nutritional failure in cattle, the first thing to consider is to supplement nutrients, and then to treat with drugs. Feed the appropriate amount of yeast directly or mix it with feed, add appropriate amounts of artificial salt or table salt, sodium bicarbonate to feed or drinking water, and give more bran porridge, wheat paste, millet soup and high-quality green feed. These foods are both nutritious and easy to digest. Pay attention to changes in backfat thickness and eye muscle area measured by veterinary B-ultrasound.