Symptoms of Blackleg (Blackquarter)
Acute, fatal bacterial disease of young cattle. Causes sudden death with swollen, dark muscles. Prevention: annual vaccination from 3 months.
Early recognition is critical. Watch for fever, a drop in appetite, separation from the herd, reduced milk yield, and any animal that is unusually dull or reluctant to move. Catching Blackleg (Blackquarter) early gives you the best chance of effective treatment and limits spread to the rest of the herd.
Treatment
Treatment of Blackleg (Blackquarter) should be guided by a qualified animal-health worker. Self-medicating with leftover or under-dosed drugs drives resistance and often fails.
Supportive care — shade, clean water, soft feed, and treatment of secondary infections — improves survival in many cases. There are no cattle breeds with reliable natural immunity to Blackleg (Blackquarter), so prevention rests on management, biosecurity and vaccination.
Prevention & control
- Biosecurity: Quarantine newly bought animals for 2–4 weeks before mixing them with your herd.
- Vector control: Maintain hygiene, isolate sick stock, and limit contact between herds at shared water points and markets.
- Herd immunity: Keep vaccinations current and maintain good nutrition — well-fed animals withstand disease far better.
- Breed choice: In hotspots, favour breeds with known tolerance.
Vaccination
A vaccine is available for Blackleg (Blackquarter) and is the cornerstone of control in endemic zones. Follow the schedule recommended by your local veterinary service — many of these vaccines require annual boosters to maintain protection. Plan them into your yearly calendar so they are not forgotten.
Economic impact
Blackleg (Blackquarter) (BQ) is rated a high threat to African herds. Losses come from death, reduced growth and milk, treatment costs, and lower sale prices for affected or recovered animals. For an owner, every prevented case protects both the individual animal's value and the productivity of the whole herd. Knowing the price of your stock — see our market prices — makes the cost of prevention easy to justify.