Which disease is mentioned as weakening the cattle herd?

• A. Foot and mouth disease
• B. Avian influenza
• C. Bovine TB
• D. Anthrax

Answer: (A)

Foot and mouth disease is a highly contagious illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle. It spreads rapidly within a herd, causing fever, painful blisters in the mouth and on the feet, lameness, and reduced appetite. These symptoms slash milk production and weight gain, so the herd weakens quickly. Outbreaks also trigger movement restrictions and culling to stop spread, adding to the disruption and economic impact on the herd. The other diseases either mainly affect other species (avian influenza in birds) or progress differently in cattle (bovine TB is a slow, chronic illness; anthrax can cause sudden death but isn’t described as weakening the whole herd in the same way).