02 What is Cow magnet ?

Hardware disease in livestock is traumatic puncture of the gastrointestinal tract with resultant spread of infection, caused by ingestion of a sharp, hard object, usually a piece of hardware (hence the name). These pieces of metal settle in the reticulum and can irritate or penetrate the lining. It is most common in dairy cattle, but is occasionally seen in beef cattle. It is very rarely reported in any other ruminants. It can be difficult to conclusively diagnose, but can be prevented by the oral administration of a magnet around the time that the animal reaches the age of one year. This kind of magnet was called Cow magnet, Rumen manget, Cow stomach magnet or Cattle magnet. They can be Alnico rod magnet, Ferrite ring magnet, Ferrite block magnet and NdFeB magnet with a stainless steel case.