Three-Day Sickness (Bovine Ephemeral Fever) in Cattle

- Definition

Three-day sickness, also known as Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF), is an acute febrile viral disease affecting cattle and water buffalo. The disease is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, stiffness, lameness, muscle tremors, depression, nasal discharge, and a marked reduction in milk production. The disease is generally self-limiting, with most animals recovering within approximately three days, which explains the common name “three-day sickness.”