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Preventing a BRD Wreck -- A Nutritionist's Perspective Opinion of Dr. James I. Sprague, Consulting Nutritionist Prevent If Possible Many calves, yearlings and even mature cows and bulls have no immunity from the virus diseases of IBR, BVD, P13, BRSV when they arrive at feedyards. There are many other bovine respiratory disease (BRD) viruses that are known that cause a less severe disease than the ones that we can prevent by vaccination. Our clients have had problems with BRD outbreaks of all classes of livestock from early-weaned calves to adult bulls. We see the problems in all seasons but particularly in the fall when many cattle are shipped. Find Cattle That Are Vaccinated Before Shipment The first step to prevent BRD is to demand that cattle be vaccinated with the virus series before they are purchased or are consigned to your feedyard, preferably three weeks or more before shipment. The ideal situation starts the virus series when the calves are branded with a booster vaccine given before shipping. The tactics need to be worked out with your veterinarian. We always suspect that a set of cut bulls or cattle that still have horns have never had their virus vaccines. "Put together cattle," that are co-mingled from several origins seem to give a problem as well. Antibiotics for Prevention and Recovery The trick in getting antibiotic feeding programs to work is to start early. Feeding AS700, Neo-Terra, Aureomycin (CTC) and Terramycin (OC) have been used for many years to prevent, and then help a pen recover from BRD. There is a new clearance of Deccox and Aureomycin, which should also be considered. There is controversy about antibiotic feeding programs. There are requirements of feed additive combinations that must be followed. Your nutritionist, feed supplier and veterinarian are helpful resources regarding the legal combinations and withdrawal time of antibiotic feeding. Research and experience have proven antibiotic feeding programs work. Metaphylaxis (Mass Treat) Treating all the cattle in a pen with antibiotic injection has been used for many years to treat and aid recovery from BRD. Injecting newly arrived cattle with long acting products is now an accepted program, particularly for high stressed groups. Research has demonstrated these programs work. We suggest this program be selective, as not all shipments will need treatment. Work with your veterinarian on a strategy and execution tactic for this program. We suggest a temperature check of the first five percent of a pen to determine if an injection program is needed. Combination of Metaphylaxis and Antibiotic Feeding A combination of an antibiotic injection program for newly arrived cattle, followed by feeding program of antibiotics seems like a good idea. We have not seen this program used, but it makes sense for highly stressed animals. Comments or questions on this or other articles by Dr. Sprague can be addressed to Jim Sprague, 625 Grandview Avenue, Newton, Kansas, 67114, or call Dr. Sprague at (620) 283-8692. |
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