Strategy
for Preventing Respiratory Disease
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by Dr. James I Sprague
Feedlot death loss over 1%
The death loss and morbidity of stocker and feedlot cattle are serious
feedlot problems. Summaries of feedlot closeouts from various feedyards
report death loss is still at one percent in feedlot cattle. The primarily
cause of the death loss is bovine respiratory diseases (BRD). The
persistently infected carrier animal for bovine virus disease is recognized
as part the serious problem.
The strategy is difficult
A key strategy is to find cattle that are immunized for the virus
diseases before they are shipped to stocker or feedlot operators.
The success of this strategy will take a super effort by the entire
industry. Vaccination of cow herds and their calves back at the farm
and ranch for virus diseases is needed. This program is a long range
goal of the industry. A major problem is many cow herds are 50 cows
or less, and the operator may not even have a chute to give the vaccines.
Some strategy activities are underway
Some of the parts of the strategy are already underway. All of the
animal health companies and their distributors are working to promote
the use of the vaccines early in a calf’s life. Veterinarians
are working diligently to encourage their producers to vaccinate the
cows and calves at the farm or ranch for the virus diseases. Sale
barn operators are promoting special sales of vaccinated or preconditioned
cattle with approved vaccine programs. Auction barns are detailing
the cattle’s vaccine history as the cattle enter the sale ring.
Video auctions include the vaccine history of the cattle. Research
demonstrates the worth of ranch/farm vaccinated cattle. The agriculture
press, including Feed-Lot Magazine, has touted the value of farm or
ranch vaccinated calves versus non-vaccinated calves.
BRD disease and BVD virus infected cattle is one of the priorities
since it causes many “disease wrecks” at stocker operations
and feedlots. The tactics of prevention and cleaning of BVD infected
cattle and persistent carrier animals are a hot topic of the veterinary
magazines and it seems a priority of the veterinary profession.
Plus, many feedlot managers that feed calves insist calves be prevaccinated
three weeks or more before the calves are shipped to the feedlot.
Booster viral vaccines at the receiving pens
Part of the strategy is the importance of the booster shot after shipment.
Feedlots and stocker operations still have to give a booster vaccine
when they receive cattle. Many cattle will not have been vaccinated
at all, missed their vaccine, or did not get a good immunity even
if they were vaccinated back at the ranch. Consult with your vet to
work out the immunization and feeding programs. Each shipment may
need a different vaccine program, metaphylactic or antibiotic feeding
program based on the history of the cattle.©
