Although BRD is the cattle industry's No. 1 disease challenge, a new four-step approach makes it more manageable.

The DARTSM assessment - developed by Pharmacia Animal Health - is a convenient, easy-to-remember tool for feedyard cowboys. The hospital-pen monitoring assessment looks at four areas: Depression, Appetite, Respiratory index and Temperature.

The DART assessment is part of the DURABLE CURESM BRD management program, which significantly reduces a feedyard's repull rate by treating cattle long enough so they are able to quickly return to a healthy, productive state equal to that of their penmates.

"Repulls are costly," explains Colin Campbell, DVM, technical service consultant for Pharmacia Animal Health. "They cost a minimum of $60/head and can run up to $400 if the animal becomes a chronic."

"When cattle are monitored using the DART assessment, their chances of becoming a repull are greatly reduced," says Dr. Campbell. "Plus, they've got a much better chance of reaching peak productivity again.

"A feedyard's hospital crew should conduct a daily, in-pen evaluation of depression, appetite and respiratory index," Campbell continues. "It's not necessary to run an animal through the chute every day just to check its temperature. However, if the animal is already in the chute for treatment, the cowboys should use that opportunity to monitor its temperature."

Monitor depression first
"Depression represents the attitude of the calves that may be affected by early stages of sickness," says Steve Lewis, DVM, a consulting veterinarian from Hereford, Texas. "The levels of depression are normal, mild, moderate and severe. Mild, moderate and severe depression score "A normal animal is bright, alert and moves with other animals," Dr. Lewis elaborates. "Mild depression causes the animal's head and ears to drop, and its eyes can look dull. It has a sore gait and is stiff when it stands up, but is easily stimulated.

"If an animal is moderately depressed, it looks hunched and acts listless. It needs prompting to move, and is stiff when rising," he continues. "Severely depressed animals will not respond to any type of stimulus and look close to dying."

Dr. Lewis recommends that pen riders assign a depression score to animals before they leave the home pen, because the depression score can change once the animal enters a new environment, like the hospital pen.

Evaluate appetite
The second area of DART - appetite - is one of the first signs of BRD. Dr. Lewis says one way an animal's appetite can be evaluated is to check its left flank. "If he's hungry and has a poor appetite, then that area will be depressed because the stomach is empty and not filling that space back out," he says.

Cattle should be weighed the first day they enter the hospital pen, and again on days three and five. Researchers at the Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center found that cattle gaining at least five percent of their body weight while in the hospital only had a three percent chance of being repulled - while cattle that lost weight in the hospital had a 34 percent repull rate.

"Evaluate appetite in the morning or late afternoon," advises Dr. Lewis. "Knowing the animal is eating and returning to a healthy appetite is very important. It may be one of the most important things evaluated to see if the animal is cured."

Watch respiratory index
Respiratory index is used to describe an animal's respiratory effort, pattern of expiration and rate of expiration. Healthy cattle breathe in and out at a normal rate with no exaggerated motion or effort.

Abnormal breathing patterns include:

• Exaggerated, deep breathing
• Flared nostrils at inspiration
• Open-mouth breathing or panting
• Extended neck
• Rapid, shallow breathing
• Soft, persistent cough
• Increased effort
• Excessive salivation

The best time to check a calf's temperature is early morning - before eating or drinking - or late afternoon. Such factors as heat, humidity, degree of finish and dark hair color can affect body temperature and give a false reading.

Final evaluation
"The scoring system for each DART category will vary from feedyard to feedyard and should be developed with input from a veterinarian," says Dr. Campbell. "But regardless of the scoring system, treatment cannot be deemed successful until all DART categories return to normal. Then - and only then - can an animal return to its home pen. If any of the DART signs remain abnormal, evaluation and treatment must continue."

A full recovery, Dr. Campbell notes, usually takes three days and often may require five or more days.

"The goal isn't to treat for a set number of days, but to treat the animal until it is healthy and shows normal depression score, appetite, respiratory index and temperature, he notes. "Sending a still-sick animal home only increases the risk of it becoming a costly repull." ©