Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-25wd4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T12:47:42.204Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The monster we don't see: subclinical BRD in beef cattle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2014

Dee Griffin
Dee Griffin*
Affiliation:
Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: DGriffin@GPVEC.UNL.EDU
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most expensive disease affecting United States cattle. Recently weaned calves are the focus of prevention and treatment research. Identifying affected cattle early in the course of BRD is difficult. Intervention during the early stages of BRD improves treatment outcomes; however, cattle as prey animals are excellent at hiding signs of disease, especially if the caregiver has not gained their trust. Depression, appetite loss, and changes in respiratory character are the principal signs used to identify BRD. Rectal temperatures from cattle pulled for treatment are a final measure of evaluation. Cattle suffering from subclinical BRD frequently escape identification and treatment. Observations of lungs at packing plants for anterior ventral (AV) lesions frequently document higher BRD incidence rates than observed pre-harvest, suggesting subclinical BRD is common. Data from numerous studies document lower average daily gains (ADG) from cattle with AV lung lesions at packing plants that were not treated for BRD compared with cattle with normal lungs. Scoring lung lesions at the packing plant can be a useful tool for gaining insight into BRD incidence. Data indicate that BRD lowers ADG by 0.2 lbs on average, and lowers the USDA Quality Grade by 50 marbling points.

Keywords

bovine respiratory diseaseincidencecharacteristicslung scores
Type
Review Article
Information
Animal Health Research Reviews , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , December 2014 , pp. 138 - 141
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anonymous (1982–1985a). Griffin D, BRD treatment record analysis from Hitch Enterprises; Henry C Hitch Feedlot, Hitch I Feeders and Hitch II Feeders. Master Veterinary Service, Guymon, Oklahoma.Google Scholar
Anonymous (1982–1985b). Griffin D, BRD offal observations from packing plants in the Oklahoma panhandle, Southwest Kansas and Texas panhandle of cattle from the same area. Master Veterinary Service, Guymon, Oklahoma.Google Scholar
Anonymous (1993). Griffin D and Perino L. BRD outcome in antibiotic treated versus non-antibiotic treated newly weaned calves. University of Nebraska, Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center. Clay Center, Nebraska.Google Scholar
Bingham, H, Morley, P, Wittum, T, Bray, T, Ellis, J, Queen, W, and Shulaw, W (2000). Effects of 3-methylindole production and immunity against bovine respiratory syncytial virus on development of respiratory tract disease and rate of gain of feedlot cattle. American Journal of Veterinary Research 61: 1309–1314.Google Scholar
Bryant, LK (1997). Thesis: Lung lesions in feedlot aged beef calves at slaughter: an observational study to develop methodologies for recording lung lesions at slaughter and investigating their associations with production. PhD thesis, P. 1–116. Great Plains Veterinary Educational Center, University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska.Google Scholar
Busby, D (2014). Factors That Impact Profit in Feeder Cattle – TCSCF Data Summary. Ames, Iowa: Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity Cooperative and Iowa State University.Google Scholar
Epperson, B (1999). Lifetime effects of respiratory and liver disease on cattle. In Proceedings: The Range Beef Cow Symposium XVI, 14–16 December 1999. Greeley, Colorado.Google Scholar
Galyean, M, Perino, L and Duff, G (1999). Interaction of cattle health/immunity and nutrition. Journal of Animal Science 77: 1120–1134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gardner, B, Dolezal, H, Bryant, K, Owens, F and Smith, R (1999). Health of finishing steers: effects on performance, carcass traits, and meat tenderness. Journal of Animal Science 77: 3168–3175.Google Scholar
Griffin, (2001). Lung Scoring Diagram. At http://gpvec.unl.edu/electives/griffin/GriffinPMfiles/LS_HowTo%20and%20FormHowToPhotoExampThumbs_R07_Continous_r.pdf. (Accessed on 24.11.14).Google Scholar
Irsik, M. (2010). BRD and fed cattle performance. In Florida Cattlemen's Association Proceedings.Google Scholar
Leach, R, Chitko-McKown, C, Bennett, G, Jones, S, Kachman, S, Keele, J, Leymaster, K, Thallman, R and Kuehn, L (2013). The change in differing leukocyte populations during vaccination to bovine respiratory disease and their correlations with lung scores, health records, and average daily gain. Journal of Animal Science 91: 3564–3573.Google Scholar
Loneragan, G, Thomson, D, Montgomery, D, Mason, G and Larson, R (2005). Prevalence, outcome, and health consequences associated with persistent infection with bovine viral diarrhea virus in feedlot cattle. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 226: 595–601.Google Scholar
McAllister, CM (2010). Genetics of bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle. PhD thesis, P. 1–116. Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado.Google Scholar
Munson, R, Thomson, D and Reinhardt, C (2012). Effects of delayed steroid implanting on health, performance, and carcass quality in high health risk, auction market-sourced feedlot steers. Journal of Animal Science 90: 4037–4041.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Reinhardt, C, Busby, W and Corah, L (2009). Relationship of various incoming cattle traits with feedlot performance and carcass traits. Journal of Animal Science 87: 3030–3042.Google Scholar
Renter, D, White, B, Wagner, B, Dargatz, D, Sanderson, M, Scott, H and Larson, R (2013). Management practices associated with the rate of respiratory tract disease among preweaned beef calves in cow–calf operations in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 242: 1271–1278.Google Scholar
Rezac, D, Thomson, D, Bartle, S, Osterstock, J, Prouty, F and Reinhardt, C (2014). Prevalence, severity, and relationships of lung lesions, liver abnormalities, and rumen health scores measured at slaughter in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 92: 2595–602.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schneider, M, Tait, R, Busby, W and Reecy, J (2009). An evaluation of bovine respiratory disease complex in feedlot cattle: impact on performance and carcass traits using treatment records and lung lesion scores. Journal of Animal Science 87: 1821–1827.Google Scholar
Smith, R (1998). Impact of disease on feedlot performance: a review. Journal of Animal Science 76: 272–274.Google Scholar
Taylor, J, Fulton, R, Lehenbauer, T, Step, D and Confer, A (2010). The epidemiology of bovine respiratory disease: what is the evidence for preventive measures? Canadian Veterinary Journal 51: 1351–1359.Google ScholarPubMed
Thompson, P, Stone, A and Schultheiss, W (2006). Use of treatment records and lung lesion scoring to estimate the effect of respiratory disease on growth during early and late finishing periods in South African feedlot cattle. Journal of Animal Science 84: 488–498.Google Scholar
Wittum, T, Woollen, N, Perino, L and Littledike, E (1996). Relationship among treatment for respiratory tract disease, pulmonary lesions evident at slaughter, and rate of weight gain in feedlot cattle. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209: 814–818.Google Scholar