A Herd Approach To Bovine Pneumonia

Question 1

what is the investigative approach to BRDC

Answer 1

History

Current and previous medicines and vaccine use including wormers

Colostrum management (can’t test >1 week old)

Housing and environment

Define disease pattern(s) (EPIDEMIOLOGY)

Summarize findings

Suggestions

Question 2

what are history questions for the farm

Answer 2

Farm disease status (ex. BVD, IBR etc)

Source of calves? Bought in?

Treated/vaccinated on arrival?

Previous disease outbreaks?

Current problem?

Housed, recently housed, outside?

Routine management practice?

• What is happening vs what should be happening?

Question 3

what questions should you be considering when investigating what medicines and vaccines have been used

Answer 3

What products are being used? Duration of treatments?

Antimicrobials, NSAIDs, anthelmintics

Product storage?

Look at drug sales through practice

Routine management practice?

• What is happening vs what should be happening

Hospital pen use

Question 4

why is housing a key point to BRD

Answer 4

Air flow

Mixing of groups or ages

Stocking densities (under and overstocking)

Availability of feed and water

Bedding type and dryness

Question 5

what is good ventilation

Answer 5

Good ventilation = uniform airflow irrespective of external conditions

Removes moisture, heat, pathogens and gases

Question 6

why are doors not good air inlets

Answer 6

Doors are not good air inlets (too drafty and too variable)

Question 7

how do you define BRD disease patterns (13)

Answer 7

1. Examine affected groups:

• Prevalence/morbidity (current status = ‘snapshot’)
• Case rate/incidence (cases over time)

2. May need to target animals in large groups:
   * Composite scoring systems possible
3. Look at younger age groups (disease onset/risk factors)
4. Look at older age groups (effectiveness of treatment)
5. Diagnostic testing:

• Mixed infections
• Can be frustrating/difficult to interpret in the field

7. # affected?
8. # at risk?
9. # dead?
10. Age at sale?
11. Weight at sale?
12. ADG?
13. Abattoir feedback?

Question 8

what are BRD composite scoring systems

Answer 8

ex. wisconsin scoring

standardize scoring across large groups

don’t need to take temp of every calf

score 5 or above then treat

Question 9

what are vaccination strategies based on

Answer 9

Risk periods?

Likely pathogens?

Farm compliance?

Most feasible time to vaccinate?