Bovine - Respiratory Diseases

Question 1

What is Bovine respiratory disease complex?

Answer 1

AKA shipping fever, commonly affects feedlot calves
severely affects profit argins as it is most common and costly dz in beef industry (about 50% affected with a 10% mortality)
Many diff calves from diff origins that have exposure to novel pathogens, stress from weaning, castration, dehorning and shipping and become immunocompromised

Question 2

What is thr BRD complex epidemiologic triangle?

Answer 2

A triangle in understanding how each category contribues to less disease
Host factors: age, nutrition, immune status, prior exposure to pathogens, genetics.
Infectious agents: Viruses, bacteria, parasites (lung worms)
Enviro: overcrowded, poorair quality, co-mingling, poor weather

Question 3

What other diseases and illness’s stem from BRD complex infection?

Answer 3

first infected with a virus - bovine herpes virus, parainfluenza, Bovine viral diarrhea
Then affected with commensal bacteria - mannheimia hemolytica, pasteurella mulocida, histophilus somni, mycoplasma bovis

Question 4

What are the symptoms and post mortem signs of BRD?

Answer 4

Signs: temp >40 degrees, inappetence, weight loss, tachypnea, coughing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, laboured breathing, sudden death
Post mortem: cranioventral lung consolidation, fibrinous bronchitis

Question 5

How can we treat and prevent BRd? Px?

Answer 5

tx w broad spectrum antibiotic targeted for mycoplasma bovis (ex tulathromycin or Draxxin), and an anti-inflam like meloxicam
px - guarded (slower to reach finishing weight than unaffected herd mates
ensure good nutrition, colostrum intake, minimize mixing of calves from diff feedlots, vx for BRD on arrival, admin prophylactic antibiotics upon arrival, repeat antibiotics in calves with 40degrees one wk after arrival, cross breeding (hybrid vigor), precondition calves at home (weaning, vx’ing, start on feetlot ration)