BRD, or bovine respiratory disease, is a general term for any respiratory disease in cattle. There is a range of factors that can cause this disease. The common names usually used for this disease are pneumonia or shipping fever. Stocker and feedlot operations are often where this disease occurs. It occurs more often there because of the extreme stress that calves are put under from weaning and then being shipped.
This disease has multiple causes and develops due to complex interactions between various factors—things such as environmental factors, host factors, and pathogens. The environmental factors are things like weaning, transport, commingling, and crowding, to name a few. These factors serve as stressors that adversely affect the immune system of calves.
While feedlot and stocker operations usually are affected by this, it can also happen to cow/calf producers. Almost 20% of cow/calf operations experience nursing-calf pneumonia. It is the leading cause of death for calves three weeks of age and older. To keep your calves right on track, consider these four tips to keep BRD under control.
What is BRD?
Bovine respiratory disease is a multifactorial disease of welfare and economic significance to the feedlot industry globally. It affects the lower respiratory tract/lungs (pneumonia) or upper respiratory tract (rhinitis, bronchitis).
It is known as a “disease complex” in that it is usually three factors working together to cause it. Stress, viral infection, and bacterial infection are what cause it. BRD impacts typically in the first four weeks after weaning and can be fatal.
Impact of BRD
This disease is the #1 cause of feedlot death in North America. It accounts for approximately 75% of feedlot morbidity and 50-70% of all feedlot deaths.
The majority of deaths due to BRD occur shortly after arrival to the feedlot or within the first 45 days. The N.A.H.M.S. has reported that about 91% of calves diagnosed with BRD were diagnosed within the first 27 days after arrival.
This study conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System reports that the direct cost of respiratory disease in feedlot cattle is $23.60 per case. The total cost of treating respiratory disease is estimated to be $54.12 million when using their number. This number, however, does not include production loss due to morbidity and mortality.
Symptoms
When it comes to diagnosing this disease, timing is crucial. The sooner you can diagnose, the sooner you will be able to treat. A good acronym that you can use for diagnosing is known as D.A.R.T.
- Depression: A sick calf will have droopy ears and hold its head lower than usual. The calf also may move stiffly with its tail slightly tucked.
- Appetite: At feeding time, watch carefully for animals that are slow to come to eat or have reduced appetite. These symptoms are one of those cases where knowing your calves’ normal behavior is important. Some calves are naturally timid coming to the bunk, so use your best judgment.
- Respiration: Look for abnormal patterns such as exaggerated, heavy breathing, flared nostrils, and a soft persistent cough
- Temperature: This is the only objective measurement in this system. The average temperature for a calf is going to be around 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If the calf is running at a temperature above 104 degrees, it may be eligible for treatment.
Treating this disease
When it comes to looking at BRD treatment options, some key considerations can lead to better treatment options.
- Ensure that your antibiotic provides coverage for the four bacterial pathogens that cause this disease. Knowing if it is the correct type is where talking with your veterinarian will be helpful.
- The treatment should be proven to reach the lungs quickly and be effective for an extended period of time. It is vital for producers to visually observe that the calf has responded to the antibiotic and is showing signs of improvement.
- Good record-keeping is essential. Record keeping helps communicate the treatment status of animal working on the operation. Knowing the treatment status ensures proper withdrawal times are followed. It also helps to know which antibiotic was used previously in case a calf will need a 2nd treatment.
- Working closely with a veterinarian is critical to the success of any protocol. If you are looking for ways to improve your treatment protocols, I talked about how in a previous post, ” How to develop outstanding treatment protocols”. A veterinarian will be able to evaluate records and help make informed treatment decisions or changes.
Preventing this disease from happening in the first place
A typical turn of phrase that you may have heard many times is that ” an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This line of thinking is that it is cheaper to prevent the disease from happening in the first place than to treat it. The phrase is an excellent strategy to follow when dealing with BRD. Here are four things that you can use to prevent this disease from happening in the first place.
- Reduce stress at all costs: Investing a bit more to ensure the receiving health of your cattle will pay dividends when it comes to BRD. Reducing stress begins with providing a clean environment with as little overcrowding and dust as possible. Provide sufficient bedding as well so the animals can get much-needed rest.
- Provide good nutrition early and often: When it comes to nutrition, water is a critical first nutrient. After a long stressful trip getting cattle clean water as quickly as possible will help them acclimate quicker. Secondly, you want to provide a highly palatable, nutrient-dense feed. Providing the right micronutrients to maximize health and performance is also critical.
- Establish a vaccination program: Providing an excellent pre-emptive vaccine for your calves will go a long way in preventing this disease from popping up in the first place.
- Use your tools wisely: The thing to remember here is that cattle are animals of prey which means that they will do everything they can not to appear sick or wounded. Having a skilled eye to spot any potential symptoms is very important. It can be between 3-5 days from when an animal begins to experience the symptoms and when those symptoms can be visibly detected.
