BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE

BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
If you are in any aspect of the cattle business, then listen up because apparently cases of Bovine Respiratory Disease are on the rise. Veterinarian John Davidson explains the cost to the industry: " The economic impact of Bovine Respiratory Disease has no other competition in terms of significance. The cost of this disease to the industry is estimated at well over $1 billion."

Mortality and morbidity related to B-R-D are on the rise. That's the bad news. The good news? Prevention works: "Timing is critical. The Respiratory Disease process is very rapid. If the calf does not receive vaccinations until arrival, quite often time the pathogen has been incubating during that time and then when the stress of co-mingling, say 18 enter the market channels, transportation to a grow yard or a stocker operation. If we can go back a step and administer those critical vaccines at an earlier stage in that calf's life to ensure that they have been exposed to the vaccines to give them protection against those challenges, that is really the focus that the industry needs to adopt."

So get out your vaccinating syringes.Studies show that vaccinating calves as early as 2 months of age can be effective

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