Your Veterinarian Partner: Proper Vaccination, Biosecurity and Biocontainment Strategies
The presence of BVDv-PI animals in beef herds is not common in beef operations. For example, over the last eight years the number of herds with at least one PI animal has been less than 10% of the herd routinely tested. However, when we do find a herd that has BVDv-PI animals, there is usually a serious problem with multiple BVDv-PI animals.
A particularly extreme example was described recently in the Journal of American Veterinary Medicine this summer. In summary, the report chronicles the purchase of 136 pregnant beef cows in the fall of 2003. The following spring, 128 cows calved as expected; eight cows were believed to have aborted with the fetuses unavailable for evaluation. Of the 128 calves born, eight died within two weeks after birth and nine were born with congenital abnormalities. As a result, the cows and their calves were evaluated for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection.
Clinical Findings
• 44 of 120 calves tested positive for BVDV
• Zero cows tested positive for BVDV
Outcome
• Five BVDV test-positive calves died shortly after weaning
• 39 BVDV test-positive calves were moved to an isolated feedlot
• Upon re-test, 36 had positive results, indicating they were persistently infected (PI) with BVDV
As yearlings:
• 17 of the 36 PI calves died suddenly with lesions consistent with mucosal disease,
• Six died without gross lesions,
• Two were euthanized because of chronic ill thrift
• The remaining 11 PI calves appeared healthy and were sold for slaughter.
The author’s conclusion was that the introduction of BVDV into a naïve cow herd resulted in a loss of 44% of the calf crop due to reproductive loss, poor thrift, and mucosal disease. From a practical standpoint, had the calves not been tested for BVDv-PI, there could have been five or six heifers of the 11 calves that survived kept as replacements which would have created more BVDv-PI calves in subsequent calf crops.
To read the article in its entirety, click: https://www.animalprofiling.com/uncategorized/bovine-viral-diarrhea-virus-outbreak-in-a-beef-cow-herd-in-south-dakota/
We hope this article is of interest, and provides you with information on the positive value of identifying and removing BVDv-PI animals from your operation. We would welcome the opportunity to work with you and your veterinarian to implement a testing program.
Our BVD testing submission forms and disease information can quickly be accessed and downloaded at our new website, www.animalprofiling.com along with information about all of our other products and services.
If you have questions regarding information in the article or our health management services in general, please feel free to call 877.278.1344 or email CustomerService@animalprofiling.com.
As always, we appreciate your business.
Michael Coe, DVM, PhD
VP Animal Health
Animal Profiling International Inc.
www.animalprofiling.com
6040 N. Cutter Circle, Suite 317
Portland, OR 97217
877.278.1344