What you need to know about BRD

Cut respiratory disease loss in calves with sound management


It’s costly, it’s constant and it’s a bad deal all the way around. Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), which is a general term that covers a number of different pathogens that affect cattle respiratory health a number of different ways, is the most common disease among feedlot cattle in the United States, accounting for approximately 75% of feedlot morbidity and 50% to 70% of all feedlot deaths. It’s estimated that BRD costs producers up to $900 million annually.

“BRD is probably the biggest health risk producers face,” says Tom Van Dyke, DVM, veterinary technical services, Merial. “Finding ways to manage the disease is critical not just to health care, but also to developing and maintaining a profitable operation.”

By understanding BRD, producers can better manage their herd’s health. Van Dyke offers the following to help producers better understand BRD:

Q: What is BRD?
A: BRD usually begins with a viral infection such as Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis or “red nose” that causes calves’ natural defense mechanisms in the nose and trachea to break down and allow bacteria to move into the lungs and colonize.2 Bovine Viral Diarrhea, which can suppress the immune system in calves, makes the animals more vulnerable to infection.3 Consequently, the bacterial factor invades and infects the animals’ lungs. The most common bacterial invaders are Mannheimia or Pasteurella that release harmful chemicals known as leukotoxins. Leukotoxins destroy the white blood cells that fight the infection. Once destroyed, the white blood cells spill out many toxic chemicals that can cause fever as well as inflammation and damage to the lungs.

Q: What causes BRD?
A: There are many compounding factors pertaining to BRD that can increase or decrease the likelihood of the occurrence. Commingling, shipping, large temperature fluctuations, dust, rain and many other factors are difficult or almost impossible to control.4

Q: What cattle are at risk for BRD?
A: BRD is insidious and can strike cattle of any age at any time, although we usually consider it a disease of stocker or feeder cattle.5

Q: What are the symptoms of BRD?
A: Clinical signs include, but are not limited to:
  • Rapid or labored breathing
  • Gaunt appearance
  • Nasal discharge
  • Rough hair coat
  • Dry muzzle
  • Depression.6
 Q: How can a producer prevent BRD?
A: Here are some tips I recommend:
  • Implement an immunization program to help keep herds healthy and productive, and to help protect against bacterial pneumonia caused byMannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida.
  • Vaccinate prior to times of stress, such as weaning or transport.
  • Provide adequate housing and ventilation to help prevent the spread of disease.
  • Supply proper hydration and nutrition.
 Q: How can a producer manage BRD?
A: Use a fast-acting antimicrobial such as ZACTRAN® (gamithromycin), which has been proven to generate a 24-hour rapid response in treatment field trials in clinically ill cattle.7 Other benefits of ZACTRAN, as determined in BRD field trials, include:
  • In treatment trials, the majority of clinically ill cattle treated with ZACTRAN recovered and stayed healthy for the 10-day study.7
  • In control trials, the majority of lightweight, high-risk cattle treated with ZACTRAN stayed healthy for the 10-day study.8
Science Daily. Bovine Respiratory Disease: New Research to Tackle Major Concern for Cattle Industry. Retrieved January 6, 2015 fromhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100305112203.htm.
2 Ellis, JA. (2009). Update on viral pathogenesis in BRD. Animal Health Research Reviews, 2009;10(2):149-153.
3 Welsh MD, Adair BM, Foster JC. Effect of BVD virus infection on alveolar macrophage functions. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 1995;46(3):195-210.
Step DL, Krehbiel, CR, DGePra HA, et al. Effects of commingling beef calves from different sources and weaning protocols during a forty-two-day receiving period of performance and bovine respiratory disease. J Anim Sci. 2008;86:3146-3158.
Muggli-Cockett NE, Cundiff LV, Gregory KE. Genetic analysis of bovine respiratory disease in beef calves during the first year of life. J Anim Sci. 1992;70:2013-2019.
Bagley CV. Bovine Respiratory Disease, Utah State University Cooperative Extension, 1997;4:1-4.
Sifferman RL, Wolff WA, Holste JE, et al. Field efficacy evaluation of gamithromycin for treatment of bovine respiratory disease in cattle at feedlots.Intern J Appl Res Vet Med. 2011;9(2):166-175.
Lechtenberg K, Daniles CS, Royer GC, et al. Field efficacy study of gamithromycin for the control of bovine respiratory disease in cattle at high risk of developing the disease. Intern J Appl Res Vet Med. 2011;9(2):184-192.

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