Expenditures for veterinary services and other costs of disease and disease prevention in 57 California beef herds in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (1988-1989)

Data on costs associated with episodes of disease and disease prevention, including expenditures for veterinary services, were collected from 57 California beef cow-calf herds during 1988-1989 as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Mean cost associated with episodes of disease was $33.90/cow-year, with $0.78 and $1.37/cow-year being spent for veterinary services and drugs, respectively. The highest cost for veterinary services related to episodes of disease were for dystocia, lameness, and ocular carcinoma. For disease prevention, mean expenditures for veterinary services were $1.67/cow-year, nearly all of which was spent on prevention of reproductive tract conditions. Preventive expenditures for veterinary services related to female infertility (pregnancy examination), vaccination against brucellosis and male infertility (breeding soundness examination) were $0.72, $0.39, and $0.22/cow-year, respectively. Many costs associated with episodes of disease and disease prevention were similar to those reported from Colorado National Animal Health Monitoring System beef herds.     

Costs of veterinary services and vaccines/drugs used for prevention and treatment of diseases in 86 Colorado cow-calf operations participating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (1986-1988)

Eighty-six cow-calf operations involved in the Colorado National Animal Health Monitoring System were monitored for a 12-month period, and data were collected on the incidence, prevention, and costs of disease. The costs of veterinary services and vaccines/drugs used in the treatment and prevention of disease conditions in these beef herds were determined and expressed on a per cow basis. Beef producers in this study spent an average of $2.04 ($0 to $29.88) per cow annually on veterinary services for treatment of disease conditions. The cost of veterinary services was a relatively small percentage (5.4%) of the total mean cost of disease incidence. The reproductive tract disease class was the most costly class in terms of veterinary services for disease treatment ($0.99/cow). Dystocia was the disease condition with the largest veterinary treatment cost. The total mean annual cost of drugs used in the treatment of disease conditions was $1.22/cow. The enteric, miscellaneous, and respiratory tract disease classes had similar mean drug costs for disease treatment and ranged from $0.31 to $0.39/cow. The total mean annual cost of veterinary services for administration of preventive measures in these herds was $1.85/cow ($0 to $12.03). Pregnancy examination, breeding soundness examination in bulls, brucellosis vaccination, pulmonary arterial pressure test, and campylobacteriosis vaccination accounted for over 90% of the money spent for preventive veterinary services. Approximately 60% of the total mean annual disease prevention cost was attributed to the purchase of vaccines/drugs ($6.59/cow).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Annual costs associated with disease incidence and prevention in Colorado cow-calf herds participating in rounds 2 and 3 of the National Animal Health Monitoring System from 1986 to 1988

Thirty-nine and 47 randomly selected Colorado cow-calf operations were monitored for health events and their associated costs during rounds 2 and 3, respectively, of the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS). Data were collected from each operation for a one-year period by NAHMS veterinarians through monthly interviews, and the costs associated with the incidence and prevention of disease conditions were determined and expressed on a per cow basis. The beef producers involved in this study spent an average of $32.75 per cow in round 2 and $40.97 per cow in round 3 on an annual basis for the treatment of disease conditions. These costs were not different between the 2 rounds because of the wide ranges in the individual herd costs for disease incidence in each round. In both years of the study, the largest contributor to the total mean annual cost of disease incidence was the cost of death of diseased animals, and this cost accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total mean annual cost in each round. The total mean annual costs of disease prevention in these herds were $11.24 and $11.19 per cow in rounds 2 and 3, respectively. There were wide ranges in both rounds in the amounts of money spent per cow by individual herds for disease prevention. The largest individual cost of disease prevention in each year was the cost of vaccines/drugs, whereas the smallest individual cost in each round was the cost of veterinary services.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Herd-level economic losses associated with Johne's disease on US dairy operations

Johne's disease (‘paratuberculosis') is a chronic, infectious, wasting disease that affects dairy cattle. Estimation of its impact on herd productivity and corresponding economic loss on US dairy operations was part of the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System's (NAHMS) 1996 national dairy study. Johne's-positive herds experience an economic loss of almost US$ 100 per cow when compared to Johne's-negative herds due to reduced milk production and increased cow-replacement costs. For Johne's-positive herds that reported at least 10% of their cull cows as having clinical signs consistent with Johne's disease, economic losses were over US$ 200 per cow. These high-prevalence herds experienced reduced milk production of over 700 kg per cow, culled more cows but had lower cull-cow revenues, and had greater cow mortality than Johne's-negative herds. Averaged across all herds, Johne's disease costs the US dairy industry, in reduced productivity, US$ 22 to US$ 27 per cow or US$ 200 to US$ 250 million annually.     

Risk factors for metritis in Michigan dairy cattle using herd- and cow-based modelling approaches

A prospective study, using the Michigan portion of the National Animal Health Monitoring System, was conducted to determine disease and management factors that affect the incidence of metritis in Michigan dairy herds. A stratified random sample representing 1% of all Michigan dairy herds was observed. Data related to herd, feeding, and reproduction management, disease and environmental risk factors, and cow-based disease and reproductive data were collected monthly for a 12 month period. Cows with complete management records that were observed for at least 3 months postpartum were included in the study (85 herds, 5278 cows). A multivariate linear regression model was developed for lactational incidence of metritis by herd, and a multivariate random-effects logistic model was developed for the occurrence of metritis by cows. Significant factors associated with increased occurrence of metritis included larger herds, problem calvings, overconditioning, underconditioning, and more active reproductive management. Factors associated with reductions in metritis involved good nutritional management, and working relationships with veterinarians for disease management. Implications for the significance of these factors are discussed, with emphasis on differences in interpretation and use of results from herd and cow-based analyses.     

Association between bovine-leukosis virus seroprevalence and herd-level productivity on US dairy farms

Bovine-leukosis virus (BLV; also termed ‘bovine-leukemia virus’) is a retrovirus that primarily affects lymphoid tissue of dairy and beef cattle. Our objective was to investigate the association between BLV infection and annual value of production (AVP) on dairy herds within the United States, as part of the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System’s 1996 dairy study. 1006 herds (in 20 states) with at least 30 dairy cows were interviewed during 1996. The agar-gel immunodiffusion test was used to detect serum antibodies to BLV. 10–40 cows from each herd were tested and each tested cow was classified as negative or positive based on results of a single test.

A multivariable regression model was used with the 976 herds with complete data for analysis. When compared to herds with no test-positive cows, herds with test-positive cows produced 218 kg per cow (i.e. 3%) less milk. The average reduction in AVP was $ 59 per cow for test-positive herds relative to test-negative herds. For the dairy industry as a whole, BLV seropositivity was associated with loss to producers of $ 285 million and $ 240 million for consumers. Most of this $ 525 million industry loss was due to reduced milk production in test-positive herds.     

Review: Cost of Reproductive Diseases and Conditions in Cattle

Based on information from USDA National Animal Health Reporting System early State pilot studies and more recent national studies, the cost of reproductive diseases and conditions was estimated for beef and dairy cattle. We estimate the total yearly cost of female infertility, abortions/stillbirths, dystocia, retained placentas, and metritis/pyometra to be $441 to $502 million for beef producers and $473 to $484 million for dairy producers with an aggregate national total of approximately $1 billion annually. This loss is over six times more costly than that resulting from respiratory diseases. Three-fourths of the cost for reproductive diseases and conditions can be attributed to female infertility and dystocia and the failure to produce a healthy calf that will survive the first 24 h of life. Aggregate national costs are roughly evenly divided between beef and dairy; per cow costs are more than three times greater for dairy cows ($52.60) than for beef cows ($14.00). Approximately equal national costs are attained because there are more than three times more beef cows than dairy cows. One factor contributing to the greater cost for dairy cows is lost milk production associated with dystocia and retained placentas. Lost milk production accounts for one-third of the costs associated with reproductive diseases and conditions in dairy cattle. We conclude from this review and our resulting estimates that focusing on developing strategies to increase the probability of conception, minimize dystocia, and produce a healthy calf that survives beyond the first 24 h of birth must continue to receive high priority in both dairy and beef cattle management and research.     

Use of a disease reporting system in a large beef feedlot

A large commercial beef feedlot in northeastern Colorado was selected by stratified random process for inclusion in the National Animal Health Monitoring System pilot data collection project. Various records in the feedlot were used to collect data related to animal health conditions and to their costs. A total of 57,727 cattle were processed during the 12-month period of the study. Rates were used to adjust for the number of cattle in the feedlot during that period. The disease incidence, culling rate, and death rate were presented by each month in the study. The monthly mean number of cattle was the denominator for these rates. During the 12 months, 72 diseases or abnormal conditions were recorded. The total cost of the 10 most prevalent diseases (itemized by dead, culled, treatment, and income from selling dead animals) accounted for approximately 77% of the total cost of disease in the feedlot. The total cost of lower respiratory tract diseases contributed approximately 46% of the total disease cost, and 60% of the cost of the 10 most prevalent diseases. In order to consider the reporting methods reliable, a separate study was undertaken to validate a reported disease or condition in the feedlot.     

Estimation of the costs of mastitis, using National Animal Health Monitoring System and milk somatic cell count data

Data collected by the National Animal Health Monitoring System in Ohio for a 12-month period during 1986 and 1987 were used to determine the relative magnitude of costs associated with mastitis in the following categories: milk production loss, veterinary services, drugs, producer labor, and "other" factors. The cost of milk loss associated with mastitis that was reported by producers cooperating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System program was compared with estimates based on bulk tank somatic cell counts and individual cow milk somatic cell counts. Using producer-reported estimates, milk loss accounted for about one third of the total cost associated with mastitis. When estimates of milk loss were replaced by estimates based on bulk tank somatic cell counts, milk loss accounted for over 80% of the total cost of mastitis. Estimates of the cost of milk loss based on studies relating milk yield to somatic cell counts differed considerably. Consequently, it was unclear how to best estimate the relative magnitude of the milk loss component of mastitis costs.     

Annual disease incidence in Colorado cow-calf herds participating in rounds 2 and 3 of the National Animal Health Monitoring System from 1986 to 1988

Thirty-nine and 47 randomly selected Colorado cow-calf operations participated in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) during rounds 2 (October 1986 to September 1987) and 3 (October 1987 to September 1988), respectively. Data on the incidence of disease conditions within each herd were collected by federal and state Veterinary Medical Officers and university veterinarians through monthly visits to the ranches. Annual disease incidence for disease classes and the most frequently reported individual disease conditions were determined and expressed on a per 100 cow basis. The mean annual disease incidences for all diseases in these herds were 48.8 and 47.7 new cases per 100 cows for rounds 2 and 3, respectively. The ranges for herd annual disease incidence were wide in both study years. The enteric disease class had the highest mean annual disease incidence in both years of the study, and this was primarily because of diarrhea of unknown cause in calves. Diarrhea of unknown cause accounted for approximately 25% of all new disease cases in both rounds of the study. The mean annual disease incidences were not different for any disease class between the two rounds. The data indicate that, on the average, diarrhea of unknown cause, pneumonia, dystocia, foot rot (interdigital necrobacillosis), pinkeye (infectious keratoconjunctivitis), respiratory tract infection, death of unknown cause, and nonpregnancy had the highest incidences in these Colorado beef herds during the study period. However, because of the wide variation of the predominant disease problems between herds, a herd's disease history as well as the common disease problems in the geographic area of a herd must be considered in designing a herd health program.     

Effects of environment and management on mortality in preweaned dairy calves.

Forty-eight herds participating in the 1988/1989 Ohio National Animal Health Monitoring System dairy project were monitored for 1 year to determine the effects of environment and management on mortality in preweaned calves. Environmental factors were evaluated by veterinarians during monthly visits to the herds. Management procedures were measured through the use of a questionnaire administered near the end of the project. Mortality in preweaned calves was calculated for each herd by using data from project records on calf mortality and animal inventory, which were collected monthly by veterinarians. Relationships between the management/environment variables and calf mortality were examined by use of analysis of covariance. Herd size, days on a nipple feeder, navel disinfection, type of housing, and whether each calf observed with diarrhea was treated with antibiotics were the variables that had an impact on herd mortality. These variables explained approximately 39% of the variation in mortality among herds.     

Management practices and their association with reproductive health and performance in Colorado beef herds

An observational study was conducted to quantify the effects of management practices on reproductive performance and disorders of beef cows. The study population consisted of 44 randomly selected Colorado cow-calf herds monitored for disease and reproductive events as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. The managers of the herds were surveyed with a standardized questionnaire to determine specific management characteristics of their operations. Data were analyzed using the random-effects multiple logistic regression model. Outcomes of interest were calving rate, herd incidence rates of dystocia and combined reproductive disorders, and calf mortality rate. A higher calving rate was associated (P less than .01) with a decreased percentage of replacement females in the herd, a shorter breeding season, a smaller herd size, and a lower percentage of bulls being used as yearlings. Incidence rates of both dystocia and combined reproductive disorders were found to be lower (P less than .01) in herds that were fed cottonseed cake as a winter supplement, but higher (P less than .01) in herds that were fed grass hay as a winter supplement. Herds located in the mountains of Colorado had lower (P less than .01) incidence rates of dystocia and reproductive disorders than herds located in the eastern plains. Calf mortality rate was found to be higher (P less than .05) with calving seasons that began earlier in the year. Higher calf mortality rates were associated (P less than .05) with an increased incidence of dystocia, the commingling of cattle on summer range, and smaller herd size.     

Use of staggered panels in sampling designs to increase the efficiency of estimating the number of incident cases of diseases in food animal populations

Sampling herds in staggered panels is proposed as a way to increase the precision of estimates of the number of incident cases of diseases in food animal populations. A components of variance model is offered as a parsimonious alternative to the somewhat intractable model underlying staggered-panel sampling. Evaluation of these methods using California National Animal Health Monitoring System data showed a gain in efficiency with staggered panel for seven of the eight diseases studied with little loss in efficiency for the eighth condition. The components of variance model was able to predict the gain in efficiency.     

Costs associated with selected preventive practices and with episodes of clinical mastitis in nine herds with low somatic cell counts

Nine dairy herds (mean size, 149 cows) with bulk-tank milk somatic cell counts of less than 300,000 cells/ml and greater than 80% of cows with Dairy Herd Improvement Association linear somatic cell counts less than or equal to 4 were selected for study. Each herd was monitored for 12 consecutive months. Duplicate quarter-milk specimens were collected from each cow for bacteriologic culturing at beginning of lactation, cessation of lactation, and at the time of each clinical episode of mastitis. Streptococcus agalactiae was never isolated and Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from less than 1% of all quarters. There were 554 episodes of clinical mastitis. During the year of study, the incidence rate of clinical mastitis varied from 15.6 to 63.7% of cows among the 9 herds. Mean costs per cow per year in herd for mastitis prevention were: $10 for paper towels, $3 for nonlactating cow treatment, and $10 for teat disinfectants. Mean cost associated with clinical mastitis was $107/episode. Approximately 84% ($90) of the costs attributed to a clinical episode were associated with decreased milk production and nonsalable milk. Costs of medication and professional veterinary fees per clinical episode varied significantly among the 9 herds. Three of the herds did not have a veterinarian treat a clinical episode of mastitis during the year of study even though 2 of these herds had the first and third highest incidence rates of clinical mastitis. When calculated on a per cow in herd basis, mean costs of $40/cow/year were attributed to clinical mastitis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The reported use of drugs to prevent diseases in beef cattle in Tennessee

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) (Round 2) for Tennessee collected baseline data on the preventive (as opposed to therapeutic) use of drugs from 60 beef cow-calf herds selected by a random, stratified, two-stage sampling plan. Counties were selected randomly with replacement for three herd-size strata, and herds were selected within countries by an area-frame method. Data were collected during monthly interviews for 1 year (1987–1988).

Tennessee beef cattle were medicated with 31 drugs to prevent diseases. The drugs most frequently used were anthelmintics and insecticides. The diseases against which preventive drugs were most frequently used were external parasites, intestinal parasites, ‘pink eye’ (keratoconjunctivitis), anaplasmosis, and respiratory infections. Ivermectin was the most frequently used anthelmintic and the most frequently used drug. Levamisole, fenbendazole, and thiabendazole were also frequently used anthelmintics. The most frequently used insecticides were the organophosphates (including fenthion, dichlorvos, and stirofos). Antimicrobials seldom were used, suggesting that prophylactic antimicrobial use in Tennessee beef cattle may not be a major public-health concern.     

Vesicular stomatitis epidemic in colorado: Clinical observations and financial losses reported by dairymen

The financial impact and clinical expression of vesicular stomatitis in Colorado dairy herds was studied during the 1982 epidemic. A non-random sample of 15 dairy herds was surveyed, 13 of which had clinical cases in lactating cows. These 13 herds represented 2404 cows among which were 378 clinical cases. The dairymen reported a distribution of lesions among the cases as follows: 262 (69.3%) oral only; 87 (23.0%) teat only; 22 (5.8%) both oral and teat and 7 (1.9%) with foot lesions. Herds experiencing primarily oral lesions had an attack rate of 19.8% with an average clinical course of 23.8 days. The attack rate in 2 of the 4 herds with teat lesions was 55.8% and 1.6% in the other 2 herds. Mastitis complicated 72% of the cases with teat lesions.The direct costs resulting from 378 cases of vesticular stomatitis reported by 13 dairymen totaled $95 752, which is an average cost of $253.31 per clinical case. The average cost per case with oral lesions is estimated to be $174.06 in contrast to $568.22 average for cases with teat lesions. The greatest loss was due to cows culled, 36.6% of the total direct costs. Decreased milk production was second with 30.3% of the total.The average decrease in milk production per clinical case was 261.3 kg (576 lbs). Deaths accounted for 11.3% of the loss and the combined costs of drugs, extra labour, veterinary service, weight loss and extra ectoparasite control accounted for 11.9% of the $95 752 total.     

Porcine leptospirosis in Iowa

The epidemiology of leptospirosis in Iowa swine was examined on the basis of serologic results and herd data from 55 herds in the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) program and culture results and histories from 578 cases of reproductive failure submitted to the Iowa Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory during a 3-year period. Thirty-eight percent of sera from NAHMS herds contained antibodies against 1 or more of 12 leptospira antigens. Leptospires were isolated from 9 (1.6%) of 578 cases of reproductive failure. Seven (78%) of the isolates were identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar kennewicki and 2 (22%) as serovar grippotyphosa. In 7 herds from which leptospires were isolated, attack rates ranged from 1% to 84%. Clinical leptospirosis, characterized by reproductive failure and confirmed by isolation of leptospires, was sporadic. No significant differences in farrowing averages and reproductive problems were observed between vaccinated and nonvaccinated NAHMS herds or between herds with higher (43-63%) or lower (14-40%) percentages of animals that were serologically positive against serovar bratislava.     

Incidence of multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds--a survey

An important precondition of a well-functioning dairy production is knowledge about the incidence of environmentally evoked non-infectious diseases in a particular herd, in the region and in the country as a whole. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence rate of environmentally evoked multifactorial diseases in Estonian dairy herds, and to compare the disease incidence in small (< or = 100 cows) and large herds (101-300 cows). The disease incidence was recorded by local veterinarians in twelve production units with a total of 33 cowsheds and about 5000 dairy cows. Fourteen disease groups were formed. In order to describe the range of disease incidence, the relative frequency of each group of diseases was determined, as well as the incidence rate. The 95 % confidence interval was applied in order to assess the reliability of the incidence rates. The most common disorders of Estonian dairy cows are udder diseases, followed by uterine infection, metabolic diseases and retained placenta. The disease incidence in Estonian dairy herds is similar to that of other European countries. Most of the diseases occur more often in small herds than in large herds.     

An overview of calf diarrhea - infectious etiology,diagnosis, and intervention

Calf diarrhea is a commonly reported disease in young animals, and still a major cause of productivity and economic loss to cattle producers worldwide. In the report of the 2007 National Animal Health Monitoring System for U.S. dairy, half of the deaths among unweaned calves was attributed to diarrhea. Multiple pathogens are known or postulated to cause or contribute to calf diarrhea development. Other factors including both the environment and management practices influence disease severity or outcomes. The multifactorial nature of calf diarrhea makes this disease hard to control effectively in modern cow-calf operations. The purpose of this review is to provide a better understanding of a) the ecology and pathogenesis of well-known and potential bovine enteric pathogens implicated in calf diarrhea, b) describe diagnostic tests used to detect various enteric pathogens along with their pros and cons, and c) propose improved intervention strategies for treating calf diarrhea.