Factors associated with mortality and treatment costs in feedlot calves: the Bruce County Beef Project, years 1978, 1979, 1980.

Three years of data on factors associated with death losses and health costs in Ontario feedlot calves were analyzed. The results support the previously reported findings; however, significant differences in the third year (1980-81) of the study were noted. Calf groups that were "mixed" after arrival in the feedlot or had a larger than average number of calves (means = 142) had increased death losses and health costs. Calf groups whose ration was changed from dry hay to hay silage or corn silage as the major component of the ration during the first month after arrival had higher death losses and health costs. Feeding grain (barley/oats/corn) prior to, or concurrent with, the change to silage appeared to decrease the harmful effects. Cattle groups vaccinated against respiratory disease within two weeks of arrival experienced increased death losses and health costs. These effects were ameliorated by delaying vaccination in groups switched to silage; however, no benefits from delaying vaccination were noted in dry hay fed groups. Prophylactic antimicrobials in the water supply during the first week after arrival appeared particularly deleterious to the health of calf groups. The effects of prophylactic antimicrobials in the starter ration were unclear. During 1980-81, there was a marked decrease in the relative importance of fibrinous pneumonia as a cause of death and the feeding of silage was not significantly associated with mortality. Both these events may have arisen from the drastic decrease in the percentage of groups fed silage by two weeks postarrival (from 32% in previous years to 7% in 1980-81).     

A path model of factors influencing morbidity and mortality in Ontario feedlot calves.

The principles of path analysis and causal modelling are discussed. Path analysis was applied to three data sets to assess the relationship between group characteristics (number per group and "mixing" subgroups of cattle, feeding-management of the group and processing factors (vaccination and prophylactic antimicrobials) and subsequent morbidity and mortality in feedlot cattle. The major findings agree with previously reported results but the timing and pathways of the effects are elaborated. In general, morbidity in week 1 was correlated with morbidity in week 2, which was correlated with morbidity in weeks 3-5. The same was generally true for mortality. In general, morbidity was not strongly correlated with mortality. Lots (unmixed groups) did not arrive in better condition, but experienced fewer subsequent health problems than mixed groups. (Silage-fed lots appeared to do poorly, however this was apparently due to the positive association between lots and vaccination, the latter being detrimental to mortality rates.) The more cattle per group, the greater the health problems in weeks 3-5 postarrival. Prophylactic antimicrobials in the water supply on arrival lead to increased health problems in the three to five week postarrival period. Antibiotic containing starter rations had a beneficial effect on health status in this period. This effect appeared to be partly due to delaying making silage the major ration component in silage-fed cattle receiving antimicrobial containing starter rations. Vaccination against respiratory disease in either of the first two weeks postarrival had detrimental direct and indirect effects on subsequent health status. Vaccination during weeks 3-5 postarrival was not significantly related to health status in that period.     

A mail survey of factors associated with morbidity and mortality in feedlot calves in southwestern Ontario.

The design and results of a mail survey of a simple random sample of southwestern Ontario feedlot owners are presented. The survey provided general data about management of feedlot calves and the association between a number of factors and disease and/or death rates. The number of calves purchased was related positively, in a linear manner, to mortality and morbidity rates. Increased levels of morbidity and mortality were noted when the ration was changed to corn silage from dry-hay within the first month after arrival. However, it was not clear whether the ration changes preceded or followed increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic levels of antimicrobials in the water supply were associated with increased death losses. Shipping cattle by truck, rather than train, was associated with decreased rates of disease. Processing factors, including using vaccines against respiratory disease, were not associated significantly with mortality or morbidity. It was concluded that reducing the number of calves, to approximately 100 per group, not changing the ration to silage within the first month and not using antibiotics in the water supply on arrival could significantly reduce disease and death losses.     

Factors associated with morbidity and mortality in feedlot calves: the Bruce County beef project, year two.

The results of the second year of the project confirmed most of the major findings from the initial year. Feeding cornsilage, particularly as the major roughage in the first month after arrival was associated with excess mortality. Mixing of cattle from different sources and vaccinating against respiratory disease appeared to be the most important additional factors that increased mortality rates. Delaying vaccination at least two days postarrival may have prevented the negative effects of vaccination but only in calves fed cornsilage. Morbidity rates were highly variable among farms but were positively correlated with mortality rates and treatment costs. The occurrence of infectious thromboembolic meningoencephalitis appeared to share some of the same risk factors as mortality; whereas, urolithiasis did not. Water deprivation may be a risk factor in the occurrence of urolithiasis. Fibrinous pneumonia was again the most frequent cause of death. Relative to year one, infectious thromboembolic meningoencephalitis increased in frequency and only one death was attributed to bovine virus diarrhea.     

哺乳期犊牛健康管理

哺乳期犊牛是奶牛生命周期的开始,也是奶牛整个生命周期中最为脆弱的阶段,其健康状况可直接影响牧场的可持续发展和经营效率。在哺乳期,犊牛可面临多种疾病的挑战,但消化道疾病和呼吸道疾病是全球奶牛养殖业面临的共性问题。本文对哺乳期犊牛健康状况、初乳管理、犊牛腹泻和呼吸道疾病的管理进行了梳理,并对其防控提出了建议。初乳管理方面分析了影响初乳质量的因素、初乳储存与处理和饲喂管理;犊牛健康管理部分叙述了产圈管理、饲养环境和饲喂方式、营养及饲喂管理、疫苗免疫、通风、疾病早期诊断、应激管理和患犊管理。     

Detection and isolation of coronavirus from feces of three herds of feedlot cattle during outbreaks of winter dysentery-like disease

Clinical signs of a winter dysentery-like syndrome in 6- to 9-month-old cattle in 3 feedlots included acute onset of diarrhea with high morbidity and low mortality, respiratory tract problems that included dyspnea, coughing, and nasal discharge, and high rectal temperatures. Bovine coronavirus was detected by use of an ELISA and immune electron microscopy in fecal and nasal swab samples and by immunohistochemical analysis of intestinal sections collected from calves during necropsy. Bovine coronavirus should be considered in the differential diagnoses for diseases that cause acute onset of bloody diarrhea in feedlot cattle.     

Factors associated with mortality in feedlot cattle: the Bruce County Beef Cattle Project.

The design of and the analysis of data from the Bruch County Beef Cattle Project, particularity the field study, are presented and discussed. A major value of the study may lie in its ability to relate laboratory findings to events in the field. The factor most strongly related to mortality was ration, with cattle on hay based rations having a much lower mortality on average than cattle on corn based rations. In general, management activities associated with growing cattle (as opposed to fattening) over the first winter were sparing for mortality. Groups of cattle given prophylactic vaccines or drugs within two days of arrival tended to experience higher mortality (not statistically higher) than those cattle not receiving those measures, or cattle groups recieving the same prophylactics more than 48 hours after arrival. However, these results require validation in the remaining years of the study. Fibrinous pneumonia was the most frequent diagnosis in the calves on postmortem examination.     

The association between serological titers in infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine virus diarrhea virus, parainfluenza-3 virus, respiratory syncytial virus and treatment for respiratory disease in Ontario feedlot calves.

A seroepidemiological study of the association between antibody titers to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, parainfluenza-3, bovine virus diarrhea and bovine respiratory syncytial viruses, and treatment for bovine respiratory disease was conducted. A total of 322 calves from five different groups were bled on arrival, then one month later all cases (cattle treated for bovine respiratory disease) were rebled together with an equal number of controls (cattle not treated for any disease). Titers to these viruses varied significantly from group to group. Based on seroconversion, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus was active in 4.4%, bovine virus diarrhea virus in 24%, parainfluenza-3 virus in 69.5% and bovine respiratory syncytial virus in 71.3% of the cattle. Cattle with low titers to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and/or bovine respiratory syncytial viruses on arrival, were at increased risk of subsequent treatment for bovine respiratory disease. Treated cattle also had significantly greater increases to parainfluenza-3 and/or bovine virus diarrhea viruses than control calves. Treatment rates varied considerably from group to group and were not strongly correlated with weight gain in the postarrival period.     

Effect of vaccination with the R mutant Escherichia coli (J5) antigen on morbidity and mortality of dairy calves

A prospective cohort study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of Escherichia coli 0111:B4 (J5) vaccination in dairy calves. Calves on 2 units were vaccinated when they were 2 to 3 days old and 2 weeks later with the J5 antigen or they were left unvaccinated, and were observed during the first 60 days of age for morbidity and mortality. Events recorded were death, the first case of illness, the first sign of a respiratory tract condition, the first sign of diarrhea, and the first treatment. The time to death or to a morbid event was examined as a function of vaccination status, using the Cox model of survival analysis, where serum IgG concentration at 2 to 3 days of age and gender of the calf were included to control confounding. Signs of morbidity in 517 calves were followed, 189 from unit 1 and 328 from unit 2. Vaccination was associated with a 2.15-fold reduction in risk of death on unit 2 (P = 0.042), but with a 2.43-fold increase in risk of death on unit 1 (P = 0.0035). The only association found between vaccination and morbidity was a 1.34-fold reduction in risk of respiratory tract signs for vaccinated calves on unit 2 (P = 0.055). Necropsy results and clinical investigations indicated that calves on unit 1 were poorly nourished and emaciated. Antibodies to J5 2 weeks after vaccination were significantly (P = 0.0002) lower in calves on unit 1 than in calves on unit 2. The findings offered a possible explanation for the adverse vaccination effect in calves on unit 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A field trial to evaluate the efficacy of a commercial Pasteurella haemolytica bacterial extract in preventing bovine respiratory disease

A double blind, random, controlled field trial was conducted to ascertain the efficacy of a Pasteurella haemolytica bacterial extract (Presponse, Langford Inc., Guelph, Ontario) in the prevention of bovine respiratory disease and/or its effects. Calves from 13 ranches (n = 1140 calves) were assigned to one of four groups, namely: vaccinated at the ranch three weeks prior to shipping to the feedlot; vaccinated only on arrival at the feedlot; vaccinated at both locations; or not vaccinated at either location. Four replicates of auction calves (n = 731) were also assigned to either receive or not receive the vaccine on arrival at the feedlot.

The vaccine did not effect a change in morbidity rates or weight gain. Total mortality rates were increased significantly, and mortality rates from respiratory disease tended to be increased in ranch calves that were vaccinated with Presponse at the ranch. In auction calves, the relapse rates were significantly lower in vaccinated calves. There was a tendency towards a reduction of respiratory disease-related mortality, however there appeared to be no sparing against death from fibrinous pneumonia in auction calves.

     

Associations between antimicrobial use and the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in fecal Escherichia coli from feedlot cattle in western Canada

A randomized, controlled, blinded clinical trial was performed at a research feedlot in western Canada. Auction-market-derived steers (n = 288) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) no antimicrobials on arrival; 2) oxytetracycline in the starter ration for 14 d; and 3) long-acting oxytetracycline subcutaneously on day 0. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of 7 antimicrobials were determined for 3 generic fecal E. coli isolates per animal on arrival and throughout the feeding period. There was a low prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in generic E. coli isolates from calves on arrival. There were increased proportions of cattle with resistant E. coli isolates early in the feeding period among calves in groups 2 and 3. Individual animal treatments were not associated with increased proportions of cattle with resistant E. coli isolates preslaughter. There was no difference in the proportion of animals with E. coli isolates resistant to tetracycline between the treatment groups preslaughter. However, there were significantly more animals with tetracycline resistant isolates of E. coli preslaughter than at arrival.     

A six-year study on respiratory viral infections in a bull testing facility

Viral infection dynamics and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) treatment rates were studied over six years at a Swedish bull testing station with an 'all in, all out' management system. In August of each of the years 1998-2003, between 149 and 185 4-8-month-old calves arrived at the station from 99 to 124 different beef-breeding herds, and remained until March the following year. Only calves that tested free from bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) were allowed to enter the station and original animal groups were kept isolated from new cattle in their original herds for three weeks before admission. Although neither prophylactic antibiotics, nor BRD vaccines were used, less than 0.7-13.2% (mean 5%) of the calves (n=970) required treatment for BRD during the first five weeks following entry. This was probably due, at least in part, to the season (the summer months) when the animals were commingled. In the six-month period August-February, 38% of the animals were treated one or more times for BRD and mortality was 0.7%. Hereford and Aberdeen Angus calves had significantly higher treatment rates than Charolais, Simmental and Blonde d'Aquitaine. Serological testing on samples obtained in August, November and January indicated that bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV-3) infections occurred each year before November after entry. Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) infections also occurred every year, but in 3/6 years this was not until after November. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infections occurred only every second year and were associated with a treatment peak and one death on one occasion (December). The herd remained BVDV free during the entire study period. The infection patterns for PIV-3 and BCoV indicated a high level of infectivity amongst bovine calves, whereas the incidence for BRSV was observed at a lower level. Although the rearing of the animals differed from conventional beef production, the study has shown that commingling animals from many sources is not necessarily associated with high morbidity within the first few weeks after arrival. By preventing BRD soon after commingling the prerequisites for protective vaccination at entry might be improved. Applied management routines are discussed.     

A seroepidemiological study of the importance in cow-calf pairs of respiratory and enteric viruses in beef operations from northwestern Quebec.

Serum antibody analyses for bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), bovine coronavirus (BCV), and bovine rotavirus (BRV) were performed on 527 randomly selected cows, before calving, and on 407 three-week-old calves. In cows and calves, BCV and BRV were the most seroprevalent viruses (80% to 100% according to virus and vaccination status). Bovine respiratory syncytial virus was the least seroprevalent in the cows, independent of the vaccination status. In nonvaccinated cows the seroprevalence to BRSV was 36.7%, and 53.5% in cows vaccinated less than two weeks prior to collecting blood, and 67.6% in cows vaccinated two weeks or more prior to blood collection. In their calves, BHV-1 was the least seroprevalent, independent of the vaccination status. The serological status and antibody titers in calves were generally associated with those of the dam. The occurrence of respiratory diseases in the calves was associated with cow and calf serological profiles (BHV-1, BRSV and BCV in the nonvaccinated group, BHV-1, BVDV and BCV in the vaccinated group). The occurrence of diarrhea was not associated with cow and calf serological profiles but was negatively associated with high level calf serum IgG in the nonvaccinated group (odds ratio = 0.73). Bovine coronavirus and BRV were shed by 1.4% and 4.9% of calves in the nonvaccinated group, and by 0% and 9.9% of calves in the vaccinated group, respectively. Bovine rotavirus shedding was associated with fecal diarrheic consistency at the moment of fecal sampling but not with previous occurrence of diarrhea.     

青贮和黄贮玉米秸秆对安格斯×湘西黄牛F1犊牛生长发育的影响

[目的]试验旨在研究青贮和黄贮玉米秸秆对安格斯×湘西黄牛F1犊牛生长性能的影响,[方法]试验选自10头体重相近、生长状况良好的安格斯×湘西黄牛犊牛,随机分成2组,每组5个重复。[结果]结果显示,青贮组试验牛的采食量和末体重显著性高于黄贮组(P0.05),青贮组试验牛的体尺发育优于黄贮组,但无统计学上差异(P0.05)。青贮组的肉质品种粗蛋白、粗脂肪等显著性高于黄贮组(P0.05)。[结论]以上试验结果说明,青贮玉米秸秆对安格斯×湘西黄牛犊牛的适口性更好,能促进体重的增长,但对犊牛的体尺发育较黄贮玉米秸秆无显著性促进作用。     

A mail survey of the efficacy of prophylactic medication in feed and/or water of feedlot calves.

A mail survey of feedlot owners was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic antimicrobials, given in the water, or in the ration at preventing illness and/or death. One hundred and twenty-seven farmers from southwestern Ontario collaborated in the study. The percentage of calves requiring individual antimicrobial treatment, for any reason within 28 days of arrival was 22.6% (median 17.8%) and 0.6% (median 0.2%) died in that period. The use of medicated starter rations was not associated with either treatment or mortality rates until the effects of a number of other variables were controlled, analytically. Thereafter, the use of medicated feed was associated with a decrease in mortality rate, but was unrelated to morbidity rate. Overall, the use of medicated water was not associated with treatment or mortality rates. The use of sulphonamides was associated with decreased morbidity, but increased mortality rates. After controlling, analytically using multiple regression, the effects of other variables, the use of medicated water was associated with a significant increase in mortality rates. The other major factors which influenced mortality rates were the number of calves per group, the number of subgroups of calves in each group and whether the group contained cattle from different sources; all were related to increased mortality rates. During a two year period, more feedlot owners appeared to be using medicated rations as opposed to medicated water, as a means of providing antimicrobials to their newly arrived calves.     

Naturally occurring Mycoplasma bovis-associated pneumonia and polyarthritis in feedlot beef calves.

Mycoplasma bovis is perceived as an emerging cause of mortality in feedlot beef cattle. This study examined the lesions and infectious agents in naturally occurring M. bovis-associated bronchopneumonia and arthritis and the relationship of this condition with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection. Standardized pathologic, immunohistochemical, and microbiologic investigations were conducted on 99 calves that died or were euthanized within 60 days after arrival in 72 feedlots. Cranioventral bronchopneumonia with multiple foci of caseous necrosis was identified in 54 of 99 calves, including 30 with concurrent fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia typical of pneumonic pasteurellosis. Mycoplasma bovis was consistently identified in these lesions by culture and immunohistochemistry, but also commonly in healthy lungs and those with pneumonia of other causes. Focal lesions of coagulation necrosis, typical of pneumonic pasteurellosis, were often infected with both Mannheimia haemolytica and M. bovis. Arthritis was present in 25 of 54 (46%) calves with M. bovis pneumonia, and all calves with arthritis had pneumonia. BVDV infection was more common in calves with lesions of bacterial pneumonia than in those dying of other causes, but BVDV infection was not more common in calves with caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia than those with fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia. Retrospective analysis identified cases of M. bovis pneumonia in the early 1980s that had milder lesions than the current cases. The findings suggest that, in at least some calves, M. bovis induces caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia within the lesions of pneumonic pasteurellosis.     

Calf health from birth to weaning. III. housing and management of calf pneumonia

Calfhood diseases have a major impact on the economic viability of cattle operations. A three part review series has been developed focusing on calf health from birth to weaning. In this paper, the last of the three part series, we review disease prevention and management with particular reference to pneumonia, focusing primarily on the pre-weaned calf. Pneumonia in recently weaned suckler calves is also considered, where the key risk factors are related to the time of weaning. Weaning of the suckler calf is often combined with additional stressors including a change in nutrition, environmental change, transport and painful husbandry procedures (castration, dehorning). The reduction of the cumulative effects of these multiple stressors around the time of weaning together with vaccination programmes (preconditioning) can reduce subsequent morbidity and mortality in the feedlot. In most studies, calves housed individually and calves housed outdoors with shelter, are associated with decreased risk of disease. Even though it poses greater management challenges, successful group housing of calves is possible. Special emphasis should be given to equal age groups and to keeping groups stable once they are formed. The management of pneumonia in calves is reliant on a sound understanding of aetiology, relevant risk factors, and of effective approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Early signs of pneumonia include increased respiratory rate and fever, followed by depression. The single most important factor determining the success of therapy in calves with pneumonia is early onset of treatment, and subsequent adequate duration of treatment. The efficacy and economical viability of vaccination against respiratory disease in calves remains unclear.     

Diseases and pathogens associated with mortality in Ontario beef feedlots.

This study determined the prevalence of diseases and pathogens associated with mortality or severe morbidity in 72 Ontario beef feedlots in calves that died or were euthanized within 60 days after arrival. Routine pathologic and microbiologic investigations, as well as immunohistochemical staining for detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) antigen, were performed on 99 calves that died or were euthanized within 60 days after arrival. Major disease conditions identified included fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia (49%), caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia or arthritis (or both) caused by Mycoplasma bovis (36%), viral respiratory disease (19%), BVDV-related diseases (21%), Histophilus somni myocarditis (8%), ruminal bloat (2%), and miscellaneous diseases (8%). Viral infections identified were BVDV (35%), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (9%), bovine herpesvirus-1 (6%), parainfluenza-3 virus (3%), and bovine coronavirus (2%). Bacteria isolated from the lungs included M. bovis (82%), Mycoplasma arginini (72%), Ureaplasma diversum (25%), Mannheimia haemolytica (27%), Pasteurella multocida (19%), H. somni (14%), and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (19%). Pneumonia was the most frequent cause of mortality of beef calves during the first 2 months after arrival in feedlots, representing 69% of total deaths. The prevalence of caseonecrotic bronchopneumonia caused by M. bovis was similar to that of fibrinosuppurative bronchopneumonia, and together, these diseases were the most common causes of pneumonia and death. M. bovis pneumonia and polyarthritis has emerged as an important cause of mortality in Ontario beef feedlots.     

Antimicrobial use in the treatment of calf diarrhea

Calves with diarrhea often have small intestinal overgrowth with Escherichia coli bacteria, regardless of the inciting cause for the diarrhea, and 30% of systemically ill calves with diarrhea have bacteremia, predominantly because of E coli. Antimicrobial treatment of diarrheic calves should therefore be focused against E coli in the small intestine and blood, the 2 sites of infection. Fecal bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing is not recommended in calves with diarrhea because fecal bacterial populations do not accurately reflect small intestinal or blood bacterial populations and because the break points for susceptibility test results have not been validated. Antimicrobial efficacy is therefore best evaluated by the clinical response of a number of calves to treatment, with calves randomly assigned to treatment groups. Amoxicillin, chlortetracycline, neomycin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin, sulfachloropyridazine, sulfamethazine, and tetracycline administered PO are currently labeled in the United States for the treatment of calf diarrhea. On the basis of published evidence for the oral administration of these antimicrobial agents, only amoxicillin can be recommended for the treatment of diarrhea. Dosage recommendations are amoxicillin trihydrate (10 mg/kg PO q12h) or amoxicillin trihydrate-clavulanate potassium (12.5 mg combined drug/kg PO q12h) for at least 3 days; the latter constitutes extra-label drug use. Parenteral administration of broad-spectrum beta-lactam antimicrobials--ceftiofur (2.2 mg/kg IM or SC q12h) and amoxicillin or ampicillin (10 mg/kg IM q12h)--or potentiated sulfonamides (25 mg/kg IV or IM q24h) is recommended for treating calves with diarrhea and systemic illness; both constitute extra-label drug use. In calves with diarrhea and no systemic illness (normal appetite for milk, no fever), it is recommended that the health of the calf be monitored and that oral or parenteral antimicrobials not be administered.