FEEDLOT HEALTH PROGRAMS

By

David R. Hawkins

Michigan State University

INTRODUCTION

• In general beef cattle have a low incidence of disease compared to other farm animals.

• Plan a herd health program with your veterinarian before you purchase any cattle or move them to your farm or ranch.

• Decide what treatments you can do and when you need professional assistance.

NORMAL VITAL SIGNS

• Rectal body temperature = 101.5o F– Range is 100.4o F to 103.1o F

• Pulse rate = 40 to 70/minute for mature cattle, may be slightly higher for calves.

• Respiration rate = 10 to 30/minute.• Alert behavior and normal feeding patterns.

– Cattle are curious and will usually come up to feedbunk when fresh feed is presented.

DISEASE TERMINOLOGY

• Morbidity – sickness but not death.

• Mortality – death.

• Chronic – animal that has been sick and does not respond to treatment. Usually performance is greatly reduced.

• Pull – remove animal from pen & move to treatment &/or isolation facility.

GOALS of a FEEDLOT HEALTH PROGRAM

• Minimize incidence of disease.– Purchase from reliable source– Biosecurity– Vaccines, etc.

• Reduce losses due to disease.– Prompt treatment of sick animals– Isolation of sick animals

• Enhance performance.

TAMU “RANCH TO RAIL”1992-95

• Morbidity - $21 to $38 per sick calf

• Chronics - $240 - $307 per head loss

• Mortality – cost of calf + processing expense + feed consumed.

• Reduced ADG - $ 13 per head

• Reduced carcass quality grade

• Total Loss = $ 111.38 per sick animal

HEALTHY CATTLE RETURN MORE MONEY

• $ 50 to $ 90 per feedlot animal– Texas A & M University

• $ 20 to $ 35 per stocker calf– Don Gill, Oklahoma State University

• Respiratory disease cost the U.S. cattle industry $ 624 million in 1991– NAHMS

RESPIRATORY DISEASES

• Complex of several diseases which result in high fever, nasal and ocular discharge, salivation, coughing, lesions in the respiratory tract and/or diarrhea.

• Some of these diseases may also cause abortion of pregnant cattle.

• Originally termed “shipping fever” since symptoms occurred 10 to 14 days after shipment or stress.

Respiratory Disease Complex

• IBR – Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis– Virus

• BVD – Bovine Virus Diarrhea• PI-3 – Parainfluenza 3• BRSV – Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus• PASTEURELLA – bacteria which occurs as a

secondary infection, but results in pneumonia

Respiratory Disease Complex

• Often results in 65% to 80% morbidity; 30% to 70% mortality.

• Diagnose with blood test, fetal tissue sample or cultures from respiratory tract.

• Treat with antibiotics or sulfa drugs.

• Prevent with a comprehensive vaccination program.

Clostridial Diseases

• Clostridial organisms live in the absence of oxygen & survive in the soil. They tend to occur more frequently in some regions.

• Enterotoxemia – “overeating disease”– Cattle on high concentrates go off feed.– Clostridium perfringens types A, B, C & D.– Bull tests usually require this vaccination.

Clostridial Diseases

• Blackleg & Malignant Edema• Spores exist in soil and organism enters

through an open wound (castration or dehorning).

• Gas pockets and hemorrhages form under the skin. Leg appears “black” when hide is removed.

• Vaccination may or may not be included.

Haemophilis Somnus

• Bacteria affects central nervous system and results in sudden death.

• Mortality can be sudden and high.

• Usually occurs in late fall or early winter of a cold wet year.

• Diagnose with brain tissue or blood sample.

Coccidiosis

• Protozoa – Eimeria bovis & Eimeria zurnii.• Primary symptom is bloody diarrhea.• Often results from unsanitary conditions,

such as pools of standing water.• Ionophores can be helpful in preventing the

disease.• Amprolium can be used to treat infected

cattle. Drench or mix in drinking water.

Digestive Diseases

• Bloat – Gas accumulates in the rumen. In feedlot, incidence increases with finely ground rations.

• Acidosis – Often occurs on high concentrate rations where rapid accumulation of VFA’s results in low rumen pH and toxicity.

• Liver abscesses – Often occur on high concentrate rations. Can reduce by feeding antibiotics,

Nutritional Diseases

• Founder – Laminitis or inflammation inside hoof wall. Often observed with high concentrate rations and can result in lameness.

• Urinary Calculi – “Water belly”, similar to kidney stones in other species. Occurs with a mineral imbalance of calcium and phosphorous (Ca:P ratio < 1:1).

Minor Diseases

• Foot rot – Bacteria enters through cut or crack in hoof. Treat with antibiotics.

• Warts – Caused by a virus. Vaccines are marginally effective. May need to manually remove.

• Ringworm – Caused by fungus. Occurs in winter. Sunlight will kill it. Treat with fulvicin and fungicides.

Internal Parasites

• Primarily roundworms, tape worms and flukes.

• These attach to the wall of the digestive system and result in blood loss and anemia with a resultant decrease in performance.

• We usually deworm feedlot cattle as they come into the feedlot.

External Parasites

• Flies, lice, mites and grubs.• In addition to annoyance and irritation,

some of these can transmit other diseases.• Good sanitation is helpful in reducing the

population.• Organophosphate compounds may be used

to prevent. Be sure to observe “cut off” dates for your region.

METHODS of TREATMENT

• Intramuscular (IM)

• Intranasal

• Intravenous (IV)

• Oral

• Subcutaneous (Sub Q)

TYPES of VACCINES

• Killed organism vaccines – Chemical antigen remains intact to stimulate the immune system.

• Inactivated bacterial toxins – Toxicity of pathogen is neutralized while antigen remains intact.

• Modified-live vaccines – Organisms grown to eliminate disease causing capability but retain antigenic structure

INJECTION MANAGEMENT

• Always read and follow label directions.• Administer all injections in fron of the

shoulder.• IM injections should be given into neck

muscle 2-3 inches below the top of the neck with a 1 in. to 1.5 in., 16 or 18 gauge needle

• SubQ injections use ¾ in. to 1 in., 16 or 18 gauge needle under the skin of the neck.

INJECTION MANAGEMENT

• Avoid dull or dirty needles. Change frequently. Do not put a used needle into a multiple dose vial.

• Do not mix different vaccines in the same syringe.

• “Modified Live” vaccines are easily inactivated by heat, light, water, alcohol or other contaminants.

INJECTION MANAGEMENT

• Reconstitute only the vaccine that will be used in a few hours and discard leftover vaccine.

• Store vaccines at refrigerator temperature and keep them in a cooler during processing.

• Do not use disinfectant on needles or syringes used to administer modified live vaccines.

MINIMAL HEALTH RECORDS

• Animal ID & Pen ID

• Date of occurrence.

• Reason animal was pulled.

• Therapy administered.

• Weight.

• Who pulled and who treated.

• Can be index cards, notebook or computer.

ESTABLISH TREATMENT PROTOCOLS

• Systematic approach to treating problems.

• Problem specific.

• Based on:– Best available knowledge– Health records– Logistics & Economics

• In consultation with herd veterinarian.