FEEDLOT HEALTH PROGRAMS

1. FEEDLOT HEALTH PROGRAMS By David R. Hawkins Michigan State University

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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,

16. 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).

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. METHODS of TREATMENT • Intramuscular (IM) • Intranasal • Intravenous (IV) • Oral • Subcutaneous (Sub Q)

21. 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

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. ESTABLISH TREATMENT PROTOCOLS • Systematic approach to treating problems. • Problem specific. • Based on: • Best available knowledge • Health records • Logistics & Economics • In consultation with herd veterinarian.