tncattle
Well-known member
What are the most common diseases among cattle in Tn.? I found research that said two viral diseases and Fescue toxicity accounted for the most loss among herds. Can anyone be more specific on the viral stuff?
Lucky_P":273723w5 said:Spent a few years in veterinary practice in southern middle TN, now located just north of the KY line, and work on some middle TN cattle, still.
Age/stage of production will have an effect on what viruses(or other pathogens) you're likely to encounter:
Baby calves - Coronavirus and rotavirus scours; usually a bigger problem in dairy calves, but I've seen some pretty tough outbreaks in beef herds during mud season. If you get a viral diarrhea outbreak, there's usually one or both of these viruses involved - and frequently an enteropathogenic E.coli and Cryptosporidium, to boot.
Stockers/Feeders - BVD is a frequent player in initiating respiratory disease - probably 25% or more of the pneumonia cases I necropsy have BVD in the mix. Rarely see one of those BVD-Mucosal Disease cases.
IBR infection is quite uncommon in this area - might see a handful of cases one year then no more for 5-6 years, and I've not seen a confirmed case of BRSV or PI3 infection in nearly 20 years.
Adult cows - Bovine Leukosis Virus infection is common in both beef and dairy herds. Only 5-10% of infected animals will ever develop disease due to BLV, but after about age 7, the chance of one developing lymphosarcoma increases pretty significantly.
I haven't seen but maybe one or two IBR-induced abortions in the past 20 years, can't remember the last time I got BVD out of an aborted or stillborn fetus.
Have seen a good bit of 'infertility' in the past few years that I'm fairly certain was due to Lepto hardjo-bovis - and confirmed it in at least a couple of herds, but rarely see a confirmed Lepto abortion.
Unfortunately, Blackleg/Malignant Edema are still way too common; folks just don't get around to vaccinating calves - or they say, "I've never had it before." - It's everywhere; if you don't vaccinate, you're "rolling the dice", I don't care if you've never had a case - it'll catch up with you eventually.Pneumonia in calves under 400 lb usually yields a Pasteurella multocida isolate, and calves over 400 lb usually have Mannheimia haemolytica. Mycoplasma bovis is a common complicating factor in those pneumonia cases in both weight classes. Occasionally see adult cattle with Mannheimia pneumonia.
Histophilus somnii (the bug formerly known as Haemophilus somnus) is an occasional offender, usually in the smaller weight class.
Other stuff's pretty sporadic - pinkeye, coccidiosis, cryptosporidiosis, listeriosis, salmonellosis, colibacillosis, etc. On the radar screen, but pretty low on the list of 'common' diseases.
Probably left something out, but these are the ones that I see month-in/month-out, year-in/year-out, with some regularity.
Lucky_P":3fybxxvx said:Unfortunately, Blackleg/Malignant Edema are still way too common; folks just don't get around to vaccinating calves
Lucky_P said:Stockers/Feeders - BVD is a frequent player in initiating respiratory disease - probably 25% or more of the pneumonia cases I necropsy have BVD in the mix. Rarely see one of those BVD-Mucosal Disease cases.
Have seen a good bit of 'infertility' in the past few years that I'm fairly certain was due to Lepto hardjo-bovis - and confirmed it in at least a couple of herds, but rarely see a confirmed Lepto abortion.
Pneumonia in calves under 400 lb usually yields a Pasteurella multocida isolate, and calves over 400 lb usually have Mannheimia haemolytica. Mycoplasma bovis is a common complicating factor in those pneumonia cases in both weight classes. quote]
Do you see the dreaded persistently infected BVD carriers, or are folks just not vacinating for BVD, or both?
I have heard some folks re vaccinating every 6 months... How effective is an annual 9 way or 10 way Lepto booster?
I have learned to vaccinate all calves and purchased cows for Pasteurella. Is there any reason for any annual booster once they are settled into the herd?