Rectal temperature and bovine respiratory disease outcome

Abstract

Rectal temperature is a common component of health-monitoring protocols to diagnose bovine respiratory disease. Information about the effectiveness of using rectal temperature as a diagnostic method and as a prognostic indicator for case outcome is provided. There are several factors that affect rectal temperature including environmental condition, time of day, and timing relative to disease progression. Rectal temperature of feedlot calves at first treatment of bovine respiratory disease has limited value as a prognostic indicator of case outcome; however, the use of rectal temperature does provide some form of objective monitoring for use in production practice.