Economic Effects

Feeding Cattle Previously Treated for Bovine Respiratory Disease

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is considered the most significant disease affecting beef cattle production from weaning to harvest. Identification of a predictor for BRD would assist in health and production management decisions. To allow for evidence-based recommendations to improve health and maximize production and economic returns, the value of diagnostic tests and response to various treatment protocols need to be evaluated. In this study, cattle of unknown health histories and various origins were assigned to risk categories on arrival and morbidity, mortality, performance, and economic returns were measured. Very few differences were found when comparing outcomes using initial risk category comparisons. However, comparisons of cattle grouped by different number of treatments for clinical BRD, showed significant differences.