Serological Evaluation of Five Unvaccinated Heifers as a Method for Detecting Herds Infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Authors

  • Roxanne Pillars Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
  • Dan Grooms Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20015202

Keywords:

persistently infected, bovine viral diarrhea virus, antibody titers

Abstract

Cattle persistently infected (Pl) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are the major reservoir of infection within and between herds. The key to eradicating BVDV is the identification and removal of all PI cattle. This requires testing all cattle within a herd, which is costly and labor-intensive for the producer. It would be desirable to accurately identify herds infected with the virus prior to committing the resources necessary for whole-herd screening. The objective of this study was to determine if the evaluation of BVDV antibody titers in five randomly selected unvaccinated heifers (sentinel heifers) was an accurate way to predict if a herd was infected with the virus.

Cover image of the 34th Conference Proceedings: Four men on horseback lead a single cow through a pen. Yellow background.

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Published

2001-09-13

Issue

2001

Section

Research Summaries - Dairy