Effect of Respiratory Disease on Weight Gain and Infrared Thermal Profiles in Feeder Cattle

Authors

  • M. Spire Food Animal Health and Management Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • J. Drouillard Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • J. Sargeant Food Animal Health and Management Center, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20005401

Keywords:

performance, acute respiratory disease, feeder cattle, radiant energy loss

Abstract

Respiratory disease is the most costly disease of feeder cattle, and remains a major, ongoing concern for health care providers and feedlot operators. Currently, rectal temperature, feed intake, and visual appraisal are used to assess an animal's clinical condition and response to treatment. Marked physiological events associated with disease, adaptation to rations, and acute and chronic stress can modify heat loss or alter blood flow to the body surface and change metabolism in underlying muscle tissues. These changes can lead to alterations in the amount of radiant energy lost to the environment. Thermal imaging measures the amount of infrared radiation on the surface of an animal. Scanning animals with an infrared camera could detect changes in radiant energy loss associated with physiological and pathological events resulting from respiratory disease. This study evaluated the effect on performance and radiant energy loss wrought by clinical illness in feeder cattle with acute respiratory disease.

Downloads

Published

2000-09-21

Issue

Section

Research Summaries 3