Development of a risk assessment tool for prevention of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned calves on California dairies

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) has been estimated as the cause of death in 22.5 % of pre-weaned and 46.5 % in post-weaned heifers. In 2010, 18.1 % of pre-weaned heifers on dairy heifer raising operations were reportedly affected by pneumonia, the second most common illness after diarrhea. Despite the availability of numerous vaccines and antibiotics specifically approved for the prevention and treatment of BRD, morbidity and mortality in dairy calves have remained static over the past 25 years. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine how management practices on California dairies are associated with BRD in pre-weaned calves.