Assessment of L-lactatemia as a predictor of bovine respiratory disease incidence and severity in feedlot steers

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading cause of morbidity and death in feedlot cattle. Prognostic tools for the prediction of morbidity and severity of BRD are currently lacking. Blood L-lactate (LAC) is a metabolite that increases because of various conditions including stress and cellular hypoxia, which frequently accompany severe forms of BRD. Results of another study conducted in feedlot cattle indicate that low LAC concentration at processing was associated with a greater risk of developing BRD during the early feeding period. Investigators of other studies in double-muscled calves and in hospital settings have demonstrated that a single measurement LAC can be predictive of death. The objectives of this study were to assess the clinical usefullness of evaluation of LAC concentration at processing as a predictor of BRD during the early feeding period and to assess serial measurement of LAC concentration in feedlot steers with BRD.