Changes in Behavior and Clinical Illness Scores in Calves after Induction of Mycoplasma bovis Pneumonia

Abstract

Bovine respiratory disease is one of the most costly cattle diseases, and Mycoplasma bovis is increasingly recovered from calves having this syndrome. Respiratory disease is difficult to accurately identify based on clinical signs alone. Cattle alter their behavior when ill, and an improved understanding of behavioral changes could improve detection of affected cattle. The objective of this study was to quantify changes in cattle behavior patterns prior to and after Mycoplasma bovis challenge, and to evaluate potential associations of these changes with clinical illness scores and severity of pulmonary lesions.