Beef Cattle Production Series - Part 11 by TSCRA - The Cattleman Magazine

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PART 11

Health Equals Wealth in Stocker Cattle, Grazing Gains, One Nasty Bug

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& CATTLE HEALTH Supplement to The Cattleman magazine.

“With Safe-Guard® I know it works. Every time.” Steve Howard - Stocker-backgrounder, Howard Ranches, Claypool, OK

NOSURPRISES As a stocker operator, Steve Howard is in a high-risk business. His cattle come from all over, and many of them have no known health history. So before he turns them out, he drenches them with Safe-Guard® (fenbendazole). It goes straight to the gut to kill worms and ensures his cattle get growing faster.

He keeps them gaining, growing and feeling good with Safe-Guard. Try Safe-Guard for two weeks. We are so confident that you will see a 90% reduction in parasitic infestation that if you don’t – the product is free.1 So what do you have to lose? Other than the parasites.

Text GAINS to 48109 to watch how Steve keeps his cattle growing. By texting in you agree to receive text messages from Merck Animal Health where you will receive offers and reminders. Up to six messages per month. You can opt-out any time by replying STOP to 48109. Text message and data rates may apply. 1 1992. World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (W.A.A.V.P.) methods for the detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance. Vet Parasitol. 44, 35–44. 2. 2006.The detection of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes of veterinary importance. Vet. Parasitol. 136, 167–185

Consult your local veterinarian for assistance in the diagnosis, treatment and control of parasitism. merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright ©2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 2/18 BV-SG-57821-Howard US/SFG/0218/0005

CATTLE HEALTH

BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11

Health Equals Wealth in Stocker Cattle, Grazing Gains, One Nasty Bug Table of Contents 4 Health Equals Wealth in Stocker Cattle 8 Grazing Gains 12 One Nasty Bug

The Cattleman, the monthly journal of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, is pleased to partner with Merck Animal Health on a series of seasonal beef cattle health management manuals. Thanks to the generous support of the Merck Animal Health technical services veterinarians, we are able to provide easy-to-read articles that educate and inform ranchers about various aspects of beef cattle health management. thecattlemanmagazine.com

Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11

Health Equals Wealth in Stocker Cattle Merck Animal Health veterinarian shares how immune system management is the key to profitability at the stocker level. By Nicole Lane Erceg

When a calf steps off the trailer into a stocker or backgrounding program in the southern U.S., its immune system is instantly in uncharted territory. Stressed from travel, comingling and separation from the ranch of origin, calves often enter the stocker phase unprepared for the disease and stress challenges they need to face. Harold Newcomb, D.V.M., technical services manager for Merck Animal Health, says the way stocker cattle are managed upfront is vitally important to health and profitability. “When you pick up animals from a variety of sources, the more points of origin the higher the disease mixture and exposure,” says Newcomb. Managing healthy stocker cattle is a process easier said than done. Newcomb says it takes a keen eye to judge stress and make management decisions that meet the needs of the calves and the economics of a profitable business. “Stress kills production,” says Newcomb. “The more stressors we put on those cattle the more production killing we

are going to do, the more we are going to hurt our bottom line.” Give cattle a break before processing He recommends designing a receiving program that allows cattle enough time to rest before processing begins. No magic number exists for the perfect standard rest period, but Newcomb says each producer should take into consideration the stress level of the calves to determine the right number of days — allowing higher-stressed calves to rest longer and examining less-stressed cattle as candidates for reduced rest periods. Before processing, he advises that cattle always have the opportunity to rehydrate. In scenarios where calves come straight from the ranch, many may not know how to eat or drink in the new environment. By placing waterers and feed prominently in pens where calves will run into the trough when circling the pen, Newcomb says producers can speed the learning process and help the cattle adjust.

4 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11 thecattlemanmagazine.com

The goal is to supply enough immunity to these calves to get them through the stress they may face, but not add too much so that we actually do harm to the calf. He also recommends quickly organizing pens when receiving cattle to reduce stress and disease transmission. “We need to put together all the cattle we can in the first few days, and use those same groups throughout the entire receiving period,” he says. “When you start a pen, you need to complete that pen as quickly as possible and not continue to add cattle over an extended period of time.” Get them eating, keep them eating An often overlooked but vital health component is quality nutrition. In a world where pounds equal profits, he says the job of a good stocker operator is to get the calves eating as soon as possible and then keep them eating. “Nutrition is critical,” says Newcomb. “It’s important not only to their weight gain but it’s vital to the immune function of the animal and keeping the animal healthy.” Feeding commodity byproducts is an easy way to keep costs low, but Newcomb recommends investing in quality nutrition, especially upon receiving, to better target end goals. Cattle coming into a stocker operation tend to suffer from morbidity that causes injury to the rumen and rumen flora. Repairing rumen function is essential to keeping calves healthy and Newcomb recommends consulting a nutritionist to get the calves feeding right from the start. “We need to match our receiving rations to our end goals,” says Newcomb. “If you work with a nutritionist who understands the challenges these cattle face, then you will see your health problems get a lot better.” Parasite load can also affect food intake and is one of the first items Newcomb recommends on the processing to-do list. Especially when investing in good nutrition, it’s important that calves can properly use the nutrients to gain weight and strengthen their immune systems. As parasite resistance has become an issue plaguing the industry, Newcomb says to treat cattle with two dewormers at the same time from two separate dewormer classes. Stocker operators can battle resistance and ensure worm death by using a combination of an ivermectin and a white wormer like Safeguard® at the same time. This helps control the varying parasite loads that cattle may have when originating from a variety of locations. Vaccination programs Once cattle are rested and dewormed, the vaccination process thecattlemanmagazine.com

begins. Newcomb recommends creating receiving vaccination programs that are as simple as possible. The decision-making process for what vaccines to use and when to use them are challenges that are unique to individual producers, Newcomb says. While vaccinations are vital to stopping disease transmission and keeping the herd healthy, too many vaccinations or high-stress vaccinations can do more harm than good. “The goal is to supply enough immunity to these calves to get them through the stress they may face, but not add too much so that we actually do harm to the calf.” Newcomb recommends using modified-live vaccines to get the best protection and to choose a proven low-stress clostridial or Blackleg vaccine. When making vaccination decisions, he cautions producers to not administer too many vaccines at the same time. If calves receive a multitude of vaccinations at once, the calf’s energy will be focused on fighting the disease introduced in the vaccines instead of on weight gain, which can negate the profitability of using vaccines for the producer. “When you are designing a health protocol or vaccination program you need to be working with a veterinarian who has an understanding of all the stressors and complexities that these cattle go through,” says Newcomb. He recommends building a program that prioritizes immunity to stop disease transmission without adding stress and sacrificing feed intake. Problem sources can be found in the records For stocker operators who suffer from high morbidity and death losses, Newcomb says good records can hold the answers to the source of health problems. He cites good record keeping as a very important practice, but that the information in the records is only valuable if it is regularly examined. “Records can give a historical look at where things are happening and, if you study them closely, they can also tell where problems are coming from,” he says. Newcomb says to keep solid records of morbidity and mortality rates. By keeping track of how many cattle are getting sick, how many are dying and the initial pull date, producers can determine whether the health problem stems from the receiving program, the cattle source, or management problems potentially created by the operator. If the cattle pull date trends high in the first week upon receiving, Newcomb says producers can attribute the problem Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11

Design a receiving program that allows cattle enough time to rest before processing begins. to the buying source or hauling. If higher than expected morbidity rates are coming from cattle in the pens, then the issue may be in the labor source. He says records can help identify if procurement sources should be used in the future. “Records provide information that is so valuable but as stocker operators, we don’t often look at that,” he says. “This is the reason we should be employing a veterinarian who does stocker medicine to evaluate the records and help determine what records to keep.” Designing the perfect profitable program Not all operations are the same and not all operations will

need the same management practices. Newcomb advises consulting a veterinarian and nutritionist to help design a health program that works for each individual’s operation. While each business is unique, he shares that when producers balance health with economics, it helps create a profitable business. Prioritizing the factors that contribute to health can be challenging, but from the time the calf steps off the trailer to the moment it leaves, Newcomb says a focus on good health and immunity will lead to pounds and revenue. “It’s all about health,” says Newcomb. “Health is connected to nutrition. It is connected to vaccinations and it is connected to management.” ❚

6 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11 thecattlemanmagazine.com

We all need a little space every once in awhile, but your livestock should never be bothered by flies and other external parasites. When maintaining your livelihood, leave external parasite management to Merck Animal Health, a trusted name with a variety of solutions that fit your operation’s distinct premise, ear tag or pour-on needs.

See labels for complete instructions merck-animal-health-usa.com • 800-521-5767 Copyright © 2018 Intervet Inc., d/b/a Merck Animal Health, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. 1/18 BV-56105

Grazing Gains The return on investment of implants in cattle on pasture helps ranchers improve their profits and make more beef using less. By Nicole Lane Erceg

If a salesman offered a product that cost only $1 but promised in a few short months it would turn into $35, one might assume he was peddling snake oil. A far cry from a con man, Wade Nichols, Ph.D., senior technical services manager for Merck Animal Health, is a respected scientist with 30 years of experience in the cattle industry. He isn’t selling any quick fixes for profitable cattle, but he does recommend grazing implants as one of the most simple production practices that add to a rancher’s bottom line. It’s common practice for cattle to receive implants upon arrival at a feedyard, but what about on the ranch? Nichols says that a proper implant strategy can help ranchers gain about 25 to 30 pounds [per animal] between branding and weaning while calves are on pasture. For ranchers or stocker operators who continue to graze cattle, an additional implant can help add an average of another 25 to 30 pounds of gain between weaning and shipment. Economics make the decision simple. When the implant cost per dose is about $1 and cattle price per pound is $1.50, a rancher could expect about a $36 return on investment per calf. Multiply that by 50 head and one simple management change could mean a check worth about $1,800. “The return on investment today with implants is

phenomenal,” says Nichols. “We are making about a 30-to-1 return. It’s the most economically viable thing ranchers can do as a production practice to make money.” Phony premiums Despite the math, many ranchers avoid using implants during the grazing phase for fear it might lead to a discount at the sale barn. In today’s consumer market, cattle that can qualify for a natural program are in demand. However, Nichols says research from Superior Livestock Auction has shown that implanted calves and non-implanted calves earn the same price at auction. From his experience, the only cattlemen that benefit financially from targeting a natural program are those who are contracted to do so. “Ranchers who think they are getting a premium by going to the auction yard and saying the calves aren’t implanted are not actually getting a premium and instead are giving up about $20 to $35 per head for nothing,” says Nichols. Even with premium programs for natural cattle, implanting may still be more profitable. For a program like the USDA NonHormone Treated Cattle to be more cost-effective, the premium per head would need to be greater than the average additional profit gained from implanting.

8 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11 thecattlemanmagazine.com

Added benefits Nevertheless, can there be too much of a good thing? When a calf receives its first implant at 90 days of age, what impact does that have on the rest of the production chain? Again, Nichols turns to numbers and shares that using implants starting in the pasture helps ranchers and consumers reap benefits from doing more with less. While implants in the feedlot can create exceptional gains, the incremental additional pounds from implanting while on pasture add dollars and create more beef with less grass. He also shares that implants can still add value, even in situations where forage nutritional quality is not optimal. “We can use these implants and get economical gains on very low rates of gain,” says Nichols citing research from Oklahoma State University comparing Revalor G to non-implanted cattle on grass. Research gathered at West Texas A&M University says that implanting at the ranch level doesn’t deter implant opportunity in the feedlot. The added pounds on the ranch just create more beef to feed additional consumers. Nichols says that cattle implanted at branding, again at weaning and in the feedyard can have approximately 150 additional pounds when compared to non-implanted cattle. This additional muscle mass and weight converts to about 94 pounds of additional carcass weight and about 47 pounds of retail meat. In the United States, the average beef consumption per person is 57 pounds. Through using beef production technologies like implants, one calf can grow enough additional beef to feed almost another person. “It’s a very efficient utilization of resources,” says Nichols. The catch? Implants may have an impact on meat quality. Nichols says aggressive implant use at a high dose does shorten the marbling window. He says this can result in lower USDA Quality Grades if the animal is not allowed the time on feed needed to reach 29 percent empty-body fat. “Empty-body fat is the amount of fat in the body, minus the feed and water in the gut,” explains Nichols. “When cattle are fed to about 30 percent empty-body fat, I’ve never gotten a call about my cattle not grading.” The hormone effect Hormone implants help improve the rate of gain and feed conversion in growing cattle, but what actually happens when we implant calves? Nichols shares that the slow and steady release of hormone from the implant influences the endocrine system in the calf to increase IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor 1) which helps improve nutrient utilization once it crosses the gut wall, to increase muscle gain. He explains that cattle are born with all the muscle fiber they are ever going to have. thecattlemanmagazine.com

Proper implant placement on the backside of the ear.

“As ranchers, no matter how exceptional our nutrition, we can’t increase muscle fiber itself, but we can grow the size of the muscle fibers,” says Nichols. “What we do with these cattle is use a little bit of hormone to increase that muscle fiber size and get more efficient gains.” He explains hormone use as the ability to get the growth benefits of a bull, without the headache. “All we are doing is taking a little bit of the hormone out of the testes and putting it back in the ear,” says Nichols. “It’s not enough to get secondary sex characteristics and the added problems of feeding bulls, but it’s just enough for the animal to improve performance.” Proper implanting For grazing cattle, Nichols recommends using the implant Ralgro at about 90 days of age or at branding, then re-implanting with Revalor-G at weaning. Both of these low-dose, slow releasing implants are designed to help cattle maximize the nutrition they receive while on pasture. When choosing an implant strategy, Nichols recommends consulting a veterinarian or nutritionist and administering exactly as instructed. “It’s very, very important to follow label instructions,” says Nichols. “That keeps you out of trouble and your investment sound.” Nichols adds that following procedures when implanting will best capture the economic value. The implant should be inserted only in the ear, between the two main cartilage ribs halfway between the base and tip of the ear. Implant gun needles should be kept clean, sharp and sanitized to avoid bacterial spread from calf to calf. In the cattle business, there is no such thing as “easy money.” However, Nichols says that small management decisions like implant and technology implementations can make great gains happen in the pasture. “When administered properly, using an implant is always positive,” says Nichols. There’s nothing else that makes more return at any part of production than implants, and that includes when cattle are in the pasture.” ❚ Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11

Knock out BRD and take down the fever that usually comes with it when you use Resflor Gold® (florfenicol and flunixin meglumine). The only major antibiotic to combine the BRD-treating action of florfenicol with the symptom-fighting action of flunixin. With one shot, Resflor Gold makes your animals feel better within six hours.1,2 So they aren’t just back on their feet eating and drinking, they’re back on the gaining track. Talk to your Merck Animal Health rep or visit resflorgold.com to learn more.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. This product contains material that can be irritating to skin and eyes. Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. This product is not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. A withdrawal period has not been established in preruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal. Do not use in animals that have shown hypersensitivity to florfenicol or flunixin. Not for use in animals intended for breeding purposes. The effects of florfenicol and flunixin on bovine reproductive performance, pregnancy, and lactation have not been determined. When administered according to the label directions, RESFLOR GOLD may induce a transient local reaction in the subcutaneous and underlying muscle tissue. Brief summary available on adjacent page. 1 2

Exhibits bactericidal activity against some strains of Mannheimia haemolytica and Histophilus somni. The correlation between in vitro susceptibility data and clinical effectiveness is unknown.

PRODUCT INFORMATION NADA 141-299, Approved by FDA.

(Florfenicol and Flunixin Meglumine) Antimicrobial/Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug For subcutaneous use in beef and non-lactating dairy cattle only. Not for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older or in calves to be processed for veal. (Florfenicol and Flunixin Meglumine) BRIEF SUMMARY: For full prescribing information, see Antimicrobial/Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug package insert. ® For subcutaneous use in GOLD beef and INDICATION: RESFLOR isnon-lactating indicated for dairy cattle only. respiratory Not for usedisease in female dairy treatment of bovine (BRD) associated cattle 20 months of age or older or in calves to with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, be processed for veal. Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis, and control of BRIEF SUMMARY: For full prescribing information, see BRD-associated pyrexia in beef and non-lactating dairy package insert. cattle.

INDICATION: RESFLOR Do GOLD is indicated CONTRAINDICATIONS: not use in animalsforthat treatment bovine respiratory to disease (BRD) associated have shownof hypersensitivity florfenicol or flunixin. ®

with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida,

Histophilus somni, andFOR Mycoplasma bovis, andKEEP control OUT of WARNINGS: NOT HUMAN USE. in beef and dairy OFBRD-associated REACH OFpyrexia CHILDREN. Thisnon-lactating product contains cattle. that can be irritating to skin and eyes. Avoid material direct contact with skin, Do eyes, case CONTRAINDICATIONS: notand use clothing. in animalsInthat ofhave accidental eye exposure,toflush with or water for 15 shown hypersensitivity florfenicol flunixin. minutes. In case of accidental skin exposure, wash WARNINGS: NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT with soap and water. Remove contaminated clothing. OF REACH OF CHILDREN. This product contains Consult a physician if irritation persists. Accidental material that can be irritating to skin and eyes. Avoid injection of thiswith product may and cause local Inirritation. direct contact skin, eyes, clothing. case Consult a physician immediately. The Material of accidental eye exposure, flush with water for 15 Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) contains more detailed minutes. In case of accidental skin exposure, wash occupational safety with soap and water.information. Remove contaminated clothing. Consult a physician if irritation persists. Accidental

For customer or to may obtain a copy the MSDS, injection of service this product cause localof irritation. call 1-800-211-3573. For technical assistance or to report Consult a physician immediately. The Material suspected adverse reactions, call 1-800-219-9286. Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) contains more detailed occupational safety information.

Not for use in animals intended for breeding purposes. For customer or to obtain copy of the MSDS, The effects service of florfenicol on a bovine reproductive call 1-800-211-3573. For technical assistance or tonot report performance, pregnancy, and lactation have been suspected adverse reactions, call 1-800-219-9286. determined. Toxicity studies in dogs, rats, and mice have associated the use of florfenicol withpurposes. testicular Not for use in animals intended for breeding degeneration atrophy. NSAIDs are known to have The effects and of florfenicol on bovine reproductive potential effects on bothand parturition performance, pregnancy, lactation and have the not estrous been cycle. There may be studies a delayinindogs, the onset of estrus determined. Toxicity rats, and mice if have associated the use of florfenicol with testicular flunixin is administered during the prostaglandin phase degeneration and atrophy. NSAIDs are known to have of the estrous cycle. The effects of flunixin on imminent potential effects on both estrous parturition have not beenparturition evaluatedandin the a controlled cycle.NSAIDs There may a delay in thethe onset of estrus if study. are be known to have potential to delay flunixin is administered during the prostaglandin phase parturition through a tocolytic effect. of the estrous cycle. The effects of flunixin on imminent

parturitionGOLD have®not been administered evaluated in a as controlled RESFLOR , when directed, study. NSAIDs are knownreaction to have at thethe potential delay may induce a transient site oftoinjection parturition through a tocolytic effect. and underlying tissues that may result in trim loss of ® edible tissue at slaughter. RESFLOR GOLD , when administered as directed, may induce a transient reaction at the site of injection and underlying tissues that may result in trim loss of RESIDUE WARNINGS: Animals intended edible tissue at slaughter.

for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. RESIDUE Animals Do not use WARNINGS: in female dairy cattle intended 20 months consumption must notin be offoragehuman or older. Use of florfenicol this slaughtered within 38 days of treatment. class of cattle may cause milk residues. A Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months withdrawal period has not been established of age or older. Use of florfenicol in this inclass pre-ruminating Doresidues. not useA in of cattle may calves. cause milk calves to beperiod processed forbeen veal.established withdrawal has not in pre-ruminating calves. Do not use in calves to be processed for veal.

ADVERSE REACTIONS: Transient inappetence, diarrhea, decreased water consumption, and injection ADVERSE Transient with inappetence, site swelling REACTIONS: have been associated the use of diarrhea, decreased and injectionand florfenicol in cattle.water In consumption, addition, anaphylaxis site swelling have been associated with the collapse have been reported post-approval use withofthe florfenicol in formulation cattle. In addition, anaphylaxis and use of another of florfenicol in cattle. collapse have been reported post-approval with the

of another formulation of florfenicol in cattle. reactions, Inuse cattle, rare instances of anaphylactic-like some of which have been fatal, have been reported, reactions, In cattle, rare instances of anaphylactic-like primarily following intravenous flunixin some of which have been fatal, haveuse been of reported, meglumine. primarily following intravenous use of flunixin meglumine.

Made in Germany Made inInc. Germany Intervet Roseland, NJ 07068 IntervetIntervet Inc. Roseland, 07068Reserved. ©2009, Inc. AllNJRights ©2009, Intervet Inc. All Rights Reserved. US 3448_IV May 2009 May 2009

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One Nasty Bug How to battle one of the most prevalent pathogens in the cattle industry — bovine coronavirus By Nicole Lane Erceg

A microscopic predator has found its home on America’s ranches. It does not live in the soil or pastures but makes its way from herd to herd catching a ride inside the bodies of ruminant wildlife and seemingly healthy cattle. For more than 50 years, this unpleasant microorganism has plagued the cattle industry and has been associated with neonatal calf diarrhea, winter dysentery and most recently, bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Fortunately, as the bovine coronavirus (BCV) evolves, so does research and technology, opening the door for improved methods of disease prevention. The prevalence of BCV in the cattle industry makes it more than a run-of-the-mill pesky pathogen. This enteric and respiratory disease-causing virus is the leading bug affecting neonatal calves. Most severe during the winter months, BCV continues to be a major problem for cattle producers, causing disease and economic losses in the cattle industry worldwide. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and Dr. Guy Ellis, D.V.M., ruminant technical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, says this is especially true when battling BCV, since there is no medication option for treatment of a virus. “When it comes to coronavirus, the bottom line is that the virus is everywhere and a good prevention program can be of benefit for most cattle producers,” says Ellis. In his more than 20 years of experience as a cattle veterinarian in the Texas Panhandle, Ellis says the most prominent symptom of a BCV infection he sees is diarrhea in calves three weeks of age or younger. However, a growing body of research indicates that BCV could also be a contributor to BRD since the virus can cause both enteric and respiratory infections. “We are seeing bovine coronavirus more and more from both an enteric as well as respiratory standpoint in cattle,” says Ellis. BCV is most often spread by animals during times of stress including calving, shipping, weaning, commingling and during cold weather. A highly contagious virus, BCV can spread through the herd quickly and affect entire calf crops. Adult cattle can be carriers of the virus and shed the pathogen in their feces, easily infecting neonatal calves. While there are no medications that can directly treat a

BCV infection, prevention in the cow herd and in the calf can be the key to preventing loss. The best treatment is prevention The first step to avoiding BCV infections in young cattle is implementing a pre-calving vaccination program in pregnant dams. By stimulating an immune response in the dam, she can pass on her immunity to the calf through the first milk — colostrum. The maternal antibodies give the calf direct immunity from the virus before an infection can take place. “If you don’t address the herd level immunity of your cows, then those carriers can spread them each year to your calves,” says Ellis. He also recommends avoiding pasture crowding during calving and limiting commingling of older and newborn calves, because an infection in a small number of calves can easily spread. “BCV is most prevalent when cows are concentrated in a pasture for calving, which can cause it to spread rapidly, so the more concentrated your cows, the more apt calves are to have this issue.” For ranchers unable to provide pre-calving vaccinations, who cannot get the calf to suckle for the clostridial antibodies or who encounter an outbreak during calving, other options do exist to help provide immunity for baby calves. The most recent development in BCV vaccinations for baby

12 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11 thecattlemanmagazine.com

SHE CAN DO IT.

OR YOU CAN TRY.

SCOURS VACCINATION CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD DAY OF WORK – AND A COLD, HARD ONE. That’s why more producers are choosing to protect their calves from scours by vaccinating the pregnant cow or heifer with Guardian®. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, scours has been attributed to 17.2 percent of annual nonpredatory calf loss in U.S. cattle operations annually.1 If scours has affected your calves in the past, you know the real price of getting them back on their feet – time, treatment cost and heartache. USDA. 2011. Cattle and Calves Nonpredator Death Loss in the United States, 2010. USDA–APHIS–VS.

Guardian provides broad-spectrum viral and clostridial protection against the leading contributors to scours.

FOR YOUR HERD — FOR THE FUTURE — CHOOSE GUARDIAN. For more information talk to your veterinarian or Merck Animal Health representative. Or, to learn more go to The-Best-Defense.com/Guardian.

BCV is most often spread by animals during times of stress including calving, shipping, weaning, commingling and during cold weather. calves is Bovillis® Coronavirus from Merck. This new intranasal spray, modified-live vaccine is labeled for use in calves three days of age and older. Field trials have shown that it is safe for use in calves one day of age and older, and a single dose can reduce the duration and severity of enteric disease due to a BCV infection. Other options for calf vaccination include Calf-Guard® from Zoetis Animal Health and First Defense® from ImmuCell. Ellis recommends that cattle producers work with their veterinarians to determine the optimum treatment options and cautiously read the labels on the vaccines because colostrum and age may interfere with the efficacy of the vaccine. Other good prevention practices include managing a proper deworming program, reducing cattle stress, and using a good vaccination and backgrounding program. A combination of precalving and calf vaccinations can be used to prevent enteric disease from BCV, but there is not a vaccine on the market today that is labeled to prevent respiratory coronavirus in cattle, another reason Ellis emphasizes prevention by building strong immune systems for neonatal calves. The goal is to support the immune system in every way possible so that if the calf encounters an infection or multiple infections they are best prepared to combat it and survive. When treatable turns dangerous “There’s work out there showing that calves are less likely to die from enteric disease if they are only dealing with one pathogen,” says Ellis. “If you go mixing pathogens including coronavirus, the mortality goes up. The theory is if you can prevent coronavirus, you can lower mortality even if the calves are dealing with other pathogens.” No medications exist that will kill or treat a virus, so supported treatment is the best option for cattle that contract BCV. For enteric coronavirus, Ellis recommends preventing and treating dehydration to support the immune system in the best available methods. For cold winter months, it is important to keep the cows and calves out of blowing snow and muddy, wet conditions when possible. Although a widespread and persistent pathogen, BCV can actually be a virus that is relatively easy for cattle to handle. The danger of the virus comes from its ability to weaken the immune system, opening the door to a multitude of other pathogens that only worsen the problem. A multi-infection scenario, or an environment where calves are faced with external limiting factors such as weather, can cause enteric BCV, a relatively tolerable disease, to become life threatening.

More than just calf scours The risk of BCV enteric infections can be managed and easily vaccinated against to provide protection. However, BCV respiratory infections present a more puzzling problem. Ellis says research indicates that BCV could be a contributing factor to a growing problem with BRD. “I have taken deep intranasal swabs from central Texas origin, high-risk weaned calves getting ready to go to the feedyard and seen a very high percentage of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests show positive for BCV.” Similar to its enteric counterpart, from a respiratory infection standpoint, BCV rarely causes mortality, but Ellis shares that it does set up the animal to be more susceptible to other killer pathogens. Ellis says that in the future, if this infection can be addressed on the ranch level as it can with enteric infections, then the increased cases of BRD in the feedlot could be reduced. Unfortunately, the path to prevention is still a little unclear. As scientists seek a better understanding of BRD and BCV, Ellis predicts that the cow-calf producer may play an important role in reducing the number of future BCV infections and the effect of BRD on the cattle industry. “Be aware of the emerging potential of this virus and the potential for it to be a contributing factor to the bovine respiratory disease complex,” says Ellis. He encourages cattle producers to prepare for the threat of both enteric and respiratory BCV infections in their cattle and understand negative repercussions the virus could have on the herd as well as how to prevent loss. “The biggest concern ranchers and cattle producers in Texas need to be aware of is that BCV can manifest itself early on in calf diarrhea and potentially as a respiratory virus in and around the time of weaning or commingling at a sale barn or feedlot,” says Ellis. For producers who have had a disease outbreak in the past or if one strikes during calving season, Ellis says the first step is to contact your local veterinarian. BCV infections can be verified through PCR testing and the veterinarian can provide insight into the best plan of action for treating and preventing future outbreaks. “If you suspect any issues with coronavirus contact your local vet and discuss the issue and then feel free to contact your Merck Animal Health representative or technical services veterinarian to get help with diagnostics,” says Ellis. “We’re always happy to help.” ❚

14 Merck Animal Health BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES – PART 11 thecattlemanmagazine.com

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BEEF CATTLE PRODUCTION SERIES â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PART 11

Health Equals Wealth in Stocker Cattle, Grazing Gains, One Nasty Bug

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