BRD is a complex disease which is favoured by many factors related to the animal, the circulating pathogens and the husbandry conditions. Stress plays a pivotal role in an animal’s immune competence. Transport, weaning, nutrition, co-mingling, separation from the dam as well as zootechnical procedures like disbudding and castration increase the stress level of calves.
BRD requires an integrated approach, consisting of:
- Good herd management
Environmental stressors are major drivers of the disease. That is why good herd management (adequate nutrition, housing conditions, climate, colostrum regimen) is very important.
- Early detection
Observing the first signs of the disease is key to a successful treatment plan and preventing further infections.
- Therapy
There are several treatment options, always follow the advise of your veterinarian. Antimicrobial therapy is frequently used because of the involvement of bacterial agents in BRD. Success of antibiotic treatment protocols depend on the timing of the treatment, pathogen identification and its susceptibility. Use of an NSAID as an addition to antimicrobial contributes to faster drop in body temperature and resolves average activity levels. Sufficient and high-quality nutrition supports the recovery. In addition to that separating sick animals from healthy housemates is also very relevant to stop the infection chain and protect the rest of the herd.
We advise farmers to contact their veterinarian for an integrated approach to manage BRD.
Check our website for more information, Internal medicine in cattle | Dechra UK
