Managing Herd Security, BVD
BVD control, FMD preparedness discussed.
“Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is one of the most manageable pathogens affecting cattle producers,” stated Mississippi State University veterinarian David Smith, adding that anyone who wants to avoid BVD in their herd can. “So, if BVD is a manageable disease, why aren’t more producers managing it?”
Smith was among the speakers who talked about infectious disease control during the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville, Tenn. Smith shared his views on BVD control during a meeting of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Beef Cattle Herd Security/BVD Working Group, where attendees also heard about plans for response, should an outbreak of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease occur in the United States.
During his discussion of BVD, Smith said the incidence of the disease in cattle feedyards has not improved significantly in the last 10 years, despite implementation of recommended management practices. Neither have BVD control measures administered by the stocker-feeder been particularly effective. Smith suggested that a systems approach to BVD control is needed, which would begin at the cow-calf level.
According to Smith, such an approach would target control of persistently infected (PI) calves — calves born to cows infected with the BVD virus. Some PI calves perform poorly from the start, but many appear relatively normal and make their way through the production system to the feedyard. All along the way, a PI calf sheds the BVD virus through body fluids, exposing other animals to infection. Smith said many cow-calf producers are not aware that PI calves are generated in the breeding herd, and associated losses at that level often are less obvious. Many producers don’t recognize the problem.
“The cow-calf sector is in the best position to control BVD,” stated Smith, emphasizing the need to focus control efforts appropriately within the cattle production system. “The fundamental solution is to not generate PI calves in the first place.”
Also speaking during the Working Group’s meeting was Kansas State University veterinarian Mike Sanderson, who explained The Secure Beef Supply Plan, a project currently being developed to address the potential reemergence of FMD in the United States. According to Sanderson, Kansas State University, Iowa State University, NCBA and USDA are planning partners, seeking to develop procedures that focus on FMD preparedness, response and recovery of the feedlot and processing industries, including transportation of cattle to processing plants. A well-developed, science- and risk-based plan will require input from producers, as well as state and federal animal health officials.
“We want to have a workable control plan that still allows movement of animals not affected by the disease to processing or between enterprises,” said Sanderson. “We want to implement effective control measures and still allow continuity of business.”
Also on the agenda were USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) veterinarian Tyler McAlpin, who explained the agency’s Veterinary Services National Training Program, which would prepare foreign animal disease diagnosticians to respond to an outbreak of FMD or any other foreign animal disease.
Editor’s Note: Field Editor Troy Smith is a freelance writer and cattleman from Sargent, Neb. This article was written as part of Angus Media’s coverage of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention. For further coverage, visit www.angus.media.