Abstract #M80
Section: Animal Health
Session: Animal Health I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall B
Session: Animal Health I
Format: Poster
Day/Time: Monday 7:30 AM–9:30 AM
Location: Exhibit Hall B
# M80
Management practices and prevalence of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves in California.
B. M. Karle*1, G. Maier2, S. A. Dubrovsky3, W. J. Love2, D. R. Williams2, J. W. Stackhouse4, R. J. Anderson5, A. L. Van Eenennaam3, T. W. Lehenbauer2,6, S. S. Aly2,6, 1University of California Cooperative Extension, Orland, CA, 2UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, Tulare, CA, 3Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, 4University of California Cooperative Extension, Eureka, CA, 5California Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch, Sacramento, CA, 6Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Key Words: bovine respiratory disease, calf, pre-weaned
Management practices and prevalence of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves in California.
B. M. Karle*1, G. Maier2, S. A. Dubrovsky3, W. J. Love2, D. R. Williams2, J. W. Stackhouse4, R. J. Anderson5, A. L. Van Eenennaam3, T. W. Lehenbauer2,6, S. S. Aly2,6, 1University of California Cooperative Extension, Orland, CA, 2UC Davis Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, Tulare, CA, 3Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, 4University of California Cooperative Extension, Eureka, CA, 5California Department of Food and Agriculture, Animal Health Branch, Sacramento, CA, 6Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
The objective of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in California pre-weaned dairy calves and identify management practices that may be associated with BRD and their variations across the state. A convenience sample of 104 dairies in the 3 distinct dairy regions of CA were surveyed. Regions evaluated were Northern (NCA, San Francisco area and north, mean herd size 678, n = 33), Central (CCA, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced counties, mean herd size 1,569, n = 36), and Greater Southern region (SCA, Fresno County and south, mean herd size 2,878, n = 35). A questionnaire on calf management practices and demographic information was administered via in-person interviews at each dairy and a random sample of pre-weaned calves evaluated using the CA BRD scoring system on the same day. Prevalence of BRD varied between the 3 dairy regions (NCA, 9.3% ± 0.89; CCA, 4.4% ± 0.70; SCA, 7.4% ± 0.92; P = 0.005). Calf breed was not associated with BRD prevalence at the statewide level (Holsteins 7.3% ± 0.82, Jerseys 5.4% ± 0.69, other and cross breeds 5.7% ± 2.68; P = 0.4). Differences in prevalence were observed between breeds across the regions with a higher prevalence in NCA for Jerseys (15.0% ± 1.83 NCA, 2.8% ± 1.01 CCA, 3.4% ± 0.96 SCA; P < 0.001) and in SCA for Holsteins (8.0% ± 1.1 in SCA, 4.7% ± 0.84 in CCA; P = 0.045) but not compared with NCA (5.9% ± 0.12, P = 1.00). Prevalence of BRD was 7.8% ± 1.0 in calves raised on organic dairies and 6.9% ± 0.71 on conventional dairies (P = 0.4). Group housed pre-weaned calves had a higher BRD prevalence than those individually housed for ages 21–40 d (group 14.36% ± 4.34, individual 4.8% ± 1.13; P = 0.007) and ages > 60 d (group 16.8% ± 2.62, individual 9.2% ± 1.64; P = 0.015). Proportion of dairies feeding pasteurized milk to calves varied by herd size (<250 cows 17.8% ± < 0.01; 250–999 cows 44.3% ± 0.11; 1,000–3,999 cows 86.3% ± 0.32; > 4,000 cows 100%; P < 0.001) and organic status (organic 27.6% ± 0.73; conventional 88.1% ± 0.18; P < 0.001). Management practices varied greatly across the state, likely contributing to the variation in BRD prevalence seen in the 3 regional evaluations.
Key Words: bovine respiratory disease, calf, pre-weaned
