| BVD is a common
viral disease of cattle that results in significant economic losses estimated
to be in excess of two billion dollars annually. Individually, a producer
can experience up to a $56 loss per cow in a herd where a persistently
infected (PI) animal is present. The seriousness of this disease has grown
to the point where the Academy of Veterinary Consultants has adopted a
position statement to control and eventually eradicate this disease from
North America.
Eradication
of this virus is difficult as PI calves often survive while appearing to
be fully healthy. When PI calves enter production channels they shed enormous
numbers of virus particles - up to 10 million particles daily - infecting
otherwise healthy cattle. PI cattle are the main source for transmission
and spread of BVD.
The managers
of the Montana BVD-PI Herd Screening Project believe there may be added
incentive beyond better herd health for ranchers who identify “PI negative”
calves. They simply may be worth more money come marketing time.
“We think calves
screened as PI-negative deserve at least a 4¢ per pound price advantage
over unscreened calves,” says Clint Peck, Montana’s director of Beef Quality
Assurance. “PI-negative status says the animals are not persistently infected
with the BVD virus and greatly reduces the risk of spreading the disease
throughout the production chain.” The main negative health effect
of BVD is it can inhibit conception and/or cause abortion in susceptible
females. It also suppresses the immune system, making infected animals
more susceptible to other diseases.
The costs and
impacts of the BVD virus can escalate once calves leave the ranch and end
up in a feedlot, says Dr. John Paterson, Extension Beef Specialist at Montana
State University. “The BVD-PI calf that exposes its feedlot pen mates to
massive amounts of BVD virus on a daily basis creates economic chaos for
the feedlot operator,” Paterson says. “Feedyard research in Kansas indicates
there's a $47 per head cost for every animal going into the feedyard because
of PI exposure.” |
About
BVD and Persistently Infected animals...