Cow Calf Herd Health

Christine B. Navarre, DVM,MS, DACVIMExtension Veterinarian

Professor, School of Animal SciencesLouisiana State University Agricultural Center

Baton Rouge, LA cnavarre@agcenter.lsu.edu

Introduction

• Principles will be discussed– Principles are the same

• Dairy• Sheep• Goats• Camelids

Herd Health Programs

• A vaccination program is not a herd health program– Don’t try to vaccinate you way out of a disease

problem

• Good management = good health– Attack from multiple points– Ex. Sandhills calving system

Herd Health

• Herd Health Problems Not diseases– MANAGEMENT!

• Nutrition– Penny Wise, Pound Foolish

• Breeding management

Prevention is always cheaper than treatment

Tip of the Iceberg• Most diseases (infectious

and non-infectious)– Ratio of clinical to

subclinical• 1:5 to 1:20• So cost of subclinical

greater than clinical– Parasites perfect example

• Because most diseases are subclinical, the occurrence of clinical cases usually indicates some type of management/husbandry stress

Clinical

Subclinical

Take Stock

• Records– “The faintest pencil is stronger than the strongest

mind”• Evaluate at least annually

– Management changes– New information

• Personalizing is most cost effective – Don’t use cookbook internet program– Producers should hire a health consultant

• Consider providing services beyond traditional medicine and surgery

Herd Health: The Numbers

• Economic figures available– Often averages– From other regions– Different herd sizes

• Economic return vs. risk management– Implant/deworm vs. vaccinate/single use needles

Herd Health Calendar• Should be tailored to the operation• For example -in Louisiana (Subtropical)

– Start with parasite control unless disease issues on farm

– Then add vaccinations– Work in castration/dehorning/implanting,

palpation, fly control

Herd Health Calendar

• Some things may not fit– Anaplasmosis vaccine should be given in the

spring– Fluke treatment in fall

Efficiency

• Timing is critical– If you are going to spend the money, use the product

at the best time• Deworming• Vaccination

• Working cattle costs money, risks injury, causes cattle to decrease feed intake for period after processing– Low stress– Disposition

Herd Health Programs

• Much easier to develop for herds with controlled breeding season

• Controlled breeding season offers marketing advantages

6 Parts of a Herd Health Program

• Nutrition• Parasite Control• Biosecurity• Vaccinations• Genetics• Decrease stress

Nutrition

• If nutrition is optimized, health and production will be also– If it is not optimized, diseases and production losses WILL

be a problem• Poor nutrition (protein, energy, vitamins, minerals) depresses

immunity to diseases• Poor nutrition interferes with response to vaccination

– Do not attempt to chase a disease problem if nutrition is poor

• May find, eliminate, and vaccinate for a disease, but another will take its place

Animal Nutrition Requirements

• Depends on:– Stage of life – Breed– Genetic potential– Desired output– Cow condition– Pregnancy status– Economics!

Nutrition

• Energy, protein, vitamins, mineral, water – Follow NRC Requirements– Changes depending on stage of production

• Impacts – Production– Immunity– Carcass characteristics

• Immune function, growth and fertility are depressed before clinical signs are evident

Beef Cattle

• Beef cattle producers are really grass farmers!• Economical beef production is based on

economical feeding• Need to minimize swings in body condition• Resource

– Beef Cow Supplementation Decision Guide

Reproductive Efficiency-Beef Cattle

• BCS at calving is most critical to re-breeding performance, not BCS at breeding– BCS measures fat deposits– BW too much variability– Don’t make excuses for Brahman’s

• Yes, they lay down fat differently• If BCS at calving was low at calving in cows that don’t

re-breed, then cull open and/or increase nutrition

aUsing the

Pregnancy Analytics App

aTo Add Value To

Pregnancy Diagnosis

Bob L. Larson, DVM, PhDCollege of Veterinary MedicineKansas State University

Reproduction: What are the constraints?• 60-70% likelihood of a cow becoming

pregnant and maintaining that pregnancy to mid-gestation each time it has a fertile ovulation and is mated by a fertile bull (BonDurant, Theriogenology 2007)

Most lost very early and the cow cycles again when expected (21 days later)

• Percent of cows exposed to bulls that are pregnant

Able to identify serious reproductive failureNot helpful to diagnose cause of failure

Pregnancy Information Analysis

• Percent pregnant• Pregnancy percentage depicted by 21-day intervals• Percent of available to be bred each 21-day interval• Pregnancy percentage by 21-d interval and other categories

Pregnancy Information Analysis

Examples: Body Condition Score, Age, Breed/Description

Comparing 50th Percentile to 66th Percentile

250-350 250 $175.00300 350-450 350 $160.004/1 450-550 450 $145.00

11/1 550-650 550 $130.002.2 650-750 650 $115.00

$15.00 750-850 750 $100.00$145.00 850-950 850 $85.00

% Pregnant Current

% of open cows

becoming pregnant

Weight at Weaning

Total of Value of Calves Desired

% of open cows

becoming pregnant

Total of Value of Calves

1st 21 days 30% 30% 524 $68,356 63% 63% $143,547 $145.002nd 21 days 30% 43% 478 $62,327 19% 51% $39,474 $145.003rd 21 days 23% 58% 431 $47,627 9% 50% $18,636 $160.004th 21 days 9% 53% 385 $16,641 3.5% 39% $6,471 $160.005th 21 days 0% 339 0% $175.006th 21 days 0% 293 0% $175.007th 21 days 0% 247 0% #N/AOpen 8% 5.5%

Start of calving (mm/dd)Weaning date (mm/dd)ADG (birth to weaning)

KSU College of Veterinary Medicine - Production MedicineValue of Improving Pregnancy Distribution

Price slide ($/cwt)Price ($/cwt) - 500 lb. steers

Herd size (# cows exposed to bulls)

Desired scenario results in 8.9% more weaning weight

Desired scenario results in 6.8% more weaned calf value

473434

Desired scenario (avg. weaning wt.)Current scenario (avg. weaning wt.)

Value of moving to desired calving distribution (per calf)

$194,950$208,129$13,179$43.93

Current scenario ($ value of weaned calves)Desired scenario ($ value of weaned calves)Value of moving to desired calving distribution (ranch)

0%20%40%60%80%

1st 21days

2nd21

days

3rd21

days

4th21

days

5th21

days

6th21

days

7th21

days

Open

Current Histogram

0%20%40%60%80%

1st 21days

2nd21

days

3rd21

days

4th21

days

5th21

days

6th21

days

7th21

days

Open

Desired Histogram

50th

Percentile66th

Percentile

8.9% more weaning weight

6.8% more weaned calf value$13,179

Maximizing Calf Survivability

• Crucial to economic success of beef producers• Starts months before calf is born• Proper nutrition and environment will

minimize problems• “never let a calf have a bad day”

Nutrition and Calf Numbers and Health (Growth!)

• Poor nutrition in late gestation=few lighter calves at weaning/slaughter next fall and years to come– Increased dystocia=increase stillbirths/weak calves=more

sick calves=more deaths/poor growth– Increased FPT due to quality of colostrum=sick

calves=death/poor growth– Decreased calf birth weight=less fat=cold/sickness

=death/poor growth – Sick calves = more FPT=sick calves=death/poor growth– Poor vaccine responses– Poor fertility=less calves in two years– Replacement heifer fertility=less calves for years

• Years to come?

BCS (Nutrition) Will Affect:

• Conception / Pregnancy Rate• Date of Conception• Level of Dystocia• Calf Health and Vigor• Preweaning Calf Performance• Postweaning Calf Performance

BCS at Calving

• 2 year study-Oregon– BCS 6 vs 4– BCS 6

• Less dystocia despite higher birth weights• Heavier weaning weights• Weaned 11% more calves• Fall preg rate of 91% vs 79%• Higher net annual return despite higher feed costs

Fetal Programming(Developmental Programming)

• The concept that a maternal stimulus or insult at a critical period in fetal development has long term impacts on offspring

• Humans– Malnurishment in first half of pregnancy

• Offspring have increased incidence of diabetes, obesity, CV disease

Fetal Programming-Cattle• Nutritional stress-mainly protein

– 2nd and 3rd trimesters• No impact on birth weight

– Lambs-change in limb and body length

• Growth (48 lb at weaning)• Marbling (most dramatic effect)• Reproduction in female offspring

– Altered hormone secretion?

Fetal Programming-Cattle

• Nutritional stress-mainly protein– 1st and 2nd trimesters

• Organ development and vascularization/placental development

– Reduced caruncular and cotyledonary weights– Reduced fetal weights– Fewer glomeruli– Respiratory disease increased

Fetal Programming-Cattle

• 1st and 2nd trimesters– Reduced number skeletal muscle fibers and intramuscular

adipocytes• Vulnerable because low priority compared to heart, brain and

others

– Decreased ADG, gain:feed, total gain, final wt.– Insulin resistance at end of feeding period– Tenderness– Number of oocytes available for life– Testicular development

Herd Health Programs: Parasite Control

– Increase weaning weights – Increase milk production – Improved conception rates– Parasites are immunosuppressive

• Vaccine response

• Parasites can be deadly

Parasite Control

It’s a new day!

Herd Health Programs: Biosecurity

• Prevention is always cheaper than treatment• “Most disease is bought and paid for”

– Do not attempt to chase a disease problem if you are not going to prevent it from coming back in

• Waste of time and money

• A good biosecurity program will protect a herd from diseases in which there is no good vaccine and/or expensive vaccine

Biosecurity Protocols

• Challenging and take time to develop• BUT

– Cheapest and most effective means of disease control

– No disease prevention program will work without biosecurity

• Different levels of biosecurity and therefore risk with different management/business models

Center for Food Security and Public Health Iowa State University 2006

Routes of Transmission

• Apply to all infectious agents• Animal must be exposed to

develop disease• Understand different routes of transmission =

Gain control• Risk areas must be identified

– Design protocols to minimize exposure– Prioritize

Biosecurity: How do diseases get in?

• Purchased cattle or returning cattle– Diseased, carriers, incubating

• Other animals, pests, wildlife– Cats, dogs, feral hogs, deer, rodents, birds, insects

• People– Boots, clothing, hands, breathing

• Inanimate objects– Trucks, equipment

• Contaminated feed and water

Bottom Line Biosecurity• Does not have to be complicated

– Not always need for shower in/out, closed facilities• Testing of purchased animals• Quarantine new arrivals, sick, returning from show• No fenceline contact with neighbors• Raise your own recips

Vaccination Programs

• There is no generic/cookbook program!• To give you one would be malpractice

– Would have to cover all known diseases and be safe

• Would cost you a fortune• Would not necessarily be the most effective

Vaccine Basics

• Vaccinate-to administer a vaccine• Immunize-producing a detectable immune

response through vaccination– Does not imply protection

USDA Vaccine Labeling • History

– 4 tiers of effectiveness• for the prevention of infection• for the prevention of disease• as an aid in the prevention of disease• As an aid in the control/reduction of disease

• Now a single statement– “This product has been shown to be effective for the vaccination

of healthy animals X weeks of age or older against….– The rigor with which the USDA evaluates efficacy data for

statistical and clinical meaningfulness has not changed

USDA Vaccine Labeling • “to ensure that all veterinary biologics produced in, or imported into, the

United States are not worthless, contaminated, dangerous, or harmful. Federal law prohibits the shipment of veterinary biologics unless these are manufactured in compliance with regulations contained in Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 101 to 118. Veterinary biologics for commercial use must be produced at a USDA-approved establishment, and be demonstrated to be pure, safe, potent, and efficacious.

Vaccine Basics

• Vaccine Failures– Colostral immunity interference?– Improper vaccine handling– Improper booster administration– Incubating disease already– Too stressed to respond– Immunity not strong enough to prevent/mitigate

disease

Vaccine Basics

• Prevention vs. decrease incidence/severity• Vaccine immunity can be overwhelmed

– Must be combined with sanitation/biosecurity

• Work best in healthy animals– Good nutrition, parasite control=healthy cattle= can

respond– Cattle in poor body condition, mineral deficiencies,

infected with other diseases= cannot respond

Vaccine Basics

• Single use needles– Anaplasmosis, etc.

• Meat and milk quality assurance– Proper site, needle selection– Select low dose, SQ– Abide by withdrawal times on label

Herd Health Programs: Genetics

• Research being conducted looking into the genetics of health– Selecting animals that are more resistant to

disease• Respiratory disease• Parasites

– FAMACHA

• Stay tuned!

Genetic Selection for Disease Resistance

• Economic simulation of the relative economic value of selection (Allison Van Eenennaam)– Selection to avoid BRD

• Should be weighed – 7x more heavily than weaning weight, post-weaning ADG and

feed intake– 2-3x more heavily than marbling and yield grade

• American Angus Association– Foot Scoring EPDs

Immune Function Testing(Bonnie Mallard)

• High Immune Responders – 25% Heritability

• Categorize animals as high, average or low immune responders

– SEMEX (Canada)• Tested sires and labeled high responders with the

“Immunity+” status• Tradeoffs of other traits?

– Immunity+ bulls on average have higher genetic merit for all other major traits than the rest of the bulls

Immune Function Testing

• High immune responders– Decrease in diseases (mastitis, metritis, ketosis,

etc.)– Better hoof health – Faster growth reate– Improved colostrum quality– Improved vaccine response– Correlates positively with reproductive traits and

longevity

Epigenetics• The study of heritable changes in gene expression

or cellular phenotype caused by mechanisms other than changes in the underlying DNA sequence – Functionally relevant modifications to the genome that

do not involve a change in the nucleotide sequence• Examples-DNA methylation and histone modification, both of

which serve to regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence

• These mechanisms can enable the effects of parents' experiences to be passed down to subsequent generations

– Adverse long-term effects reflect a mismatch between fetal environmental conditions and the conditions that the individual will confront later in life

Epigenetics

• “Thrifty genotype” hypothesis– Thrifty genes selected during hunter-gatherer periods (food is

scarce), increase capacity to store fat, increasing risk of insulin resistance later when food is abundant

• Good– Selection of brood cows for a particular environment

• Bad– Calves born to cows in good environment expected to perform in

hostile environment– Calves born to cows in hostile environment expected to grow and

perform when given good nutrients

Herd Health Programs: Decreasing Stress

“Cowboy Down”

• Stress depresses immunity• Stress impacts production• Stress impacts product quality

BQA• 2 major components

– Safety• Proper pharmaceutical,

pesticide and feed use• Observation of

withdrawal times• No broken needles,

buckshot, etc.– Quality

• Injections limited, only in neck, SQ, low volume, etc.

• Limit bruising• Limit stress

Stress

• Stress impacts healthHealth impacts need for treatmentNeed for treatment impacts risk of a residue or defect

Impacts safety

• Stress impacts profitabilityStress impacts growthStress impacts quality grade

Stressors

• (Nutrition, Parasites, Disease)• Weaning • Commingling• Transport• Heat• Castration• Dehorning• Poor cattle handling• ETC.

BQA Guidelines for Care and Handling

• www.BQA.org• Castration prior to 90 days or less than 500lbs.• Dehorn during horn bud stage or at first

opportunity

• Consider local anesthetic/meloxicam• BCS 2 or less unacceptable

Low Stress Cattle Handling

Low Stress Cattle Handling: Why?• Immune system management

– Cattle that are stressed from handling will not respond well to vaccines, will not breed as well

• Prevent injury– Top 10 most dangerous jobs

• Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers• Environmental Benefits

– Control of animal distribution over large grazing lands

• Disaster prep

Facilities• Solid vs. open sides

– Cattle do not like being moved toward a solid sided or closed in area, as they do not perceive a way out

– If it is necessary or desirable to use closed sided processing areas then the design must be large enough for cattle to go past where they need to come back to without putting too much pressure on the cattle

– Solid side alleyways require catwalk-key word is walk• Don’t stand in place above cattle-makes them look up which makes

them stop• Hard on knees getting up and down

• Curved vs. straight (Tub vs. Bud Box)– Bud box is simple, easy to build and cost effective– Requires knowledge of cattle behavior and how to use it

• Cattle want to return to where they have been

Resources

• U Tube – BQA Channel

• Merck Animal Health– Creating Connections series

• www.animalcaretraining.org

Low Stress Weaning

• Fenceline Weaning– Spend more time eating– Better gains throughout

precon period– Leave on grass if possible– Move pairs to pasture

where calves will be few days before separation

• Cows will show calves where water is

Preconditioning• Preparing or “conditioning” calves for feedyard

– Better health and performance?• Preconditioning not the only influence

– Genetics– Cow nutrition– Low stress weaning

• What it’s supposed to do– Reduction in respiratory and GI pulls– Decrease death loss– Lower treatment costs– Better performance/lower cost of gain– Improved carcass quality

Early Weaning• Lactation roughly doubles protein and energy

requirement for cow• Takes 15-20 % less energy to feed cow and early

weaned calf separately vs. calf still on cow– Nursing calf requires 7.5-8 lbs. of feed per pound of

gain– Early weaned on high-energy diet require 3.5-4 lbs. of

feed per pound of gain• Cows nursing spring calves lose 1/10th of BCS every

2 weeks• For every 2.5 days early weaned- gain one day of

grazing for cow

Environmental stress• Heat stress in beef cattle (North Dakota State)

– The heat index is 75º F or greater for a 72 hour period– The heat index during a 48 hour period is no lower than 79º F– 79º F during the day and no lower than 75º F during the night– The daytime heat index reaches 84º F or higher for two

consecutive days• Cold stress – if wet, have cold stress begins at 50º F for adults

& ~ 70º F for neonates• Adequate shade• Water sources – fresh and clean• Mud – increases energy of maintainace

– 4 - 8 inches of mud = lowers feed intake 4 to 8% / ADG 14% lower – belly deep mud (12+ inches) = 30% lower feed intake

Heat Stress

• Late gestation heat stress (Holsteins) – Cooled

• Cows – Increased dry matter intake (important for fetal programming)– Higher IgG in colostrum

• Calves– Fewer stillborns– 12 lb heavier birth weight– Calves absorbed more colostrum– 10 lbs per day more milk in first lactation– HIgher longevity in herd

Be Ready to Respond to Changes/Challenges

• Plan for flexibility– MLV in cows

• Better protection?– New killed may be

equal• Cheaper than killed• Can incorporate MLV pre-

weaning in calves

– Preconditioning• Early weaning if drought

Cattle Welfare Issues• NUTRITION!

– Formulation and feed bunk space• Heat and cold stress• Housing

– Air quality– Flooring – Bedding– Resting areas

• Noise pollution• Genetic selection• Castration/Dehorning• Handling

Take Home Message

• Take care of your business• Also do what is right for the industry, or the

previous won’t matter– Animal welfare– Food safety– Health during feeding period– Disposition

• Take the “can’t” word out of your vocabulary