April 22, 2010

US study focuses on persistently infected cattle and economic impact

Persistently infected (PI) cattle can actually decrease the profitability of surrounding cattle - even those that never develop clinical disease, according to a study by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

Cattle that are persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) cause outbreaks in the US that leave animals with symptoms that can reduce production efficiency. This is the conclusion of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) after a study on this topic.

PI cattle have higher mortality rates and lower production efficiency than other cattle. But the economic consequences of BVDV do not end there, according to a study initiated by veterinary consultant Bill E. Hessman of the Haskell County Animal Hospital in Sublette, Kansas. In collaboration with ARS and university colleagues, Hessman showed that after exposure to PI cattle, non-PI cattle had higher morbidity rates and lower production efficiency than cattle with absolutely no exposure to PI animals.

This work was published in the January 2009 issue of the American Journal of Veterinary Research.