Beef Herd Health

Question 1

when do we palpate and what should you feel if they cow is pregnant?

Answer 1

35-60 days

the 4 cardinal signs:
- fetus
- amniotic vesicle
- membrane slip
- cotyledon

Question 2

what is herd health?

Answer 2

global plan for the herd to maintain the level of herd resistance above the level of pathogen load in order to prevent disease

Question 3

what reduces herd resistance that we can control?

Answer 3

• poor or unbalanced nutrition
• improper preventative nutrition
• improper management in pastures
• STRESS

Question 4

what increases pathogen load that we have control of?

Answer 4

• poor biosecurity
• stocking density/location

Question 5

what are the two requirements of immunization?

Answer 5

proper vaccination and immunocompetent animals

Question 6

modified live vaccines have a __ pathogen with a __ antigenic mass that provide __ protection and ___ require a booster

Answer 6

weakened, small, longer, don’t always

Question 7

killed vaccines are pathogens killed by __ that have a __ antigenic mass with adjuvants . The antibodies are made but no__ are infected and the vaccines have __ stability with __ protection than MLV. They __ a booster.

Answer 7

chemical, large, cells, longer, shorter, require

Question 8

F rules of which vaccines to use

Answer 8

Frequent diseases
Fatal diseases
Financially sound
eFFective vaccine

Question 9

Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex Pathogens

Answer 9

Viruses:
- BVDV
- Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis
- Bovine Resp Syncytial Virus
- Parainfluenza

Bacteria:
- mannheimia hemolytica
- pasturella multocida
- mycoplasma
- histophilus somni

Question 10

do modified live or killed vaccines have a stronger antibody titer response?

Answer 10

modified live

Question 11

briefly outline the timing of vaccines in calves

Answer 11

1. branding time + castration at 2-4 months
2. booster at pre-weaning or first dose at pre-weaning if only giving 1

Question 12

intranasal vaccines provide a local response and stimulate the production of __ and __ severity of illness and shedding even in the face of ___

Answer 12

IgM, decreases, maternal antibodies

Question 13

T/F: intranasal vaccines can contain BVDV

Answer 13

F, they can’t change it enough that they don’t get disease

Question 14

what’s in the 7 way vaccine?

Answer 14

C. perfringens C and D and B (but B isn’t in the US), C. septicum, C. novyi, C. sordelli

Question 15

what might be added to a 7 way vaccine to make it 8 or 9?

Answer 15

C. tetani or C. hemolyticum or both

Question 16

clostridial disease are __ and __ and __

Answer 16

untreatable, fatal and unavoidable

Question 17

when is the 7 way vaccine typically given and boostered?

Answer 17

given at first branding time (1-4mths) and boostered pre weaning

some vx at 4 days then 5mths but this is ineffective if they forget to booster

Question 18

do cows in your average cow/calf operation NEED vaccination against respiratory pathogens?

Answer 18

no, if biosecurity is good and respiratory disease is usually an issue in the younger animals

Question 19

what respiratory viral pathogens also cause reproductive issues?

Answer 19

IBR, BVDV, lepto cause abortion which is why we use 5 way vaccine to prevent abortion in older cattle

Question 20

the killed 5 way vaccine is for what? how often is it given in comparison to the MLV?

Answer 20

BVD, IBR, BRSV, PI3 and Lepto

killed given 2x a year and MLV given 1x a year

Question 21

clostridial vaccines are recommended every _ years generally or __ in high risk areas

Answer 21

5, yearly

Question 22

Scours in beef cattle has a __ vaccine but __ plays a bigger role

Answer 22

killed, management

Question 23

pinkeye in cattle is caused by __ that is contagious and causing scarring of the ___ leading to __

Answer 23

moraxcella bovis, cornea, corneal ulcers

Question 24

corneal ulcers cause pain and __ feed intake which ___the average weaning weight

Answer 24

decrease, decreases

Question 25

deworming isn’t helpful until __ months of age

Answer 25

4

Question 26

why should you castrate a bovine?

Answer 26

• reduce aggression
• prevent unwanted pregnancy
• improved been product -> more tender, marbled and consistent

Question 27

when should you dehorn?

Answer 27

when you castrate

Question 28

why is breeding and calving for fall calves easier?

Answer 28

lack of heat stress, less fescue toxicity and fall is usually drier than spring

Question 29

weaning causes __ which __ immune function

Answer 29

stress, decreases

Question 30

what are 4 methods of weaning?

Answer 30

1. Taken off the dam when put on the truck
2. Fence - line weaning on pasture
3. Staged Weaning w/anti sucklers
4. Confinement weaning

Question 31

define a preconditioned calf

Answer 31

calves that have been weaned for a minimum of 45 days, processed and bunk broke –feedlots prefer all of these qualities

Question 32

to increase profit/return we want to make __ and __ calves. which of these is the largest economic benefit?

Answer 32

MORE and BIGGER

increasing number of calves weaned

Question 33

why is early calving within the breeding season a good thing? how so we get them to do this?

Answer 33

It means the cow will have more time to recover and begin cycling before the breeding season begins. If they calve early as a heifer or in previous seasons they likely will in following years.

Question 34

__ and __ are the major affecters of the length of postpartum anestrus

Answer 34

age of cow, BCS of cow at calving

Question 35

multiparous cows are __ to return to cycling than primiparous cows

Answer 35

faster

multi (50-80d)

primi (90-1200

Question 36

why does a first time heifer mom take longer to return to cycling?

Answer 36

She’s still growing herself and lactating with less body capacity to consume enough energy on a high forage diet

Question 37

thinner cows have a __ post partum anestrus

Answer 37

longer

Question 38

T/F: oxytetracycline works well in respiratory disease

Answer 38

FALSE -> guynn will be so disappointed if you say true

Question 39

we are not good at finding or preventing BRD in cattle. How do we reduce morbidity and mortality?

Answer 39

using antibiotics on arrival @feedlot on all high risk cattle has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality