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Early
in 2007, the Alabama Voluntary BVDV Control Program rolled off the
assembly line. The program was the result of a tremendous amount of work
done by numerous groups in the state involved in veterinary medicine and
the cattle industry. The majority of the work was done by Alabama
Extension Veterinarian, Dr. Soren Rodning. Because of the losses that
occurred, especially in feedlot, due to the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus
(BVDV), the group addressed not only what could be done to reduce these
feedlot losses, but also how Alabama could lead the way in confronting
this problem. The question to be answered was, "How can we in
Alabama offer calves to feedlots that are certified not to be
persistently infected with the Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus?" The
Voluntary BVDV Control Program answers that question and allows anyone
who wishes to participate in it to take advantage of it.
Before
going into detail about the program, a little background on BVDV and
persistently infected (PI) cattle is needed. The disease is manifest in
various ways, with one aspect in common. It literally wreaks havoc on
the immune system. Beyond that, it may cause erosions on some or all
mucous membrane surfaces, as well as causing lesions all through the
intestinal tract. The lesions in the intestine result in inappetence,
dehydration and, of course, diarrhea. The real problem in feedlot
cattle, however, is the persistently infected calves. Those calves are
infected in the uterus during the first four months of development. If
exposed during that period, the calf’s immune system will never
recognize the virus as the enemy and will not mount an immune response.
Many of these calves either die and are aborted, or they are born weak
and die very young. There are a few of these calves infected in the
uterus prior to four months of development that do not show signs of
illness, but continually shed large amounts of the virus. In the feedlot
environment where a group of calves are constantly in close proximity in
their feed pen, a PI can cause tremendous problems. Even though the
other calves in the pen with the PI calf may have been vaccinated for
BVDV, the constant exposure to high levels of the virus being shed by
the PI calf forces the pen mates’ immune systems to continuously work
at full capacity. The chronic exposure will eventually take a physical
toll on those animals. That toll may be either through loss of
production, illness or both. The letters PI around a feedlot are
certainly a four-letter word.
The
Voluntary BVDV Control Program offers producers the opportunity to have
their calves tested, so buyers may be assured there are no PIs in the
group. This aspect is especially attractive to producers who sell calves
in group lots going to be kept together in a feedlot pen. To me, the
most attractive aspect of the program is the ability to certify one’s
breeding herd as PI free. If a cow in the brood herd is infected with
BVDV, she will produce PI calves. Through testing the herd, any of these
brood cows can be identified and eliminated from the herd. The
certification aspect of the program should be especially attractive to
those selling seed stock. Anyone who has ever had BVDV go through their
herd, or who have had a PI animal in their herd, will recognize the
advantage of purchasing their replacements and bulls from a PI free
herd.
During
the past year, people from across the United States have been very
interested in the Alabama program and how it will work. Dr. Rodning has
been asked by many groups across the country to give presentations about
the program. As I travel to meetings involved in the national cattle
industry and government leadership, I am often asked how the BVDV
program is going. There is interest nationally about if our program goes
well, so others may follow. There are a few other states also in the
developing process of BVDV control programs. It would be a major benefit
to the beef industry for these programs to get off the ground and be
successful. I have a friend who grows stockers out in Colorado. He gets
most of his calves out of the Southeast. He once told me if the Alabama
BVDV Control Program gets up and going well, it should have a positive
effect on all Alabama calves. I asked him why he thought it would even
affect the price of calves not in the program. He just smiled and
replied, "A rising tide raises all ships."
If you
have any questions about the Alabama Voluntary BVDV Control Program, do
not hesitate to give us a call at 334-240-7253. We will put you in touch
with Dr. Rodning. |
