BRD in dairy heifers
Far-reaching impact for dairy farmers
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) affects 46% of calves before they reach nine weeks of age1 and, according to the AHDB 2016 fallen stock report, is the most diagnosed cause of death for animals under six months of age.
Risk factors vary from farm to farm and with increasing herd size, consideration must be given to the environment, mixing protocols and the numbers of calves in groups in order to decrease disease risk.
Many farmers only consider the immediate treatment costs (estimated at £5 per case for medication only2) but this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the economic impact of BRD in young dairy heifers because of the long-term knock-on effects associated with decreased longevity and production.
The wider consequences of BRD to dairy herd productivity
Far more than just treatment costs
Discover the three key pillars to success
Downloads and useful links for farmers
1. Johnson, K.F., Chancellor, N., Burn, C.C., Wathes, D.C., 2017. Prospective cohort study to assess rates of contagious disease in pre-weaned UK dairy heifers: management practices, passive transfer of immunity and associated calf health. Veterinary Record Open 4, e000226.
2. Boulton et al (2015) A Study of Dairy Heifer Rearing Practices from Birth to Weaning and Their Associated Costs on UK Dairy Farms. Open Journal of Animal Sciences, 2015, 5, 185-197