The early detection of disease in receiver calves

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In Canada, due to cattle population demographics, receiver calves are obliged to undergo significant exposure to transport and handling, co-mingling, auction and some time off feed and water (Schaefer et al., 2003, CSAS Proceedings). Collectively, these novel events result in a significant incidence of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) which has a considerable economic impact on the cattle industry both with respect to health and treatment costs and animal performance (Basarab et al., 1997. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 77:554; Wittum et al., 1996. J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc. 209:814). As discussed by Jericho and Kozub (2004. Can. J. Vet. Res. 68:127) the presence of BRD in intensively raised cattle has caused a dependence on antibiotic treatments which in turn has lead to a concern for the promotion of antibiotic resistant microbes. In fact, the ability to treat BRD in cattle is reported to be becoming more difficult due to the emergence of resistance microbes such as pneumonia in multiple sourced co-mingled cattle (Shahriar et al., 2002. Can. Vet. J. 43:863).