Biosecurity Strategies for Optimization of Calf Health in North American Beef and Dairy Operations.

As the operations we serve continue to evolve, it will be essential to safeguard calf health to optimize future productivity in the beef and dairy industries. Veterinarians serve a critical role of educating producers and overseeing worker training protocols by communicating consistent messaging on the importance of biosecurity. Managing biosecurity for calves within the beef industry will always be directly impacted by the pathogen exposure from new additions to the herd, shared grazing sites, fomites, and environmental factors.

Prognostic indicators for survival of downer cattle treated using a flotation tank in a referral hospital: 190 cases (2000-2020).

Background: Nonambulatory cattle present therapeutic challenges in addition to animal welfare concerns. Flotation therapy is a treatment option, but more information regarding prognostic indicators for survival is needed to guide use of this modality.

Hypothesis/objectives: Evaluate historical and clinical variables assessed during hospitalization as prognostic indicators for survival in recumbent cattle undergoing flotation treatment in a referral hospital.

Assessing the effects of experimental bacterial challenge with Pasteurella multocida and ampicillin on the respiratory microbiota of pre-weaned Holstein calves.

The association between changes in the respiratory microbiota and Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) in dairy calves is not well understood. We investigated characteristics of the nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiota associated with BRD following Pasteurella multocida infection. We also evaluated the effect of ampicillin on the respiratory microbiota.

The nasopharyngeal microbiota of preweaned dairy calves with and without ultrasonographic lung lesions.

The primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify associations between the diversity and composition of the nasopharyngeal (NP) microbiota and pneumonia status, as diagnosed by ultrasonography (US), in preweaned dairy calves. Characteristics of the NP microbiota were compared between calves with and without pneumonia, as diagnosed by US. Secondary objectives were to compare the composition of the NP microbiota between calves by age, clinical respiratory score (CRS), and previous antibiotic therapy.