click image to zoom Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in young
dairy calves can have profound production and economic
consequences in the short-term and even later in life. BRD will
occur in both milk-fed and weaned dairy calves. Amy Stanton,
PhD, Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph,
says BRD in milk-fed calves will occur throughout the milk
feeding period with BRD in weaned dairy calves usually occurring
in a more contained time period, usually around movement to a
new facility or upon first mixing. Early intervention of
respiratory cases in dairy calves is critical to reducing the
short- and long-term effects of the disease. Early detection
involves understanding sickness behaviors and responding
quickly. “Sickness behavior occurs in all mammals and is a
coordinated set of responses to infection,” Stanton explains.
“This includes people such as when they get the flu. These
behaviors are performed, and we have evolved to perform them, to
increase the potential for survival. Now, they can b