With the U.S. cattle herd at a 75-year low, demand for beef is increasing. Breakthroughs from two grants funded by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research’s International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA) could offer new management practices to keep cattle healthy, reduce antibiotic use and produce beef more efficiently. The projects received more than $1.06 million in combined ICASA and matching funds.
Bovine Respiratory Disease Breakthrough
Researchers led by Dr. Brad White of Kansas State University developed models that predict which groups of cattle are most likely to benefit from preventive antibiotic treatment, or metaphylaxis, for Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD).
Research Findings:
- The first analysis found that treating an entire group of cattle did not lead to substantial improvements in animal health to outweigh the cost of implementation in 72% of the groups studied.
- The researchers also learned that cattle age and severity of health challenges played important roles in the value of the treatment.
Why it Matters:
- BRD is the most common and costly disease affecting the North American cattle industry. Recent studies estimate that BRD causes more than $1 billion in annual losses for U.S. beef operations alone.
- Producers must weigh the costs and benefits of treating entire groups of cattle upon arrival, because treating an entire group is costly.
- Repeated or unnecessary antibiotic use can increase the risk of resistant bacteria surviving and multiplying, potentially leaving producers with fewer reliable treatments when BRD strikes.
Real World Impact:
With further testing in commercial feedyards, the models could help producers make more informed decisions about preventive group treatment while improving cattle health and welfare, reducing costs, and maintaining the efficacy of critical antibiotics.
Learn More:
Refining Antibiotic Use in Beef Operations
Liver Abscess Breakthrough
Researchers led by Dr. Dale Woerner of Texas Tech University determined that liver abscesses in beef-on-dairy crossbred cows are linked to changes in the rumen, the largest compartment of a cow’s stomach, not inherited traits.
Research Findings:
- This research suggests that breeding is unlikely to reduce abscesses, while management practices that improve rumen health may help.
- Blood tests also predict abscesses with 80% accuracy, offering opportunities for earlier detection and prevention.
Why it Matters:
- Liver abscesses cost the beef cattle industry an estimated $256 million annually through slower growth, reduced feed efficiency and losses at processing.
- The breakthrough revealed that selective breeding is unlikely to reduce liver abscesses.
- Instead, the study concluded that the best solution focuses on practices, including management strategies and interventions, that support rumen health.
Real World Impact:
This research helps producers focus on rumen health and earlier detection through blood testing rather than selective breeding to reduce liver abscesses, antibiotic use and financial loss while improving cattle health and welfare.
Learn More:
Study Suggests New Ways to Prevent Costly Cattle Disease