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[ October 2004 ]

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Is Your Unsuspecting Bovine Protected From BVDV Infection?
by Dr. Lana Kaiser

In 1997 I wrote about BVD in the Voice, back then BVD (bovine viral diarrhea) was one of the most confusing and economically devastating diseases in the cattle business. Seven years later BVD is still a major problem. Infections are seen in all ages of cattle throughout the world and there is still a significant economic impact due to production and reproduction losses. If the disease has not really changed, why write about it again? Not only do cattle producers need to have a basic understanding of the disease, but they also have few new things to think about. BVD, the disease of 1,000 faces, can masquerade as respiratory problems, abortion, diarrhea, decreased fertility, congenital defects in calves, hemorrhage and death. The terminology is confusing, and to add to the confusion, new vaccines are on the market claiming to provide fetal protection and contain both Type I and Type II BVD. There is a new test for persistently infected animals (do you remember the dreaded PI?) called skin biopsy immunohistochemistry – the ear notch test. The ear notch test is a great aid in detecting and ridding your operation of persistently infected cattle.

BVD is the original name for a gastroenteritis with severe diarrhea, first described in the 1940’s in small dairy herds in New York. At the time, both the causative organism and the magnitude of the disease were unknown, so bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) seemed to be a reasonable name. We now know the virus that causes BVD (termed BVDV, bovine viral diarrhea virus) is responsible for many different clinical diseases. BVDV, the cause of the disease in cattle, is an RNA virus losely related the virus that causes hog cholera and border disease in sheep. The virus is divided into several overlapping categories based on how the particular virus behaves in the laboratory, and having nothing to do with the virulence or behavior of the virus in cattle. The virus can be called Type I or Type II and cytopathic or non- cytopathic. You can have a Type I cytopathic virus, a Type I non- cytopathic virus, Type II cytopathic virus and a Type II non- ytopathic virus. There is really not one BVDV, but probably hundreds of slightly different viruses under the umbrella of BVDV.

The designation of the virus as Type I or Type II is based solely on its genetic sequence. The designation of the virus as cytopathic or non- cytopathic is based on how the virus behaves in cell culture; if it kills cells in cell culture it is called cytopathic, if it does not kill cells it is called non-cytopathic. A Type I virus can be cytopathic or non- cytopathic and a Type II virus can be cytopathic or non- cytopathic. This designation is not related to virulence, as both cytopathic and non-cytopathic strains can be very virulent or very mild and both Type I and Type II can cause mild or devastating disease.

The clinical conditions associated with this virus can be broadly divided into 3 categories: acute disease (sometimes referred to as primary infection), fetal infections and mucosal disease. Acute infections can be so subtle that you don’t notice them (subclinical) or so horrendous that the animal is dead before you know it. Let’s talk about them one by one.

Acute BVDV Infection
Acute BVDV infection can be so subtle that you don’t realize the animal is sick; however, if the cow is pregnant and unvaccinated, the results can be devastating (see fetal infection). Bad things can happen right under your nose and you don’t even know it! Acute BVDV infection can present a sudden death or a viral respiratory disease, diarrhea, a severe bleeding disorder or a venereal disease. BVDV infection can also cause immunosuppression, the virus itself may not make the animal sick, but makes it more likely to fall prey to other diseases such as shipping fever or coccidiosis. You may think the animal died of pneumonia, but it was really BVDV that threw them over the edge. Most animals recover from acute infection. If they recover, they have antibodies against the virus said to be seropositive and have developed some immunity against the virus.

How does an animal get an acute infection? Just like you get the flu, you get exposed to someone carrying the bug. If the cattle are vaccinated, they have more resistance to the bug and may get the infection but do not show clinical signs of disease. Shows, fairs, auction yards, commingled cattle at sales, buying animals and not isolating them before you put them with your herd can all result in acute BVDV infection.

Fetal Infections
Fetal infections are a huge problem. The outcome of the fetal infection depends on the pregnancy the dam when she develops an acute BVDV infection. The most devastating result of fetal infection is the persistently infected calf. This dreaded creature is the result of maternal infection (a virus that crosses the placenta to the calf) during the first trimester. At this time the immune system is developing, and instead of recognizing BVDV as foreign (to be killed) it recognizes it as part of self. The calf is born with a high viral load (thinks the virus is part of self) and will shed lots of virus forever! This is the dreaded PI animal who can wreak havoc in your herd. PI animals are infected with non- cytopathic BVDV. Many PI calves die young, shortly after birth, at weaning or before their first birthday; however, some go merrily along, looking like any other calf, grow up, get bred (if heifers) and have babies. Calves born from PI cows are always PI. PI bull calves can go out into the world to breed cows. Imagine the mess it would be if you had a PI bull breeding your unvaccinated cows! You would see the many faces of BVDV infection right before your eyes. Even with a closed herd (we have a closed herd, we only buy a few bulls) bringing a PI bull into your herd can dramatically decrease your conception rate, number of calves born and number of calves weaned. The most important thing to remember about PI cattle is they are the Typhoid Mary’s of BVDV. They are the ones who spread the virus on the farm and bring it onto your farm – should you be so lucky to purchase one!!!

How do we get a PI animal? They are always born. The dam developed a BVDV infection while pregnant, either as the result of exposure to an animal with acute infection or a PI animal. Fetal infection can also result in early embryonic death, abortion, mummified fetus, congenital problems including cataracts and cerebellar hypoplasia and skeletal malformations. Dams infected late in pregnancy may actually have normal calves. However, recent research suggests even fetal infections late in pregnancy may result in the birth of calves that may look normal, but have subtle problems that may prevent them from being as productive.

Mucosal Disease
Although Mucosal disease is the classic syndrome often associated with BVDV infection, it is very rare. Mucosal disease occurs when a PI animal (infected with a non- cytopathic strain of BVDV) is superinfected with a similar strain of cytopathic BVDV. The virus causes destruction of intestinal tissue with diarrhea and death.

Stamping out BVDV on a farm is a 3-pronged approach – biosecurity, vaccination and testing.
What is new in the battle to stamp out BVDV?

Several companies have developed vaccines containing both BVDV Type I and BVDV Type II. This should provide broader protection. There are however, many different strains of both Type I and Type II, so vaccination does not guarantee your cattle will not develop infection or that the fetus is protected from infection. This means in addition to vaccination you should have a biosecurity and testing program in place. Before you give your pregnant cows modified live vaccine, READ the label directions. Although they say you can use these vaccines in pregnant cows, you can only use them in pregnant cows that have been vaccinated with the same product within the past 12 months!

The other thing new on the BVDV front is the ear notch. This is a great test for detecting PI animals. It is reasonably easy, economical, sensitive and specific, meaning if the test is positive the animal is a PI and if the test is negative the animal is not. The test identifies viral antigen in a skin sample. The easiest way to do the test is to ear notch (with pig ear notchers) calves (figure 1), although some people use a paper punch to get a circle of tissue.

There are currently three different types of tests used to identify the BVDV in the ear notch test. All depend on a tagged antibody attaching to the BVDV. The tagged antibody either shows up fluorescence (under black light) or as a specific color. Looking at a slide under a microscope of the fluorescent antibody test and identifying the bright green dots (figure 2) tells you that you have BVDV, likely a PI animal. The immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique shows the virus- ntibody complex as red dots, usually around the hair follicle (figure 3). The final test is an ELISA, most of us are familiar with this type of test used on serum, but in this case the virus is eluted from the ear notch, and then the ELISA run in the usual fashion.

For FA, we put each ear notch in a baggie labeled with the animal identification, put them in the freezer slide and send them to the lab as a batch. DO NOT thaw the notches prior to taking them to the lab, freezing and thawing destroys the virus. The lab does five samples per slide, stains and reads them. This is an excellent way to find a PI animal in the herd. It can also be used on adult animals. Contact your veterinarian or laboratory to determine which test they use and how they want the samples handled.

COMMERCIAL ACCEPTANCE - The Maine-Anjou Breed is Off and Running! Is the Maine-Anjou breed readily accepted in today’s commercial cattle industry? Maine-Anjou genetics can be found in a vast majority of the commercial sector. From the cows in the pasture to the steers in the feedlots, Maine-Anjou influenced cattle are everywhere. The breed has traveled a long way commercially throughout the years. Some of the best producing females, bulls and steers in the commercial cattle industry have Maine-Anjou influence running through their blood.  The American Maine-Anjou Association’s (AMAA) Commercial Marketing Director, Dave Steen, has

by Kyla Nesheim editor/director of communications

Steer Feeding Trial
The 2nd Annual AMAA Maine-Anjou Influenced Steer Feeding Trial was recently held with outstanding results -the Maine-Anjou breed is thriving. This feeding trial allows the Maine-Anjou breed to gain publicity within the commercial industry. When a cattleman sees, good numbers that a breed is capable of producing in writing, their instinct is to use that breed in their programs. Through this feeding trial, the Maine-Anjou breed can showcase their overall performance. Numbers are compiled on Maine-Anjou influenced steers and publicized to the commercial industry. In this way, the Maine-Anjou breed can be compared to other breeds when dealing with performance and numbers in the feedlot.
Commercial cattlemen want to see the actual numbers a breed is capable of producing. They want scientific data to be shown as to why they should choose the Maine-Anjou breed; the steer feeding trial has done just that. It gets numbers out to the public on how Maine-Anjou influenced steers can and do perform. With these results, the Maine-Anjou breed can offer high profit potential - a goal every commercial cattleman is trying to meet.

The 3rd Annual AMAA National Maine-Anjou Influenced Feeding Trial will soon be underway. In this year’s trial, heifers will be allowed in the test. Contact Dave at (515) 201-3281 if you are interested in entering.

National Sire Test
The National Sire Test is in its second year of collecting data. The National Sire Test gives producers the opportunity to develop carcass EPDs within the Maine-Anjou breed. The sire test is the beginning to carcass EPDs within the Maine-Anjou breed. I recently visited Truline Maines, Richards, Mo., where commercial acceptability is a way of life. All Maine-Anjou cattle at Truline Maines are focused toward the commercial cattle industry. After visiting with Everett Forkner, owner/operator of Truline Maines, I realized the Maine-Anjou breed has came a long way. If the breed continues to have supporters like Forkner believing in the commercial acceptability of Maine-Anjou cattle, the breed is in great shape. The Maine-Anjou breed has brought commercial success to Truline Maines. Forkner has promoted his bulls to the commercial cattle industry and used them on his own herd of commercial Maine-cross cows to reach accomplishments he has worked hard to achieve.

I believe experiences with Maine-Anjou genetics in commercial programs have been satisfactory. Maine-Anjou cattle bring wonderful performance to all aspects of the commercial cattle industry. For those of you who haven’t experienced Maine-Anjou genetics in your commercial programs, I suggest you do. See first hand what the Maine-Anjou breed has to offer - you’ll be satisfied. Maine-Anjou genetics are off and running and have the ability to excel in the commercial cattle industry.

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Working Your Herd This Fall?
Consider Important Cattle Health Issues!

Whether you’re sorting calves for sale, moving the herd to fresh pasture, or deciding which cows to keep, working cattle in cooler weather makes sense. It’s also a good time to address important herd health issues that can affect Texas’ ability to trade and move cattle freely.

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended funding for the cattle tuberculosis (TB) testing program until the end of 2004, so ranchers still can take advantage of a free TB test for their seed stock, or purebred cattle,” commented Dr. Bob Hillman, Texas’ state veterinarian and head of the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the state’s livestock and poultry regulatory agency. “Increased TB surveillance must be accomplished, in order for Texas’ TB-free status, downgraded two years ago, to be reinstated. TB-free status will enhance the marketability of Texas cattle, because breeding animals could move across state lines without TB testing requirements or restrictions.”

Texas, New Mexico, California and Michigan are the only states not cattle TB-free. Each of these states is following a specially tailored plan to regain TB status, explained Dr. Hillman. “Texas must not be the only state that doesn’t fulfill its disease surveillance obligation.”

Dr. Hillman urged Texas producers to contact either the TAHC at 1-800-550- 8242, or their private veterinary practitioner to arrange for a TB herd test. More than 550 Texas private veterinarians are certified to conduct TB herd tests and are reimbursed by the TAHC, through cooperative agreement funds from the USDA.

“More than 750 of the state’s 807 dairies have been tested for TB since last fall, and only one in Hamilton County has been found to be infected. This herd is being depopulated, with an indemnity paid by the USDA,” commented Dr. Hillman. “The Texas cattle industry’s plan also called for testing of 2,400 purebred, or beef breeding herds. As of early September, however, only about 300 herds have been tested, far short of the goal. Time and money are running short; please support the Texas cattle industry and get your herd tested while the costs can be offset with federal funds.”

“Producers also may be able to arrange for a free herd test for cattle brucellosis, or ‘Bangs,’ if their cattle had potential exposure to the bacterial disease, or if the herd exhibits signs of the disease, such as abortions, weak calves of lowered milk production. Many times brucellosis infection is ‘silent,’ with few obvious signs of disease, so proactive measures are crucial to find infection,” said Dr. Hillman.

“In late August, a brucellosis-infected beef herd was detected in Leon County, the first in the state since late 2003. Was this Texas’ final infected herd? Only time and continued disease surveillance at livestock markets, tests prior to private sale, slaughter surveillance and selective herd tests will give us that answer.” States may be classified “free” of brucellosis after 12 months without an infected herd and a USDA-mandated review. Texas and Wyoming are the only states without the free status.

“When you handle your cattle, inspect them carefully for unusual ticks, or for blistering around the animal’s mouth, nose teats of hooves. Watch for cattle that stagger or fall,” urged Dr. Hillman. “Seven ranches outside the permanent fever tick zone in Kinney and Zapata Counties have been found infested with the dangerous fever tick, capable of transmitting ‘’Texas Fever,’ which can be deadly to cattle,” said Dr. Hillman. “The TAHC and USDA Tick Force are tracing, inspecting, dipping or spraying cattle that were moved from the pastures prior to the detection of the ticks. All cattle inspected to date have been free of the fever tick.”

Tick and maggot submission kits should be a ‘staple’ on every producer’s shelf, noted Dr. Hillman. The kits may be obtained from the TAHC area offices, some private veterinary practitioners or the TAHC headquarters at 1-800-550- 8242. Unusual ticks or maggots should be submitted for identification to the State-Federal Laboratory. There is no charge for this service.

This summer’s vesicular stomatitis (VS) outbreak may be nearly over in Texas. Only three premises in Kerr County and one in Dimmit County, remain under quarantine because of the blistering disease that can affect a wide variety of livestock. “If your livestock exhibits lesions, blisters or sloughing skin in or around the mouth, nose, teats or hooves, don’t pass it off as VS,” warned Dr. Hillman. “Call your private veterinary practitioner or the TAHC, so laboratory tests can be run on a blood sample and snippet of skin from the affected animal. The blisters and lesions could be due to VS, the result of ingesting a toxic plant, or what we dread most, an introduction of foot-and-mouth disease.”

Finally, Dr. Hillman urged producers to call the TAHC to report ‘downer’ cattle, so brain tissue samples may be collected and tested for BSE, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy. “Downer, or non-ambulatory cattle are no longer accepted at livestock markets or slaughter plants, as they are considered at ‘high-risk’ for the brain-wasting disease,” he pointed out. “Call us, and we can assist with tissue collection from the animal. The USDA in June launched an intensive national BSE testing program, aiming to collect and test samples from more than 200,000 head of cattle by late December 2005, to determine if BSE is present in the U.S., and if so, at what level. As of early September, all of the 48,000 samples tested so far were negative. Of those, more than 2,600 have been from Texas-origin cattle.”

“It can be frightening to look for disease,” admitted Dr. Hillman. “But if we don’t, disease can gain a foothold in Texas, and eradication will be extremely costly, and the industry’s market share and reputation could be damaged. If you see something unusual, call your veterinarian, or call the TAHC. Don’t wait till it’s too late.”

Ohio BEST Program Wraps Up 2004 Season

The 2004 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) Program wrapped up on June 11, 2004 with its annual awards banquet held at the Clark County Fairground in Springfield. Several representatives of the program’s corporate sponsor, Steve R. Rauch Excavation and Demolition of Dayton, were on hand to help with the presentation of nearly $23,000 worth of awards in the form of U.S. Savings Bonds, luggage, clothing and show supplies. In addition, Scott Puzacke of Tuscarawas County was the lucky winner of a full year’s use of an 8’ x 20’ Wrangler livestock trailer donated by Eby Trailers as a result of a BEST participant drawing based on the number of shows and entries each participant had throughout the November through April season.

The 2004 BEST program featured 19 sanctioned shows and weaved its way across the state, from as far west as Montgomery County to as far east as Belmont. A record of nearly 500 head of cattle and almost 300 youth were entered in the program. Madison Clark of Covington exhibited the 2004 Champion High Percentage Maine-Anjou Female. Madison’s heifer, DDKC Kristie’s Kagney, is a Feb. 21, 2003 daughter of Calberta Black Impact. Double Double K Cattle of Ohio bred the female. In addition, Madison was the champion beginner showman. Madison’s parents are Scott and Shannon Clark. Alexis Johnson of East Liberty exhibited the 2004 Reserve Champion High Percentage Maine-Anjou Female. Alexis’s heifer, FSJC Campbell Lucky Lady is a Feb. 24, 2003 daughter of Strictly Business. Monahan Farm in Wisconsin bred the female. Additionally, Alexis was 6th overall junior showman for the season. Alexis’s parents are Tod and Tonya Johnson.

The 2004 Champion MaineTainer Female was shown by Paige Kiesewetter of Piqua. Paige’s heifer, Nicole is an April 6, 2003 daughter of Strictly Business. Mike Taylor and family, Indiana, bred the female. Paige was also the 3rd overall beginner showman for the year. Paige’s parents
are Fred and Julie Kiesewetter.

The 2004 Reserve Champion MaineTainer Female was exhibited by Ben Martindale of Cedarville. Ben’s heifer, BDF Lucky Lady 4N is a March 2, 2003 daughter of Strictly Business. Agle’s Beaverdale Farm in Ohio bred the female. Ben was the champion intermediate showman. Ben’s parents are Greg and Gail Martindale.
Leah Geuy of Conover exhibited the 2004 Champion Maine-Anjou Steer. Leah’s steer NER Wholio 501N is sired by Who Made Who and was bred by Neer Show Cattle in Ohio. Leah was the 3rd overall junior showman for 2004. Leah’s parents are Steve and Debra Geuy.
 
The 2004 Reserve Champion Maine-Anjou Steer was awarded to Hans Baltzly of Navarre. Hans’ steer, Broker, is sired by Strictly Business and was bred by Marci McDonnell of Ohio. Hans is the son of Nathan and Elisabeth Baltzly.

BEST is a youth program of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors through a series of shows, sponsored by Steve R. Rauch.

Excavation and Demolition of Dayton. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placings at each show. The OCA BEST program promotes educating Ohio’s juniors about the beef industry’s issues and rewards the successful accomplishments and hard work of those junior beef producers. For further information, contact Terri Smith at (614) 873-6736.