Now there is an exciting new combination product called Bovilis Nasalgen 3 PMH. This product combines both the viral components of Inforce 3, and the bacterial components in Once PMH, into one convenient product. The result is an intranasal vaccine that helps provide broad spectrum respiratory protection against five of the most common viral and bacterial causes of BRD in one convenient dose. A number of efficacy and duration of immunity challenge studies showed significantly less or shorter duration of clinical disease, reduced lung lesion scores, decreased duration of shedding, shorter duration of fever and lower mortality.
There are many good reasons to protect young calves against BRD. Many of you have likely at times struggled with pre-weaning or post-weaning calf pneumonia. You’re not alone. Ontario averages from studies suggest that 15 % of calves are treated for pneumonia prior to weaning, and nearly 22% of calves are treated within the first 3 months. As you all well know, pneumonia or BRD can be an expensive cost for producers. According to recent US data, BRD has an average case fatality rate of 7.1%, and causes 19-24% of calf mortality pre-weaning, and 59% of calf mortality post-weaning. Of course those calves that survive from clinical BRD have lots of other negative and long lasting effects.
Calves experience decreased weight gain:
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66 g/day reduction during their pre-weaned period;
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19 kg less at weaning;
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16 kg less at breeding;
Calves have reduced survival to 1st lactation:
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66.4% with BRD, vs 84.2% without BRD
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1.6-4.9 times more likely to leave the herd prior to first lactation;
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Worse if multiple cases of BRD;
Increased age at first calving:
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714 days with BRD, 702 days without a case of BRD;
Increased risk of Dystocia:
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1.5 times more likely to experience dystocia;
Reduced survival in first lactation
Reduced milk production:
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233 kg lower 305 ME milk production;
To put that in financial terms, studies estimate a case of clinical BRD cost $40-80 in treatment, labor and lost growth and fertility performance, as well as another $175 in lost milk production (233kg X $0.75/L).
Even non-clinical cases of BRD (animals with evidence of lung consolidation without clinical signs of pneumonia) have significant adverse health effects. These include; increased culling risk prior to first calving, reduced reproductive performance (52% preg to first AI vs 62% without non-clinical BRD), and significant milk loss as well. A California study estimated 525 kg less milk in first lactation, resulting in significant financial impact of milk loss (525 kg X $0.75/L = $393.75/case).
Add it all up, and BRD in replacement animals can be very costly for dairy producers. It is prudent to do everything we can to prevent such a potentially costly situation on the dairy.
Talk to your herd veterinarian about BRD prevention and which intranasal vaccine strategy is right for your herd.