Extension Efforts to Aid Small-scale Beef Cattle Producers Mitigate Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Institution 25-26
Kentucky State University
KY House District #
6
KY Senate District #
20
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Sarah Carr, PhD
Department
Animal Science Dep.
Abstract
Extension Efforts to Aid Small-scale Beef Cattle Producers Mitigate Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
J. H. Wells, J. M. D. Ali, J. J. Lay, and S. N. Carr, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601
Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) Virus is a highly contagious virus that can cause symptoms, including diarrhea, pneumonia, abortions, infertility, and immunosuppression in cattle. The virus can be transient or lead to persistently infected cattle, which can lack symptoms but remain a vector for persistent infections for their herd. As a result, educating producers of proper identification, biosecurity, and vaccination protocols is critical. This multi-phasic project sought to 1) conduct a beef cattle producer’s knowledge assessment in preventing and curing BVD in their herds, and 2) educate both extension personnel and producers regarding the current best practices. The needs assessment indicated that beef cattle farmers who responded to the survey (n = 109) mostly isolated newly purchased cattle before introducing them into their herd. However, almost 70% of the farmers did not test newly purchased cattle for BVD before introduction. Only 20% of those who responded to the knowledge question could identify all the symptoms of BVD. Since the needs assessment, we have conducted 19 separate trainings, reaching a combined total of 542 producers and over 2,100 vaccination cards have been distributed to feed and supply stores across the state of Kentucky. In follow-up surveys, producers have responded that it is very important (82%) or important (18%) to test for BVD, and they plan to do so using chute side tests (29%), the veterinary diagnostics laboratory (35%), or both (29%). Additionally, respondents indicated that vaccinating for BVD is either very important (76%) or important (24%), indicating successful implementation of this program in the state of Kentucky.
Extension Efforts to Aid Small-scale Beef Cattle Producers Mitigate Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
Extension Efforts to Aid Small-scale Beef Cattle Producers Mitigate Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD)
J. H. Wells, J. M. D. Ali, J. J. Lay, and S. N. Carr, College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY 40601
Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) Virus is a highly contagious virus that can cause symptoms, including diarrhea, pneumonia, abortions, infertility, and immunosuppression in cattle. The virus can be transient or lead to persistently infected cattle, which can lack symptoms but remain a vector for persistent infections for their herd. As a result, educating producers of proper identification, biosecurity, and vaccination protocols is critical. This multi-phasic project sought to 1) conduct a beef cattle producer’s knowledge assessment in preventing and curing BVD in their herds, and 2) educate both extension personnel and producers regarding the current best practices. The needs assessment indicated that beef cattle farmers who responded to the survey (n = 109) mostly isolated newly purchased cattle before introducing them into their herd. However, almost 70% of the farmers did not test newly purchased cattle for BVD before introduction. Only 20% of those who responded to the knowledge question could identify all the symptoms of BVD. Since the needs assessment, we have conducted 19 separate trainings, reaching a combined total of 542 producers and over 2,100 vaccination cards have been distributed to feed and supply stores across the state of Kentucky. In follow-up surveys, producers have responded that it is very important (82%) or important (18%) to test for BVD, and they plan to do so using chute side tests (29%), the veterinary diagnostics laboratory (35%), or both (29%). Additionally, respondents indicated that vaccinating for BVD is either very important (76%) or important (24%), indicating successful implementation of this program in the state of Kentucky.