Feedlot Diseases Can Be Costly

Virus Diseases Many of the parasitic, nutritional and, to some extent, infectious diseases of cattle have been known for years and are readily handled by proper use of antibiotics and addition of minerals and vitamins to the ration. Recent studies indicate that 65 percent of the feedlots sampled in one state were infected with para influenza 3 virus ( the virus involved in shipping fever } . Another study indicated that almost 70 percent of the animals tested had been exposed to bovine virus diarrhea, a recently emerging feedlot disease. Moreover, there are increasing numbers of reports of salmonellosis in cattle. In recent years a new and complex disease syndrome, characterized by high temperature, diarrhea, and respiratory distress, has appeared in feedlot cattle. High morbidity and mortality may be associated with the disease. Response to treatment is poor. The causative agents are not clearly defined but are believed to be due to a concurrent virus -bacteria infection. The disease has been named Bovine Enteric Pneumonic Disease Syndrome (BEPDS ).