Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) causes an economically important endemic disease (BVD) of cattle in Ireland and worldwide. Systematic eradication by detection and removal of infectious (BVDV carrier) cattle has been successful in several regions. We therefore assessed the benefits (disease losses avoided) and costs (testing and culling regime) of a potential eradication programme in Ireland...

BACKGROUND Calf output is a key element in determining the profitability of a suckler beef enterprise. Infectious agents such as Bovine Virus Diarrhoea (BVD) virus, colostrum management and parasitic challenge can all affect calf output. Prior to the national BVD eradication programme, there was little published information on either the prevalence or effect of BVD in Irish beef herds. There is...

The role of beef in human diets has been questioned over the last few decades, due largely to its typically high mass-based carbon footprint. However, recent advancements sustainability literature challenge this paradigm based on new theory that climate impacts food commodities should be measured relative their overall nutritional value rather than nominal mass. This shift opened a opportunity ...

Musculoskeletal disease ‘White muscle disease’ (WMD) was diagnosed on four occasions at Shrewsbury in suckler calves. Although reports of suspected WMD (or ‘nutritional myopathy’) are received at this time each year, samples are not often received for diagnosis. In each calf there were typical signs reported including reluctance to stand and walking with a stiff gait. A summary of the results i...

Minerals and some biochemical parameters determined from blood serum analyses in left displacement abomasum (LDA) affected and healthy dairy cows to evaluate the effect of displacement abomasum on mineral status, energy metabolism and liver function. Samples were collected from 60 affected cows and 60 healthy control cows matched with cases, based on herd, parity, and stage of lactation. Concen...