Sudden deaths or the sudden death syndrome are perceived as major concerns in cattle feedlots because most of these deaths occur in cattle near market weight. Etiology and preventive measures are poorly defined. The current literature indicates that sudden deaths are associated most commonly with digestive upsets. Death is thought to be the result of interactions between factors including acidosis, bloat, and endotoxemia. Trauma, peracute interstitial pneumonia, and other identifiable events are specifically defined but relatively uncommon. Enterotoxemia is of questionable significance as a cause of sudden deaths.
Results of the survey provided standard practices for biocontainment, biosecurity, and security in feedyards located in Central Plains states. Information gained from the survey results can be used by consulting veterinarians and feedyard managers as a basis for discussion and to target training efforts.
Biosecurity is an important aspect of disease prevention in any agricultural production system. The beef feedyard is particularly vulnerable to disease introduction because of the large number of different cattle arriving from multiple sources. Additionally, the large concentration of animals makes a feedyard a likely target for bioterrorism from domestic or international terrorist groups. The economic losses that accompany the treatment or elimination of an infectious or toxic agent to a feedyard would be substantial. The purpose of this survey was to determine the importance of different aspects of biosecurity in feedyards utilizing a Delphi survey.
A Delphi-like survey series was used to gain knowledge about feedyard biosecurity and security from feedyard managers and feedyard veterinarians. A panel of managers and a panel of veterinarians were selected after being recommended as experts in the industry. Three rounds of the same survey were used to gather consensus opinion from each expert panel about perceived disease risks and mitigation strategies. Both groups were given the same survey, with two additional questions about domestic and international terrorists asked of veterinarians. Results showed veterinarians and managers have very similar views on the likelihood of disease caused by terrorism, natural introduction, or accidental introduction, and on the importance of on-site security. Both groups agreed that foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) or toxins would be the most likely agents to be introduced by a terrorist. Respondent groups disagreed on the importance of preventative products, disease transmission control and environmental control. Most differences can be attributed to veterinarians placing less importance on the aforementioned categories when considering likely routes of introduction for diseases considered in the survey. Difference in awareness of these issues is significant because veterinarians are pivotal in educating feedyard staff members about prevention of disease entry and transmission.
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