Evaluation of outcomes in beef cattle comparing preventive health protocols utilizing viral respiratory vaccines

Abstract

Vaccination to reduce the occurrence of bovine respiratory disease is a commonly performed preventive health measure employed by veterinarians and beef cattle producers. Despite its widespread acceptance, evidence relating health and performance outcomes of receiving and feedlot cattle to vaccination for viral components of the bovine respiratory disease complex remains to be completely established. PubMed, CAB Abstracts, and The Bovine Practitioner were searched for peer-reviewed journal articles reporting field trials of viral respiratory vaccines utilizing naturally occurring disease models published in English between 1982 and 2012. Antigens of interest for this systematic review included bovine herpesvirus-1, parainfluenzavirus type 3, bovine viral diarrhea virus types 1 and 2, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and bovine coronavirus. Search results were also reviewed for manuscripts reporting the effects of timing on viral respiratory vaccine efficacy in receiving and feedlot cattle. Studies were included in this review only if they reported clinically relevant outcomes, which were defined as morbidity, mortality, rates of chronic illness, lung lesions identified at necropsy or harvest, and performance parameters including average daily gain and feed-to-gain ratios.

Systemic and local immune responses of weaned beef calves vaccinated post-transportation and at the time of a mild respiratory tract infection

“…13 impact on BRD outcomes. 15,23 However, many beef calves are still vaccinated within 24 to 48 h of arrival at stocker, backgrounder, or feedlot facilities. These protocols often include a systemic modified-live pentavalent viral vaccine, Mannheimia hemolytica bacterin or toxoid, and a multivalent clostridial vaccine.…”

“…These protocols often include a systemic modified-live pentavalent viral vaccine, Mannheimia hemolytica bacterin or toxoid, and a multivalent clostridial vaccine. Some evidence suggests that this practice is not beneficial 15,21,23 , and may even have harmful effects in some cases. 1,9 The variable impact of parenteral vaccinations in newly arrived cattle has led to studies incorporating not only systemic, but also locally administered vaccines.…”