The threat of disease-causing bacteria, Mycoplasma bovis, has risen with the increase of comingling in confinement cow-calf operations, according to Vickie Cooper, DVM, a Zoetis beef technical services from Iowa.
M. bovis causes bovine respiratory disease (BRD), targeting beef calves, and leads to irreversible lung damage, mortality, and higher production costs, she adds.
The bacteria are present in the respiratory system of perfectly normal calves but become a bigger problem when calves face stressors such as transportation, commingling, entry into the feedlot, and weather changes, Cooper explains.
Although disease symptoms are similar, the nature of M. bovis makes this pathogen more challenging to detect and treat than other BRD-causing pathogens, she adds.
“Mycoplasma bovis operates a bit like a chameleon,” Cooper says. “The organism lacks a cell wall, and has variable surface proteins, so mycoplasmas can assume many forms and are very good at evading the calf’s immune system.”
The lack of a cell wall also makes treatment more difficult.
“Symptoms must be caught very early for treatment to be effective,” Cooper says. “Mycoplasmas will begin forming communities within the lung, and once those communities are formed, it becomes very difficult for an antibiotic to penetrate the lesion and control the mycoplasmas.”
Management practices for BRD mitigation include:
- Minimize commingling where possible and segregate groups based on age, sex and arrival date.
- Provide good ventilation and avoid overcrowding.
- Maintain proper sanitation of equipment and pens.
- Provide adequate nutrition with fresh feed and clean water.
- Use low-stress cattle handling techniques.
- Provide adequate shelter and avoid dusty environments.
- Consult your herd veterinarian for operation-specific strategies.
“We need to focus on doing all of the small things well,” Cooper says.
She encourages producers to work with their herd veterinarian to identify opportunities for improving calf management to limit the risk of M. bovis and other disease-causing pathogens.
Preventing BRD caused by M. bovis through vaccination
Helping to prevent M. bovis infection includes focusing on a calf’s environment and a vaccination program.
“Depending on your management practices and disease prevalence, Protivity may be a great fit for your herd,” Cooper says. “But a solid vaccination program only works if other preventive practices that prioritize calf well-being are also in place.”
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