Released Feb. 21, 2008
BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Montana ranchers who want to test their cattle for persistent infection of the bovine viral diarrhea virus can sign up for the 2008 Montana BVD-PI Herd Biosecurity Project.
Now entering its third year, the project is designed to improve the health of Montana's cow herd and add value to the state's calf crop. The project will provide technical assistance and a screening supply kit to participants through 2008.
"The project assists ranchers in preventing transmission of the BVD virus from PI animals to their breeding herds," said Clint Peck of Billings, director of Beef Quality Assurance programs for Montana State University. The project is supported by the Montana Stockgrowers Association and funded through the Montana Beef Network.
"Last year we signed up 408 ranches representing about 107,000 head of Montana cattle," Peck said. "And, this year we think we can meet or exceed those numbers as more Montana realize the value in screening their herds for this troublesome disease."
The BVD virus exists in cattle worldwide and can cause severe hardship for ranchers and cattle feeders who experience outbreaks. Research shows that the annual loss in reproductive efficiency alone due to only one infected animal can range from $14-$24 for every cow in the herd, Peck said.
"The main negative health effects of BVD virus is it inhibits conception and causes abortion in susceptible female cattle," Peck said. "Plus, the virus suppresses the immune system, making infected animals more susceptible to other diseases."
PI animals usually have a very high amount of virus circulating in their blood, and they shed virus very efficiently to susceptible animals, Peck said. He added that the disease has no human health implications, and meat from infected cattle is no threat to the beef consumer.
Dr. Bruce Hoffman, veterinarian in Manhattan, Mont., and president of Animal Profiling International, Inc., said testing for PI status is a once-in-a-lifetime event. "If an animal is PI-negative at birth, it will always be negative," he said. "And if an animal is PI-positive at birth, it will always be positive."
Using this knowledge and a relatively inexpensive pooled diagnostic approach, testing can cost less than $2 per head. The Montana BVD-PI project contracts for the services of Hoffman's Portland-based laboratory.
"Montana ranchers can identify PI animals and separate them from the herd before they have a chance to infect other animals," Hoffman added. "Then it becomes a win-win situation for the rancher and for whoever might own the cattle once they leave the ranch."
With a sound vaccination and cattle management program - coupled with strategic PI testing - the BVD virus can be eliminated from cow herds across the country, Hoffman said. He assists ranchers, cattle feeders and other veterinarians from California to Georgia on BVD virus elimination efforts.
"Beef producers need an accurate and rapid test in order to properly manage this disease," Peck noted. "We can work with API and individual producers who want to eliminate BVD from their cattle herds and reduce the risk of further infection."
Montana ranchers who want to participate in the project must apply through MSU. For more information, contact Peck at (406) 896-9068 or cpeck@montana.edu or Mo Harbac at (406) 994-4323 or mharbac@montana.edu or visit http://www.mtbqa.org.
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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5626
Contact: Evelyn Boswell, (406) 994-5135 or evelynb@montana.edu
