Fewer than 1% of cattle arrive in the feedlot persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV-PI). Cattle born BVDV-PI are at increased risk for illness and death. However, there is some evidence that other cattle are at increased risk for illness if housed in the same pen, or in an adjoining pen, with a BVDV-PI animal. In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (Loneragan et al. 2005. Vol 226, No 4, pp 595-601), researchers reported that BVDV-PI cattle were more likely to become chronically ill, or die than non-BVDV-PI cattle. Also, the probability for initial treatment with respiratory disease was 43% greater for cattle exposed to BVDV-PI cattle in the same pen or an adjoining pen. The important question is whether it is economically advantageous to try to prevent the entry of BVDV-PI cattle into the feedyard and how to do that (e.g. test and cull, or buy from BVDV-free sources). That research remains to be done.

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