Abstract
Italian beef production is mainly based on a feedlot system where calves are housed with mixed aged cattle often in conditions favourable to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). In Veneto, an indoor system is also used for imported bulls around 300–350 kg. Mycoplasmas, in particular Mycoplasma bovis and Mycoplasma dispar, contribute to BRD in young calves, but their role in the disease in older cattle has not been investigated. In this study, ten heads of cattle were selected from each of the 24 groups kept in 13 different farms. Bulls were sampled by nasal swabbing at 0, 15, and 60 days after arrival for Mycoplasma isolation. Identification was carried out by 16S-rDNA PCR followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. M. bovis, M. dispar, and M. bovirhinis were identified, and prevalence was analysed by mixed-effects logistic regression models. This showed that most bulls arrived free of M. bovis, but within two weeks, approximately 40% became infected, decreasing to 13% by the last sampling. In contrast, the prevalence of M. dispar was not dependent on time or seasonality, while M. bovirhinis only showed a seasonality-dependent trend. The Italian fattening system creates an ideal environment for infection with M. bovis, probably originating from previously stabled animals.
Highlights
Most European countries operate a feedlot system for male beef production where young calves, usually about one month old, are brought in mostly from dairy farms, fattened to approximately240 kg
The system is prone to severe outbreaks of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) caused by different pathogens, such as bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus, para-influenza virus 3 (PI3), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, Pasteurella, Mannheimia, and mycoplasmas [2]
PCR, to reach an estimated prevalence of approximately 40%
Summary
Most European countries operate a feedlot system for male beef production where young calves, usually about one month old, are brought in mostly from dairy farms, fattened to approximately240 kg. Most European countries operate a feedlot system for male beef production where young calves, usually about one month old, are brought in mostly from dairy farms, fattened to approximately. In Italy, a mixed-age indoor system is used, which involves the importation of bulls at. This system is mainly located in the Po Valley with the largest herds in the Veneto region [1] and accounts for approximately an 85% share of the beef market. The bulls are placed indoors directly with cattle of different ages often sharing the same air space. The system is prone to severe outbreaks of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) caused by different pathogens, such as bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus, para-influenza virus 3 (PI3), infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus, Pasteurella, Mannheimia, and mycoplasmas [2]
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