Review of the relationship between persistent infection of cattle with bovine viral diarrhea virus and feedlot morbidity and gain

Abstract

Bovine viral diarrhoea is an infectious viral disease of cattle. Persistently infected cattle result from in-utero infection of calves with the bovine viral diarrhoea virus during critical stages of gestation, and affected calves become lifetime carriers of the virus. Cattle persistently infected with the virus can be a source of infection to healthy pen mates in a feedlot setting. The feedlot industry is a cost-driven, low-margin business, and cattle need to perform efficiently to be profitable. Morbidity can have a significant impact on profitability. This paper reviews the relationship between calves persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus and the health and performance of feedlot cattle at the pen level.