NCBA Herd Security & BVD Working Group
Working group discusses handling of emerging diseases and trichomoniasis.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Feb. 5, 2015) — Meeting during the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, Texas, were “working groups” that function as subcommittees of National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) policy committees. Under the auspices of the Cattle Health & Well-Being Committee, the Beef Cattle Herd Security/BVD Working Group was first formed to explore strategies for managing bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), but also addresses appropriate responses to other emerging disease threats. During a Feb. 5 meeting, working group members discussed lessons cattle folk could learn from the pork industry and a new online tool for managing trichomoniasis in cattle.
Years before, said Patrick Webb, the industry actually had started talking about developing a system for hand
Patrick Webb, director of swine health programs for the National Pork Board, was invited to share what swine producers learned from their collective experience with porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv). Webb recounted how, by the time PEDv was identified in the United States, it had spread to seven states. Ultimately, the disease caused the loss of 8.5 million pigs between June 2013 and October 2014. According to Webb, it exacted an emotional toll from producers, created a pork supply shortage and drove consumer prices higher.
“We had no tools and no plan for dealing with PEDv. We had to start from scratch. There was no regulatory component and no one in charge. The industry did step up to organize a response, but it would have worked better with a plan of action already in place,” said Webb.
“We knew PEDv was out there,” he added, referring to reported cases in other countries. “WE thought it could never happen here.”
Years before, said Webb, the industry actually had started talking about developing a system for handling emerging diseases. It was talked about, but never pursued. Webb blamed industry overconfidence. Pork producers forgot that “stuff happens.”
Webb said the beef industry would be well-advised to consider possible emerging diseases and potential pathways for introduction to the United States. The beef industry also needs to look at what response tools, if any, are available and whether they really are any good. Certainly, Webb emphasized, some kind of response program is needed to give the industry a leg up in the event of a disease outbreak.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all plan for preventing or controlling trich. It depends on the individual operation’s level of risk,” said Bob Larson.Working group members also heard Kansas State University veterinarian Bob Larson’s introduction of Trich CONSULT (consistent online novel science-based user-friendly learning tool), a new interactive online program designed to help cow-calf producers develop a plan to prevent introduction of trichomoniasis into their herds, or control the venereal disease if the herd has already been exposed.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all plan for preventing or controlling trich. It depends on the individual operation’s level of risk,” said Larson. “Trich CONSULT mimics an interview between the producer and a trich expert. The producer plugs in answers to a series of questions, and receives suggested strategies for controlling trich, or for surveillance measures to reduce chances that trich will enter the herd. I encourage producers to try it with their own veterinarian.”
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