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A future for genomics in animal health through the Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex: Coordinated Agricultural Project
Whether through animal welfare and antibiotic residual concerns from the public or the Veterinary Feed Directive, antibiotic use in animal agriculture is increasingly scrutinized and restricted. As such, it is essential for the future of the dairy industry to consider options to reduce the prevalence of disease on farm with new technology while decreasing their dependence on antibiotics. The five-year Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex: Coordinated Agricultural Project (BRD:CAP) funded by the USDA and formed with the help of several universities, scientists and agriculturalists is searching to find new methods of addressing Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD). Once determining that BRD has moderate heritability at 0.21, the goal of the BRDC:CAP is to utilize new genetic technology and the bovine genome to determine genetic markers for the susceptibility and resistance of Bovine Respiratory Disease and consider the financial impact of BRD genetic selection. Despite increased knowledge regarding BRD and progress in vaccine and preventative technology, BRD continues to be a financial liability of over $692 million dollars to the industry and contributes to 46% of the deaths among weaned calves, while having long term influences of animal performance and health for affected individuals. Understanding the science behind BRDC:CAP will provide a gateway to analyzing the practicality of such genetic research on the farm. This may provide for its inclusion as a single selection criterion or as part of an index, such as Net Merit, for a sire proof. With this genetic selection for reduction in BRD incidence rates, the average dairy producer could see reduction in financial costs from treatment, calf mortality, and the resulting implications poor heifer development will have on future lactation performance. Continued work is necessary to ascertain the reliability and usefulness of genomics with regards to infectious diseases such as BRD. Increased farm profitability may be realized with proven ability to practically apply this information to the dairy industry.
Keywords:
Genomics, Bovine Respiratory Disease, Farm Profitability