Work

Associations Between Thoracic Ultrasound Chute-Side Evaluations and 60-Day Outcomes in Feedyard Cattle at Time of First Treatment for Respiratory Disease

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Accurate prognosis at first treatment for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is essential for timely interventions and management decisions. This cross-sectional observational study evaluated 819 commercial beef feedyard cattle at chute-side for first BRD treatment. Logistic regression models examined potential associations between two outcomes-first treatment failure (requiring additional treatment) and unfinished treatment (due to mortality or culling)-and several explanatory variables, including sex, days on feed, bodyweight, breed, pulse oximetry, lung auscultation scores, and ultrasound lung scores (ULS) measured in the caudo-dorsal lung region. Animals that ultimately did not finish treatment were significantly more likely to present a ULS of 5 (74%) compared with those scored 1-4 (18-38%). Similarly, cattle with a ULS of 5 had a much higher probability of first treatment failure (74%) than those with scores of 1-3 (35-41%). Moreover, three or more B-lines in the ultrasound image or a "moth sign" finding were both strongly associated with increased probability of negative outcomes. These results highlight key ultrasound-based and demographic factors that serve as practical prognostic indicators for cattle at the onset of BRD treatment.

Source: Veterinary Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/vetsci12040369

Authors: Luis F. B. B. Feitoza, Brad J. White, Robert L. Larson, Tyler J. Spore

Institution: Kansas State University

Language: English

Topic: Microbial infections and disease research

Subfield: Microbiology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534