Epidemiology of respiratory disorders in young fattening cattle

The control of these disorders covers several issues :

• Animal health issues: better knowledge and control of respiratory disorders that degrade the performance and well-being of affected animals,
• Public health issues: reduction in antibiotic use,
• Socio-economic issues: improving the competitiveness of farms.

Research Program

The work carried out over the period 2006-2010 involved:

• The development of a system to detect respiratory disorders in young cattle based on ruminal temperature monitoring (Timsit et al., 2010 Veterinary Journal, in press).
• The evaluation of the informative value of real-time PCR for the detection of bovine respiratory syncytial virus 
• The study of the involvement of different pathogens in the occurrence of respiratory disorders in young cattle at fattening 
• Study of the impact of respiratory disorders on the growth of young cattle (link file 3R08?)

Work in progress and prospects concern

•     the exploration of the cellular and humoral immunity of cattle to the pathogens involved to better explain the variability of clinical expression of respiratory disorders among cattle,
•     evaluation of the medical effectiveness and/or economic viability of curative treatment strategies
•     consideration of genetic and immune components to explain the occurrence/resistance to respiratory diseases

Partnerships

Scientific partners
UMR physiopathologie et toxicologie expérimentales ENVT-INRA, UMR Mycoplasmoses des Ruminants AFSSA-ENVL, Institut de Pathologie Vétérinaire (Copenhague)
Public and professional partners
Producer organisation (URCA et groupements - CAVAC, Ter’elevage, GEO, CAM, Union Set, ARCO -), Pays de la Loire Regional Chamber of Agriculture

Contact

Sébastien Assié
Nathalie Bareille

Work in progress and prospects concern