High-Risk Cattle Management and Stocker Calf Health: Modulation of the Bovine Respiratory Microbiome from a Systems Perspective

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) affects animals in all segments of the North American beef industry. The segmented nature of the beef industry results in the marketing of cattle that are considered to be at high risk of developing BRD. The microbiota is the complex microbial ecosystem that exists in and on the body of all animals. The respiratory tract has its unique microbiota that is shaped by many factors. Stress reduction, appropriate nutritional management, strategic use of vaccines, and antimicrobial administration targeted to the highest risk individuals have the potential to stabilize an inherently unstable microbial population and enhance calf health.