Impact of the host transcriptome on bovine respiratory disease treatment during backgrounding

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) continues to be problematic across the beef cattle industry. Marketing strategies made prior to backgrounding may shift the initial treatment for BRD into a different phase of production, and the importance of host gene expression on BRD incidence is poorly understood. Whole blood transcriptomes measured on arrival could inform our ability to better manage these cattle and predict BRD risk. Our objective was to compare host transcriptomes as measured on arrival at a backgrounding facility on the probability of being treated for BRD during the following 45 days on feed.