Cost-Benefit of Feeding BRD Vaccinated Calves

Beef cattle producers can use the following BRD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator to evaluate the costs, risks and economic benefits of feeding calves that have been vaccinated for bovine respiratory disease compared to calves that have not.

BRD Vaccination Cost-Benefit Calculator

Step 1. Producer Information

Number of Feeders (head)
Feeder Price ($/lb)
Average Feeder Weight (lbs)
Average Cost of Gain ($/day)
Number of Days on Feed
Expected Fed Cattle Price ($/lb)
Treatment cost for BRD ($/head)

Instructions:

Step 1: Enter information in the yellow-shaded cells. It is suggested to keep the blue-shaded cell as the set defaults unless data is known.

Step 2: Scroll down to see Result Summary Charts.

Step 3: Scroll right to see the Decision Making Flow Chart comparing the results.

Check out the resources under Learn More

Assumptions

– Assume feeders are vaccinated at cow-calf or backgrounding operations, hence the cost of vaccination is excluded in this feedlot level analysis.

– Typical morbidity (disease) incidence from BRD for vaccinated calves: 5%

– Typical mortality (death) incidence from BRD for vaccinated calves: 0.8%

– On average, estimate 11.4% of unvaccinated calves will get sick from BRD, and 4.2% will die; with best case scenario being only 6.8% get sick and 1.2% die, and worst case scenario 19.2% get sick and 13.3% die.*

– Average daily gain of cattle treated once is 0.15lb/day lower than cattle that were never treated (Schneider et al. 2009)

– Percentage of cattle graded AAA or better is 71% for cattle that were never treated, and 57% for cattle treated once (Schneider et al. 2009)

– Price discount on AA compared to AAA cattle is $0.06/lb**

– Disposal cost for feeders died from BRD is $200/head. (Canfax Survey)

* Based on Odds Ratio and Confidence Intervals for odds of morbidity and mortality for unvaccinated calves naturally exposed to BRD (Theurer et al., 2015)

** Estimated based on five-year average Canadian cutout and Alberta fed steer prices

Step 2. Result Summary

Sources:

Theurer, M. E., Larson, R. L., & White, B. J. (2015). Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of commercially available vaccines against bovine herpesvirus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza type 3 virus for mitigation of bovine respiratory disease complex in cattle. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 246(1), 126-142.

Dr. Nathan Erickson and Kathy Larson, Cost-Benefit Comparison of BRD and BVD Vaccinations

Schneider, M. J., Tait Jr, R. G., Busby, W. D., & Reecy, J. M. (2009). An evaluation of bovine respiratory disease complex in feedlot cattle: Impact on performance and carcass traits using treatment records and lung lesion scores. Journal of animal science, 87(5), 1821-1827.

*** Additional Loss = Potential Total Loss from Not Vaccinated Cattle – Potential Loss from Vaccinated Cattle

Step 3. Flow Chart

Are the purchased feeders vaccinated against Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD)? What will happen to 300 feeders?

Yes

No

Unvaccinated calves have higher morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) risk than vaccinated calves.

About 5% calves get sick and need treatment, 0.8% die

Best Case Scenario:

6.8% get sick from BRD and need treatment, 1.2% die

Average Case:

11.4% get sick, 4.2% die

Worst Case Scenario:

19.2% get sick, 13.3% die

Death Loss: 3 head die due to BRD

4 head die due to BRD

13 head die due to BRD

40 head die due to BRD

The cost of death loss is 3899 or 13/head on all feeders

The cost of death loss is 5198 or 17/head on all feeders

Cost of death loss is 16894 or 56/head on all feeders

Cost of death loss is 51980 or 58/head on all feeders

Disease Prevalence: head are sick and need treatment

head are sick and need treatment

head are sick and need treatment

head are sick and need treatment

The total treatment cost is or /head on all feeders

Total treatment cost is or /head on all feeders

Total treatment cost is or /head on all feeders

Total treatment cost is or /head on all feeders

The cose of production loss is or /head on all feeders

The cose of production loss is or /head on all feeders

The cose of production loss is or /head on all feeders

The cose of production loss is or /head on all feeders

Your total loss is or /head

Total loss: or /head

Total loss: or /head

Your total loss is or /head