Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis or more commonly known as IBR is a virus that can present itself in many forms on farm including respiratory, fertility and production issues.

The textbook clinical signs of IBR are

  • ‘burnt’ muzzle
  • pink eye
  • high temp
  • dullness and lack of appetite
  • milk drop
  • snotty nose
  • ‘snore’ as their windpipe is affected.

This is severe form of IBR and even with aggressive treatment there can be huge losses.

On dairy farms the presentation of IBR may not always be as severe.  It can cause niggling problems such as:

  • production loss of 5-10%
  • embryo losses/ abortions
  • increased culling rate
  • poor treatment response for other diseases

A frequent consequence of IBR that we see on farm is calf ill health. Calves that are not thriving, wet noses, on/off temps +/- in the first 1-2 weeks of life that don’t respond well to treatment.  Antibiotics do not treat viruses but are used for the secondary bacterial infection. Usually calves survive but they don’t do as well in terms of daily gain going forward.

Time, treatment costs and extra feed for same gain are all things to consider here.

How does it spread?

It’s an airborne disease – think of COVID- it’s in water droplets, coughing, nasal secretions.It is worth noting that can be found in sperm from infected bulls.

Latent carriers are a huge problem

We use the term latent carriers to describe animals that have been previously infected with IBR, recovered from the disease but the virus basically hibernates in the animal’s immune system.

During a stressful period the virus is reactivated and the ‘apparently healthy’ animal will shed to other naïve animals and they will be clinically sick. It becomes a vicious cycle as this can create more carriers. In this way a serious problem can start in a previously ‘clean’ herd.

 

How do I know if my herd is affected?

  • Swab – sick animals or animals with nasal discharge

+/-

  • Bloods – sample 5-10 cows for IBR antibodies

+/-

  • Bulk Milk Sample – will test for IBR antibodies.

 

How can you prevent it?

Keep a closed herd to prevent. If buying reduce the risk by buying from herds that are either proven IBR negative or herds that are vaccinating.

Vaccination –there are a number of different protocols including live and inactivated which differ for age groups and from farm to farm.

 

Contact the office to have a chat through the protocol that best suits your farm.