The Effect of Market Forces on Bovine Respiratory Disease
Derrell S. Peel
Abstract
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a persistent negative economic impact on beef and dairy industries and the inability to show any progress in controlling BRD is a source of increasing frustration among animal health professionals and the industry. The complex economic structure of the cattle industry leads to market failures in which cow-calf producers do not have sufficient economic incentive to invest in improved BRD control. This leads to higher costs for stocker and feedlot sectors. An industry-wide comprehensive effort is needed to coordinate and motivate enhanced BRD control focusing on producing healthy calves with less morbidity rather than treatment.
Topics & Concepts
Bovine respiratory diseaseFeedlotIncentiveBusinessDisease controlDairy industryControl (management)DiseaseFed cattleAnimal healthIndustrial organizationEconomicsBiotechnologyVeterinary medicineMarket economyMedicineAnimal scienceBiologyImmunologyFood scienceInternal medicineManagementMicrobial infections and disease researchAnimal Disease Management and EpidemiologyVector-Borne Animal Diseases