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Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the biggest health problems in the beef industry. It mostly affects calves after they are weaned and can cause sickness, slow growth, and even death. In a recent article by Chelsea Dinterman, Zoetis announced a new way to help reduce BRD using genetics. Their new testing tools will allow cattle producers to make better breeding decisions to improve calf health and survival.

Zoetis added new genetic predictions to their Inherit Select and Inherit Connect programs. These predictions help producers figure out which animals are more likely to stay healthy and survive. In the past, ranchers mostly selected cattle based on traits like growth rate or meat quality. Now, they can also look at traits related to disease resistance. This is a big step forward because it gives producers more control over herd health in the long run.

There are three main parts to this new system. The first is the BRD Health prediction, which estimates how likely calves are to stay healthy after weaning. The second is the BRD Survival prediction, which estimates whether calves will survive from backgrounding to harvest without dying from BRD. The third is the $BRD Economic Index, which combines both predictions and shows the expected dollar impact per calf. These predictions were created using data from over 50,000 cattle across North America.

This is important because BRD costs producers a lot of money every year. Sick calves require treatment and often do not grow as well, and some may die. By choosing animals with better genetics for health and survival, producers may be able to lower these losses over time. It also helps improve overall herd performance.

Overall, Zoetis’ new genetic predictions could make a big difference in the beef industry. By using science and data, producers can raise healthier calves and make more money. This shows how technology is continuing to improve agriculture and help farmers and ranchers make more informed decisions.