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Bovine Herd Health Management Flashcards

7 cards from real NAVLE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Bovine Herd Health Management flashcards as text

  1. A dairy herd is experiencing an elevated somatic cell count (SCC) averaging 400,000 cells/mL. Which organism is most commonly associated with contagious mastitis causing elevated bulk tank SCC?

    Answer: Staphylococcus aureus

    Staphylococcus aureus is the classic contagious mastitis pathogen spread cow-to-cow during milking, and is the leading cause of elevated bulk tank SCC in dairy herds.

  2. A beef cow-calf operation has a 15% calf mortality rate in the first 30 days of life. Which intervention has the greatest impact on reducing neonatal calf mortality?

    Answer: Ensuring adequate colostrum intake within 6 hours of birth

    Adequate colostrum intake (at least 10% of body weight within 6 hours) provides passive immunity and is the single most impactful intervention for reducing neonatal calf mortality.

  3. Which internal parasite of cattle causes 'bottle jaw' (submandibular edema) due to hypoproteinemia?

    Answer: Haemonchus placei

    Haemonchus placei is a blood-sucking abomasal parasite that causes significant protein loss, leading to hypoproteinemia and the classic sign of submandibular edema (bottle jaw).

  4. A producer wants to implement a PRRSV (Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus) control program. Wait—this is a bovine herd. Which respiratory virus causes 'shipping fever' complex and is commonly controlled with modified-live virus vaccines in beef cattle?

    Answer: Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBRV/BHV-1)

    IBRV (BHV-1) is a primary viral pathogen in the bovine respiratory disease complex, and modified-live IBR vaccines are a cornerstone of BRD prevention programs in beef cattle.

  5. In a feedlot, the recommended withdrawal time before slaughter must be observed when using which antibiotic for treatment of bovine respiratory disease?

    Answer: Tulathromycin

    Tulathromycin (Draxxin) has a meat withdrawal time of 18 days in the US, and compliance is required to ensure drug residue-free beef at slaughter.

  6. Which vaccination protocol is most appropriate for preventing clostridial diseases (blackleg, malignant edema) in beef calves?

    Answer: Two doses 3-4 weeks apart starting at 2-3 months of age with annual boosters

    Clostridial vaccines require a primary series of two doses 3-4 weeks apart to achieve protective immunity, with annual boosters to maintain protection.

  7. A veterinarian recommends a Selective Dry Cow Therapy (SDCT) program instead of blanket dry cow therapy. What is the PRIMARY advantage of SDCT?

    Answer: It reduces antibiotic use by treating only cows with existing infections or high SCC

    SDCT reduces antimicrobial use by reserving intramammary antibiotic tubes for cows with evidence of infection, supporting antibiotic stewardship while maintaining udder health outcomes in low-SCC cows.