BRD Around the World and the Economics of Creep Feeding

This episode features a discussion with guest Dr. Selwyn Headley from Brazil, who shares insights into bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and how it compares to cases seen in North America. The group notes that many of the same bacterial and viral pathogens are involved in both regions, including Mannheimia, Histophilus, and several respiratory viruses, although some differences in prevalence and diagnostic findings exist. They emphasize that BRD is best viewed as a syndrome involving multiple pathogens and risk factors rather than a disease caused by a single organism. Common stressors such as transportation, commingling of cattle from multiple sources, and feedlot arrival continue to play major roles in disease development across both countries.

The conversation then shifts to creep feeding, defined as providing feed that nursing calves can access while their dams cannot. The hosts explain that creep feeding is often considered when forage quality or quantity declines late in the grazing season and producers want to maintain calf growth. While creep feeding can increase weight gain, its economic value depends on feed costs, calf prices, forage conditions, and how much feed is actually converted into additional gain.

The panel discusses how creep feed often substitutes for forage intake rather than reducing milk consumption, meaning it may not significantly improve cow body condition. They also note that feed type matters, with high-fiber feeds typically providing better supplementation and less forage substitution than starch-heavy grain sources. Additional considerations include the impacts on replacement heifers and breeding stock, where excessive energy intake at certain developmental stages may have long-term consequences. Overall, the episode highlights the importance of evaluating both biological responses and economic returns when deciding whether creep feeding is the right strategy for a particular operation.