Purdue University researchers have developed a rapid test to detect bovine respiratory disease or BRD. A research team says current tests don’t provide results for four or five days while they says their diagnosis for BRD has been reduced to just 30 minutes. SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Specialist Warren Rusche says that development could be a significant game changer for cattle producers in detecting BRD.
It is estimated nationally BRD account for about half of all feedlot deaths in North America yearly and Rusche says the problem is also significant in South Dakota as well.
He says while antibiotics have been used to treat cattle effected by BRD, they’re not a cure all for the disease so any technology that help producers find BRD quicker will be helpful in the long run.
The Purdue BRD research has received multiple grants including a one million dollar grant from USDA as well as a $1.4 million from the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research.
