Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the leading natural cause of death in US beef and dairy cattle, causing the annual loss of more than 1 million animals and financial losses in excess of $700 million. The multiple etiologies of BRD and its complex web of risk factors necessitate a herd-specific intervention plan for its prevention and control on dairies. Hence, a risk assessment is an important tool that producers and veterinarians can utilize for a comprehensive assessment of the management and host factors that predispose calves to BRD. The current study identifies the steps taken to develop the first BRD risk assessment tool and its components, namely the BRD risk factor questionnaire, the BRD scoring system, and a herd-specific BRD control and prevention plan. The risk factor questionnaire was designed to inquire on aspects of calf-rearing including management practices that affect calf health generally, and BRD specifically. The risk scores associated with each risk factor investigated in the questionnaire were estimated based on data from two observational studies. Producers can also estimate the prevalence of BRD in their calf herds using a smart phone or tablet application that facilitates selection of a true random sample of calves for scoring using the California BRD scoring system. Based on the risk factors identified, producers and herd veterinarians can then decide the management changes needed to mitigate the calf herd's risk for BRD. A follow-up risk assessment after a duration of time sufficient for exposure of a new cohort of calves to the management changes introduced in response to the risk assessment is recommended to monitor the prevalence of BRD.

中文翻译：

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预防和控制断奶前奶牛呼吸道疾病风险评估工具的组成部分

牛呼吸道疾病 (BRD) 是美国肉牛和奶牛死亡的主要原因，每年造成超过 100 万头动物死亡和超过 7 亿美元的经济损失。BRD 的多种病因及其复杂的风险因素网络需要一个针对奶牛群的预防和控制干预计划。因此，风险评估是生产者和兽医可以用来全面评估使小牛易患 BRD 的管理和宿主因素的重要工具。目前的研究确定了为开发第一个 BRD 风险评估工具及其组成部分所采取的步骤，即 BRD 风险因素调查表、BRD 评分系统和针对牛群的 BRD 控制和预防计划。风险因素问卷旨在询问小牛饲养的各个方面，包括影响小牛健康的管理实践，特别是 BRD。与问卷中调查的每个风险因素相关的风险评分是根据两项观察性研究的数据估计的。生产者还可以使用智能手机或平板电脑应用程序估计其牛群中 BRD 的流行率，该应用程序有助于选择真正随机的小牛样本，以便使用加利福尼亚 BRD 评分系统进行评分。根据已确定的风险因素，生产者和畜群兽医可以决定降低小牛群 BRD 风险所需的管理变革。