Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an economically important disease in Australian beef farming. The disease typically results in low-level production losses that can be difficult to detect for several years. Simulation modeling can be used to support the decision to control BVDV; however, curren...

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Main Authors: Jake Fountain, Marta Hernandez-Jover, Carsten Kirkeby, Tariq Halasa, Jennifer Manyweathers, Yiheyis Maru, Victoria Brookes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.795575/full
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author Jake Fountain
Jake Fountain
Marta Hernandez-Jover
Marta Hernandez-Jover
Carsten Kirkeby
Tariq Halasa
Jennifer Manyweathers
Jennifer Manyweathers
Yiheyis Maru
Victoria Brookes
Victoria Brookes
Victoria Brookes
author_facet Jake Fountain
Jake Fountain
Marta Hernandez-Jover
Marta Hernandez-Jover
Carsten Kirkeby
Tariq Halasa
Jennifer Manyweathers
Jennifer Manyweathers
Yiheyis Maru
Victoria Brookes
Victoria Brookes
Victoria Brookes
author_sort Jake Fountain
collection DOAJ
description Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an economically important disease in Australian beef farming. The disease typically results in low-level production losses that can be difficult to detect for several years. Simulation modeling can be used to support the decision to control BVDV; however, current BVDV simulation models do not adequately reflect the extensive farming environment of Australian beef production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a disease simulation model to explore the impact of BVDV on beef cattle production in south-east Australia. A dynamic, individual-based, stochastic, discrete-time simulation model was created to simulate within-herd transmission of BVDV in a seasonal, self-replacing beef herd. We used the model to simulate the effect of herd size and BVDV introduction time on disease transmission and assessed the short- and long-term impact of BVDV on production outputs that influence the economic performance of beef farms. We found that BVDV can become established in a herd after a single PI introduction in 60% of cases, most frequently associated with the breeding period. The initial impact of BVDV will be more severe in smaller herds, although self-elimination is more likely in small herds than in larger herds, in which there is a 23% chance that the virus can persist for >15 years following a single incursion in a herd with 800 breeders. The number and weight of steers sold was reduced in the presence of BVDV and the results demonstrated that repeat incursions exacerbate long-term production losses, even when annual losses appear marginal. This model reflects the short- and long-term production losses attributed to BVDV in beef herds in southeast Australia and provides a foundation from which the influence and economic utility of BVDV prevention in Australian beef herds can be assessed.
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spelling doaj.art-c957654ce20e4b8a9fb9e00d241a88e92022-12-21T17:43:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692021-12-01810.3389/fvets.2021.795575795575Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef HerdsJake Fountain0Jake Fountain1Marta Hernandez-Jover2Marta Hernandez-Jover3Carsten Kirkeby4Tariq Halasa5Jennifer Manyweathers6Jennifer Manyweathers7Yiheyis Maru8Victoria Brookes9Victoria Brookes10Victoria Brookes11Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (An Alliance Between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaGraham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (An Alliance Between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaSection of Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, DenmarkSection of Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Institute of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, DenmarkGraham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (An Alliance Between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Land and Water, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaGraham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (An Alliance Between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, AustraliaSydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, AustraliaBovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is an economically important disease in Australian beef farming. The disease typically results in low-level production losses that can be difficult to detect for several years. Simulation modeling can be used to support the decision to control BVDV; however, current BVDV simulation models do not adequately reflect the extensive farming environment of Australian beef production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a disease simulation model to explore the impact of BVDV on beef cattle production in south-east Australia. A dynamic, individual-based, stochastic, discrete-time simulation model was created to simulate within-herd transmission of BVDV in a seasonal, self-replacing beef herd. We used the model to simulate the effect of herd size and BVDV introduction time on disease transmission and assessed the short- and long-term impact of BVDV on production outputs that influence the economic performance of beef farms. We found that BVDV can become established in a herd after a single PI introduction in 60% of cases, most frequently associated with the breeding period. The initial impact of BVDV will be more severe in smaller herds, although self-elimination is more likely in small herds than in larger herds, in which there is a 23% chance that the virus can persist for >15 years following a single incursion in a herd with 800 breeders. The number and weight of steers sold was reduced in the presence of BVDV and the results demonstrated that repeat incursions exacerbate long-term production losses, even when annual losses appear marginal. This model reflects the short- and long-term production losses attributed to BVDV in beef herds in southeast Australia and provides a foundation from which the influence and economic utility of BVDV prevention in Australian beef herds can be assessed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.795575/fullBVDVsimulationmodelAustraliabeefproduction
spellingShingle Jake Fountain
Jake Fountain
Marta Hernandez-Jover
Marta Hernandez-Jover
Carsten Kirkeby
Tariq Halasa
Jennifer Manyweathers
Jennifer Manyweathers
Yiheyis Maru
Victoria Brookes
Victoria Brookes
Victoria Brookes
Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
BVDV
simulation
model
Australia
beef
production
title Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds
title_full Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds
title_fullStr Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds
title_full_unstemmed Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds
title_short Modeling the Effect of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus in Australian Beef Herds
title_sort modeling the effect of bovine viral diarrhea virus in australian beef herds
topic BVDV
simulation
model
Australia
beef
production
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.795575/full
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