Control of bovine leukosis virus in a dairy herd by a change in dehorning.
Following the demonstration that bovine leukosis virus was transmitted in calves by gouge dehorning, electrical dehorning at a younger age was implemented in a commercial Holstein herd. Subsequently, annual testing of the herd revealed a decline in the prevalence of bovine leukosis virus antibodies as older cattle dehorned by the former method were replaced by younger cattle dehorned by the latter method.
DiGiacomo
R F
RF
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
Hopkins
S G
SG
Darlington
R L
RL
Evermann
J F
JF
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006733:Horns / Q000601:surgery*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D001909:Leukemia Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral