title: Investigating Outbreaks of Disease or Impaired Productivity in Feedlot Cattle.
abstract: Most cattle move through cattle feeding and finishing systems without health problems or impairment of productivity, but some cattle do become ill or unproductive. When cattle get sick, understanding what has gone wrong and how to remedy the situation is important. An orderly, systematic approach to investigating disease outbreaks is more likely to lead to a solution. The solution may come from identifying and modifying human decisions or behaviors that may be far removed in time or place from the immediate problem. Veterinarians can help cattle feeders recognize and correct the system dynamics factors affecting cattle health and performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, PO Box 6100, 240 Wise Center Drive, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Electronic address: david.smith@msstate.edu.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D018634:Veterinarians
keywords: Cattle; Disease; Feedlot; Impaired productivity; Outbreak investigation