Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is a complex of pathogens that presents several challenges to the beef industry – since there are viruses and bacteria involved in the development of the disease, all of which are triggered by stressors, it is commonly considered a multifactorial issue. In other words, it is a disease that “hits cattle when they are at their worst” and, therefore, its prevention and intervention are a tricky matter, as Dr. McGill herself states in this episode. She also mentions: the importance of timing when intervening; the role of vitamins A and D regarding the integrity of the immune function at the lung and gut level; the relevance of consolidating interdisciplinary groups for research purposes; and the development of future technologies, such as nanoparticle formulation.

“We know that stress, weather changes, and pretty much everything else that prompts the cattle to go outside their comfort zone tends to expose them to a higher risk of BRD.” – Dr. Jodi McGill

What you'll learn:

• Highlight (0:00)
• Introduction (1:00)
• Background (3:21)
• Understanding bovine respiratory disease (BRD) (05:20)
• Intervening and managing the risks of BRD (06:45)
• Researching the role of vitamin A in the immune system (10:57)
• Predicting BRD responses through pro-inflammatory cytokines (15:15)
• Conducting interdisciplinary work and groups (17: 15)
• Is inflammation a good or a bad thing? (19:54)
• Stimulating the innate immune system (22:00)
• The nanoparticle formulation (23:43)
• Getting ahead of the animal before sickness or treating the illness? (27:36)
• The role of vitamin C (30:42)
• The dairy cow and louder immune system (34:01)
• Final questions (37:05)

Meet the guest: Dr. Jodi McGill

Experience

• Current: Associate Professor at Iowa State University
• Past: Faculty Fellow at Kansas State University

Background

• Post-doc. (National Animal Disease Center, USDA)
• Ph.D., Immunology (University of Iowa)
• M.Sc., Pathology (University of Iowa)
• B.Sc., Microbiology (Iowa State University)

𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺.

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