“We feed about 70,000 head each year. We've been testing for PI calves since March of 2006. I talked to all the veterinarians I could and felt this was the way to go to improve herd health. We'll know a lot more after we've gone through 12 months or so.

We test our cattle when we process them, usually within a day after they arrive -- always within 24 hours. If we can get the samples to them (GSL) by 5 or 5:30 p.m., we have the results by 10:00 the next morning.

What we are seeing already is we have less trouble with cattle we just couldn't get straight in the past. Before, there were always a few sets we struggled with. We just don't see that anymore. I would definitely recommend testing.

I don't know how GSL could do any better on customer service -- they are very helpful.

We are seeing about 3 PI head per thousand. But, where you find them is unpredictable and sporadic. For example, we had one load that had five on it -- all from one her done auction, one owner. When we hit a positive, we always go back and inform the original producer and the auction house. I think they would want to know.

Ironically, most PI's are the ones that look good and you would never pull them by just looking at them. It's the others in the pen that they make sick.

We pull them immediately and isolate them, and then keep feeding them. I've shipped two of them fat so far.

So far, just based on what we are seeing -- although we don't have any real figures on it yet -- BVD-PI testing seems to really be helping us with overall herd health.”
Feller Hughes, Paco Feedyard Ltd.
Friona, Texas

“We feed about 8,000 to 12,000 per year. We've been screening for PI's for about 1 1/2 years -- 1 year with Gold Standard Labs. The turnaround time is great. We take the samples when we process; we hear back from them in at most, 24 hours. When they call, I pull.

New loads stay isolated in a hay lot the first 3 or 4 days, so it is easy to get them out and it keeps them away from the general population. We have cut down on medication needed, on deaths, and on chronics. Definitely.

Removing those PI's just gives the other calves another boost. You don't feel like you are over-pulling either. Our death rate has gone from 7% to 2% overall.

On our chronics, we have been able to cut back on medications, they respond better, and we find we don't have to doctor and doctor and doctor them. We use less medication overall.

It's funny -- a lot of times that PI animal is a big ol' healthy calf. I let the owner decide what to do with them once I have them isolated.

I am a firm believer in screening for PI calves. Having them in the population can be a big wreck and affect the whole yard. You can use hot wire or other methods for controlling groups, but if there are hidden PI's it doesn't do you any good.

We've had absolutely no problems with Gold Standard. They always call right away on positives and we get to work.

We've had as many as 3 PI's in a bunch of 36, or 3 in 200. Then I can get a group of 400 head and not one will be positive. So, it just pays to test all of the cattle.

We've gone through a "wreck" before, and if this screening will save us at least from this one possibility for disaster, it is worth it.

Some might balk at the price of testing, but after you've had a problem, you can see how it saves you money in the long run for sure. You know you've got healthy cattle that you can send to the wheat pastures, or to the sale barn, or whatever, and know they probably will stay healthy. It doesn't take you any longer to process. Just the set up might take a little longer, preparing the vials and so on.

Once we point out how it has worked for us in the past, most people catch on pretty quickly and become supporters of the testing process. I would definitely recommend Gold Standard Labs to anyone in the cattle business.”
Larry Robb, Robb Feedyard
Dimmitt, Texas

“I am very satisfied with Gold Standard Labs and their services. Turnaround time is very good, their protocol is excellent, and the results are very beneficial. They are very consistent in the job they do.

In our operation it has made a huge difference in the sickness and death rates. All calves are ear-notched as they are unloaded here, and we get the samples into the lab right away -- where they have a great turnaround time of about 24 hours or less. Therefore, within just one or two days of arrival, any BVD-PI calves are isolated away from the general population.

Because we are able to remove them, the rest of the cattle "straighten out" pretty quickly and don't go through an extended post-arrival lag time; they are able to more quickly develop a good immune system without the constant pressure of re-occurring virus infections from the PI calves. The general population cattle respond better to antibiotic therapy once those PI calves are gone, and are much healthier all around.

We've been doing PI-screening on a regular basis for about 12 months now. Our death loss rate has gone from about 6% to just 1.4%, which adds up to thousands of dollars.

I am a firm believer in this process and would recommend the services of Gold Standard Labs to anyone in our business, especially those handling the younger, smaller calves, 330 lbs or less.

The literature on BVD-PI calves gives about a .4% incidence in the general population, but we are finding it closer to .6% in our younger calves. It seems to be a bigger problem with the younger cattle.

I tell anyone who will listen about the advantages of BVD-PI testing with Gold Standard Labs. It has made a big difference in our operation.”
Justin Nelson, Nelson and Sons
Dimmitt, Texas