Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

2026 Meeting Agenda and Items Discussed:

• Date: January 17, 2026
• Location: Chicago, IL, Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD); hybrid access provided via Zoom
• Time: 12:00-3:00 pm CST
• In attendance: Matthew Scott, Fabiola Oyervides, Nicholas Hacker, Bradly Ramirez, Harley Henderson, Robert Valeris-Chacin, Amelia Woolums, Chloe Montoya, Florencia Meyer, Lee Pinnell, Paul Morley, Merrilee Thoreson, Samantha Plochek, Andi Lear, Kirsten Thompson, Avona Randolph, Bria Johnson, Cassie Barber, Richard Van Vleck Pereira, Santiago Cornejo Tonnelier, James Averill

• Administrative Advisor guidance emphasized multistate collaboration, reporting expectations under the Hatch multistate framework, and the need for annual reports to clearly document collaborative activity.
• The annual report for the current project cycle is due March 17, 2026, within 60 days of the annual meeting.
• Members discussed that the current project terminates September 30, 2026, and reviewed renewal planning for the next multistate cycle, including a broadened ruminant respiratory disease scope beginning October 1, 2026.
• Station updates highlighted continued collaboration on BRD pathophysiology, strain-resolved pathogen genomics, feedlot pathology, management-associated disease risk, antimicrobial stewardship, and intervention development.
• Additional discussion centered on leadership transition planning, future collaborations, and preparation of meeting documentation needed to support reporting and project renewal.

Accomplishments

Objective 1: To elucidate pathways by which host characteristics, pathogen virulence mechanisms, and environmental impacts interact to produce BRD, and to develop strategies to mitigate detrimental factors and enhance protective mechanisms.

• Molecular epidemiological assessment of beef cattle management systems: how markets and vaccines influence health and disease (TX and MS collaborators). Across four pre-backgrounding timepoints, whole-blood RNA sequencing identified 10,397 differentially expressed genes attributable to temporal change, with enrichment for innate and adaptive immunity, interleukin signaling, and protein translation. Vaccination status was associated with 112 differentially expressed genes across time, cattle later treated for BRD displayed 243 differentially expressed genes linked to oxygenation, cellular metabolism, and cytokine signaling before clinical disease, and shotgun metagenomics showed that shipping and marketing strategy explained more than 40% of variation in nasopharyngeal microbial community composition.
• Gene co-expression analyses of lymphoid tissue of cattle co-infected with bovine herpes virus 1 and bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 following commercial vaccine and trace element injection (TX and UGA collaborators). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified preserved modules across buffy coat, spleen, and tonsil enriched for proteostasis, translation, chromatin remodeling, DNA repair, and immune receptor signaling. Module-trait relationships linked lymphoid gene-expression programs with clinical severity and serologic responses, supporting development of molecular biomarkers for vaccine responsiveness and disease severity.
• Identification of pathogen profiles and loci associated with enhanced resistance to BRD (WSU and TAMU collaborators). In Idaho, heritability for BRD resistance was estimated at 0.16 ± 0.02 in both pre- and post-weaned calves, with 13 genomic regions associated with resistance in pre-weaned calves and 52 regions in post-weaned calves. In Georgia, 62 genomic regions were associated with BRD in pre-weaned calves and 181 regions in post-weaned calves, with gene-set enrichment identifying multiple leading-edge genes relevant to BRD susceptibility and resilience.
• Exploring clonality of Mannheimia haemolytica in beef cattle (TX collaborators). Long-read whole-genome sequencing of 99 isolates identified uniform virulence gene profiles, a single sequence type (ST1), and a single genomic sequence variant (GSV2) by MLST- and GSV-based approaches. In contrast, core SNP-based average linkage clustering yielded different clonal lineage estimates depending on the SNP cutoff applied, demonstrating that analytical method selection can strongly influence interpretation of pathogen diversity without necessarily changing conclusions about pathogenic capability.
• Mannheimia haemolytica strain-level diversity in cattle populations (Morley Group, TAMU/VERO with collaborators from MSU, WTAMU, and partners). Target-enriched sequencing, coupled with qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, detected M. haemolytica in 100% of samples and classified multiple genomic sequence variants in all but 3 of 121 samples. Distinct group-level GSV abundance patterns and overlap between respiratory and environmental samples suggest that contagious transmission and previously underrecognized within-group strain diversity are important features of M. haemolytica ecology.

• Objective 2: To develop and validate methodologies for accurate BRD diagnosis, objective risk assessment, and surveillance to detect new trends in BRD occurrence.
  • Decreasing pulmonary-associated mortality in feedlot cattle using refined case definitions and predictive analytics, emphasizing acute interstitial pneumonia and late-day BRD (MS, KS, and TX collaborators). More than 700 cattle have been sampled across participating feedlots. Histopathologic assessment has identified acute and chronic bronchopneumonia, acute and chronic interstitial pneumonia, and mixed lesion patterns in substantial numbers of animals, challenging the longstanding assumption that interstitial pneumonia is exclusively acute and providing a more accurate framework for diagnosis than gross postmortem assessment alone.
  • Target-enriched sequencing enables genomic characterization within diverse microbial populations (Morley Group). A target-enriched shotgun metagenomic workflow increased on-target Mannheimia haemolytica reads by more than 250-fold compared with conventional shotgun sequencing while using one-quarter of the sequencing depth, enabling recovery of six distinct genomic sequence variants and demonstrating a scalable method for high-resolution surveillance in complex microbial communities.
  • Evaluating pooled samples for characterization of the microbiome, Mannheimia haemolytica populations, and the resistome of the nasopharynx of feedlot cattle (MS/TAMU). Across datasets representing both high and low M. haemolytica prevalence, pooling samples had minimal impact on overall microbial community structure, antimicrobial resistance gene profiles, and common M. haemolytica genetic features. These results support pooling as a cost-efficient strategy for population-level surveillance while acknowledging that rare features may be underrepresented.
  • Targeted enriched metagenomics unravels Mycoplasma bovis strain-level landscape in respiratory samples from cattle (TX collaborators). This work demonstrated the feasibility of selectively enriching and recovering M. bovis DNA directly from respiratory samples and from spiked mock communities. However, current bioinformatic methods remain insufficient to consistently separate closely related genomic variants in mixed metagenomic samples, highlighting a key methodological bottleneck that must be addressed for routine strain-resolved surveillance.
• Objective 3: To develop and validate management practices and responsibly applied therapeutic and preventative interventions, such as vaccines, antimicrobials, and immunomodulators, to minimize the impact of BRD on cattle, producers, and society.
  • Evaluation of the effects of postweaning commingling and transport on bovine respiratory coronavirus shedding in dairy calves (MS, TX, and University of Minnesota collaborators). Samples collected during the completed field phase are being analyzed for coronavirus shedding, serum haptoglobin, TNF-alpha, serum neutralizing antibody titers, serum coronavirus-specific IgM, and nasal coronavirus-specific IgA. The resulting integrated dataset is expected to provide one of the largest coordinated assessments of coronavirus shedding, host inflammatory responses, mucosal immunity, gene expression, and microbiome dynamics in calves exposed to transport and commingling.
  • Evaluation of trace minerals for use to treat or prevent BRD (MS, GA, and AL collaborators). Work continued on topical intranasal mineral formulations containing Cu, Zn, and Mg as non-antimicrobial tools to suppress respiratory bacterial growth and modify host responses. Preliminary in vitro evidence indicates suppression of Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica, while in vivo analyses of microbiome composition, clinical outcomes, and immune responses are ongoing.
  • Understanding metaphylaxis practices for cattle at uncertain risk for bovine respiratory disease across U.S. feedlots: a survey of veterinary consultants and feedlot managers (KSU). Survey-based research characterized the information used to classify BRD risk in cattle at uncertain or medium risk, identified gaps in decision-making, and produced data-driven guidance to refine metaphylaxis use and improve antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Evaluation of Calcidol and Calcidol+Beta-carotene on feed intake, performance, and health in high-risk heifers (KSU/SDSU collaborators). Complementary nutrition-focused work evaluated practical interventions intended to improve performance and resilience in high-risk cattle while also contributing to broader efforts to mitigate production-limiting stressors.
  • Treatment and disease technology choices for BRD (KSU and industry collaborators). Updated work compared initial antimicrobial treatments for cattle that had already received tulathromycin metaphylaxis and evaluated automated BRD prediction and disease-detection technology relative to traditional visual diagnosis. Collectively, these studies advance integrated BRD control by informing treatment selection, supporting precision surveillance, and strengthening the scientific foundation for technology-enabled feedlot health management.
• Objective 4: To determine how attributes of cattle production systems including epidemiologic, societal, and economic forces contribute to BRD, and to develop ways to promote changes in those systems to reduce the occurrence of BRD and improve cattle health, welfare, productivity and antimicrobial stewardship.
  • Quantification of the impacts of pre-weaning vaccination and post-weaning commingling on BRD morbidity and mortality during postweaning backgrounding (TX, MS, and KS collaborators). Three scheduled trials evaluating preweaning vaccination and exposure to auction-market commingling have been completed. Morbidity and mortality were greater in years 1 and 3 than in year 2, demonstrating substantial year-to-year heterogeneity in disease expression under commercial-like conditions. Assessment of inflammatory mediator expression has been completed for all years and integrated statistical analysis is underway to clarify relationships among management practices, inflammatory response, growth, morbidity, and mortality.
  • The combined transcriptomic, inflammatory mediator, and management-system datasets being generated through the vaccination/marketing studies provide rare objective measurements of the degree to which preweaning vaccination and postweaning market exposure alter subsequent BRD outcomes. These data will support more rigorous cost-benefit assessment of management decisions and help identify system-level strategies that reduce disease while supporting animal welfare and antimicrobial stewardship.
• Objective 5: To promote dialogue and exchange among scientists, veterinarians, allied industry professionals and cattle producers to advance BRD research initiatives, to implement outreach, to disseminate research results, and to facilitate the translation of research findings to practical field applications.
  • The NC1192 annual meeting held during CRWAD 2026 continued to serve as a focal point for discussion of collaborative science, annual reporting, technical leadership, and project renewal. Meeting discussion included future collaborations, station-report synthesis, and consensus building around the next multistate cycle.
  • Kansas State University reported extensive outreach and training activity, including hands-on training for four graduate students and two research associates, 20 cattle producer meetings across Kansas, multiple conference presentations, collaboration with industry partners and South Dakota State University, and publication of 28 popular press articles translating cattle-health research to broader audiences.
  • Research results from participating stations were disseminated through CRWAD, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, the Academy of Veterinary Consultants, the American Dairy Science Association, field days, extension programming, and review publications, broadening the reach of NC1192 work to scientists, veterinarians, producers, and allied industry stakeholders.
• Objective 6: To assess the economic impact of BRD across different sectors of cattle industry.
  • A dedicated economic-analysis publication from Kansas State University provided a framework for analyzing randomized controlled trial data in feedlot cattle and illustrates the type of evidence needed to quantify the economic consequences of disease and interventions.

Across the reporting year, studies of metaphylaxis decision-making, post-metaphylactic treatment choices, automated disease-detection technologies, and management-system effects on BRD generated data that will support future economic modeling of prevention, surveillance, and treatment strategies in commercial cattle operations.

• USDA-NIFA-AFRI
• USDA Hatch Multistate Research
• NSF-USDA EEID
• ICASA-FFAR
• DSM Nutritional Products
• Merck Animal Health
• Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experimental Station (MAFES)
• Axiota Animal Health
• Texas A&M University
• Texas A&M AgriLife Research Animal Health and Disease Capacity Funding
• UGA Internal Accounts

• Peer-reviewed scientific publications:
  • Horton V, Hanthorn C, Thackrah A, Renter D, Cernicchiaro N. Understanding metaphylaxis practices for cattle at uncertain risk for bovine respiratory disease across U.S. feedlots: a survey of veterinary consultants and feedlot managers. Translational Animal Science. Accepted.
  • McAllister HR, Capik SF, Harvey KM, Ramirez BI, Valeris-Chacin RJ, Woolums AR, Karisch BB, Morley PS, Scott MA. Proinflammatory Cytokines, Type I Interferons, and Specialized Proresolving Mediators Hallmark the Influence of Vaccination and Marketing on Backgrounded Beef Cattle. Vet Sci. 2025 Aug 30;12(9):834. doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090834.
  • Herrick AL, Kiser JN, White SN, Neibergs HL. 2025. Genomic regions associated with respiratory disease in Holstein calves in the Southern United States. Genes 16(7):741.
  • Herrick AL, Kiser JN, White SN, Neibergs HL. 2025. Genomic regions associated with bovine respiratory disease in Pacific Northwest Holstein cattle. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12.
  • Renter DG, McAtee TB, Booker C, Horton LM, Bryant L, McMullen CA, Hunsaker B, Fenton RK, Raaphorst HS. Comparing initial antimicrobial treatments for bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle following tulathromycin metaphylaxis. Bov Pract. 2025. doi: 10.21423/bpj20269280.
  • Schupbach BS, Davis MS, Jennings TD, Dixon AL, Renter DG, Nickell JS. Comparison of a novel BRD prediction and automated disease detection technology to traditional methods in a U.S. feedlot. Transl Anim Sci. 2025. doi: 10.1093/tas/txaf067.
  • Weigand MC, Duncan ZM, Ellis WC, Weir CD, Schwandt EF, Levy AW, Gott PN, Tarpoff AJ, Blasi DA. Evaluation of Calcidol and Calcidol+Beta-carotene on feed intake, performance, and health in high-risk heifers. KAES Research Reports. 2025.
  • Weigand MC, Duncan ZM, Ellis WC, Weir CD, Schwandt EF, Levy AW, Gott PN, Martinez SE, Tarpoff AJ, Blasi DA. Nutrikinetic evaluation and modeling of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in beef cattle. KAES Research Reports. 2025.
  • Horton LM, Pendell DL, Renter DG. Economic analysis of randomized controlled trial data: a framework and feedlot cattle case study. J Anim Sci. 2025. doi: 10.1093/jas/skaf105.
  • Tarpoff AJ, Smith Z, Brouk M. Mitigating impacts of environmental extremes in ruminant animals. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2025;41(3):379-393. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2025.07.002.
  • Woolums AR, Chase CCL. Biosecurity and biocontainment for ruminant respiratory disease. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract. 2025 Mar;41(1):39-54. doi: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2024.11.007.
• Submitted manuscripts and other scholarly deliverables:
  • Hacker ND, Scott MA, Pinnell LJ, Doster E, Crosby WB, Woolums AR, Klima CL, Morley PS, Valeris-Chacin R. Exploring clonality of Mannheimia haemolytica in beef cattle. Submitted to Microbial Genomics.
  • Lamsal KR. Targeted enriched metagenomics unravels Mycoplasma bovis strain-level landscape in respiratory samples from cattle. Thesis Defense. September 2025.
• Scientific abstract presentations and conference proceedings:
  • McAllister HM, Capik SF, Ramirez BI, Harvey KM, Morley PS, Valeris-Chacin R, Karisch BB, Woolums AR, Thompson AC, Scott MA. 2026. Impact of preweaning vaccination on gene expression profiles in healthy and BRD-affected cattle during backgrounding. Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD). Chicago, IL.
  • Ramirez BI, McAllister HM, Capik SF, Harvey KM, Valeris-Chacin R, Pinnell L, Woolums AR, Karisch BB, Morley PS, Scott MA. 2026. Shotgun metagenomics characterizes consequences of disease and management practices in backgrounded beef cattle. Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD). Chicago, IL.
  • Hacker N, Scott MA, Pinnell LJ, Crosby WB, Woolums AR, Doster E, Morley PS, Valeris-Chacin R. Molecular epidemiology of field Mannheimia haemolytica isolates in beef cattle. CRWAD 2025. Chicago, IL.
  • Lamsal KR, Panaretos C, Dudley EP, Pinnell LJ, Scott MA, Richeson JT, Kittana HH, Morley PS, Valeris-Chacin R. Development and optimization of targeted enriched metagenomics protocol to obtain strain-level data for Mycoplasma bovis in respiratory samples from cattle. CRWAD 2025. Chicago, IL.
  • Herrick AL, Kiser JN, Neibergs HL. 2025. Analysis of gene sets enriched with respiratory disease in Holstein calves. American Dairy Science Association, Louisville, Kentucky.
  • Bradly I. Ramirez, Hudson R. McAllister, Sarah F. Capik, Robert J. Valeris-Chacin, Kelsey M. Harvey, Brandi B. Karisch, Amelia R. Woolums, Paul S. Morley, Lee J. Pinnell, Matthew A. Scott. Update on the molecular epidemiological assessment of beef cattle management systems. Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 18-21, 2025.
  • Hudson McAllister, Sarah Capik, Robert Larson, Brad White, David Amrine, Brandi Karisch, Kelsey Harvey, Jane Parish, Amelia Woolums, Vinicius Gouvea, Alexis Thompson, Matthew Scott. How does vaccination and marketing impact bovine respiratory disease and inflammatory mediator production in beef calves? Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 18-21, 2025.
  • Bradly Ramirez, Hudson McAllister, Sarah Capik, Robert Valeris-Chacin, Kelsey Harvey, Amelia Woolums, Brandi Karisch, Lee Pinnell, Paul S. Morley, Matthew Scott. Multiomic investigation in beef cattle characterizes management-associated immune modulation in context of respiratory disease. Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 18-21, 2025.
  • Enrique Doster, Cory Wolfe, Robert Valeris-Chacin, William B. Crosby, Michael L. Clawson, Amelia R. Woolums, Lee J. Pinnell, Paul S. Morley. Enriching without culture: target enriched metagenomics allows for strain-level characterization of M. haemolytica. Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 18-21, 2025.
  • Joanna Urbaniec, Peers Davies, John Ellis, Federico Hoffmann, Florencia Meyer, Paul S. Morley, Matt Scott, Amelia Woolums, Noelle Noyes, Joseph Neary. Prevalence of bovine coronavirus in nasal samples collected from beef calves during a controlled commingling event. Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 18-21, 2025.
  • F. Huertas, M.F. Chamorro, T. Passler, M. Saucedo, S. Taylor, D. Schwartz, J.E. Bayne, J. Stockler, M. Thoresen, A. Woolums. Nasal and bronchoalveolar BRSV IgG-1 transferred from maternal colostrum or a colostrum replacement in dairy calves. Conference for Research Workers in Animal Disease (CRWAD). Chicago, IL. January 18-21, 2025.
  • Horton V, Hanthorn C, Thackrah A, Renter D, Cernicchiaro N. BRD metaphylaxis survey of consultants and feedlot managers. AABP Annual Conference, Omaha, NE, September 2025.
  • Horton V, Hanthorn C, Thackrah A, Renter DG, Cernicchiaro N. Understanding metaphylaxis practices for cattle at uncertain risk of BRD. AVC Summer Conference, Norman, OK, August 2025.
  • Renter DG. Making Treatment Choices for Reducing BRD and Death Loss. 26th K-State Beef Stocker Field Day, Manhattan, Kansas, September 2025.
• Non-refereed publications / popular press:
  • “K-State research underscores complexity of treating bovine respiratory disease.” High Plains Journal. October 2025.
  • “Treating bovine respiratory disease is complex.” BEEF Magazine. October 2025.
  • “Have a plan for lice control this winter”. Angus Beef Bulletin Extra. January 2025.
  • “Livestock care not just lip service Veterinarian says”. High Plains Journal. January 2025.
  • “Setting the foundation for a successful sire”. Kansas Stockman. January 2025.
  • “Weather swings bring mud and concerns about calf health”. Drovers. February 2025.
  • “Wanted: Bulls Ready to Work”. Drovers. March 2025.
  • “Differentiating pasture lameness”. Protein Producers. April 2025.
  • “Prevent grass tetany with these essential management tips”. Drovers. April 2025.
  • “Don’t bring home more than ribbons. Biosecurity tips for livestock shows”. Kansas Farmer. April 2025.
  • “Functional facilities reduce stress and boost efficiency”. Drovers. May 2025.
  • “Handling the Heat”. Angus Journal. May 2025.
  • “Five Pre-Pasture Turnout Tips”. Drovers. May 2025.
  • “Pasture Turnout Tips: Optimum Forage Strategies”. Drovers. May 2025.
  • “K-State beef extension veterinarian provides solutions for managing heat stressed cattle”. Sunflower State Radio. June 2025.
  • “How to prevent grass tetany”. Bovine Veterinarian. May/June 2025.
  • “Its Fair Season: Keeping animal cool at county shows”. JC Post. June 2025.
  • “Simple changes make the difference in cooling off cattle”. High Plains Journal. June 2025.
  • “K-State beef veterinarian provides solutions for managing heat stressed cattle”. The Manhattan Mercury. June 2025.
  • “Cattle Industry monitors latest on New World Screwworm”. High Plains Journal. June 2025.
  • “5 Strategies to help cattle cope with heat”. Drovers. June 2025.
  • “Establish a biosecurity plan to keep animals healthy beyond barn”. Kansas Farmer. June 2025.
  • “Disease concerns with new herd introductions”. Protein Producers. July 2025.
  • “Raising the Steaks”. Angus Beef Bulletin. July 2025.
  • “Creepy Crawlies and spooky encounters from the field”. Bovine Veterinarian. October 2025.
  • “Weathering the Winter”. Kansas Stockman. November 2025.
  • “K-State vet helps hundreds earn Beef Quality Assurance certification”. KSNT News. November 2025.
  • “Make everyday count: Cold Stress Management”. Protein Producers. December 2025.
• Extension, education, and outreach:
  • 3/7/2025 — Manhattan, KS — Cattlemens Day (500 attendees).
  • 3/12/2025 — McPherson, KS — BQA (70 attendees).
  • 3/27/2025 — St. Marys, KS — BQA (30 attendees).
  • 4/22/2025 — Garden City, KS — BQA (20 attendees).
  • 5/30/2025 — Linn, KS — Calving Management, bilingual dairy training (15 attendees).
  • 6/13/2025 — Manhattan, KS — BQA: USA's path toward continuous improvement in the beef industry, group from Argentina (40 attendees).
  • 7/30/2025 — Ames, IA — Feedlot Short Course: Rumen Roundtable (30 attendees).
  • 7/30/2025 — Ames, IA — Feedlot Short Course: Managing foot health and lameness (30 attendees).
  • 7/30/2025 — Ames, IA — Feedlot Short Course: Chronic pen care (30 attendees).
  • 7/31/2025 — Ames, IA — Feedlot Short Course: Chuteside management tips (30 attendees).
  • 7/31/2025 — Ames, IA — Feedlot Short Course: Feeding cattle to heavier weights (30 attendees).
  • 8/7/2025 — Wichita, KS — BQA (HPJ Live) (20 attendees).
  • 8/20/2025 — Cimmaron, KS — Stocker calf health considerations (20 attendees).
  • 8/24/2025 — Manhattan, KS — 4-H Sweepstakes moderator/judge (50 attendees).
  • 8/28/2025 — Gridley, KS — KLA Field Day: ALT and Theileria (150 attendees).
  • 9/30/2025 — Ellsworth, KS — BQA (30 attendees).
  • 10/8/2025 — St. Louis, MO — BxD Summit: Raising cattle with intent (75 attendees).
  • 10/22/2025 — Holton, KS — BQA (65 attendees).
  • 10/28/2025 — Ottawa, KS — BQA (55 attendees).
  • 10/31/2025 — Kansas City, MO — BQA (60 attendees).
• Other activities:
  • Members continued planning for multistate project renewal and broader ruminant respiratory disease objectives for the next reporting cycle.