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ARS Home » Plains Area » Bushland, Texas » Conservation and Production Research Laboratory » Livestock Nutrient Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #166205
Title: METAPHYLAXIS AND VACCINATION (DUAL PROPHYLAXIS) FOR PREVENTION OF BOVINE RESPIRATORY DISEASE COMPLEX.

Author
item LOAN, RAYMOND - CVM, TAMU
item Purdy, Charles
item Briggs, Robert

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/14/2004
Publication Date: 11/14/2004
Citation: Loan, R.W., Purdy, C.W., Briggs, R.E. 2004. Metaphylaxis and vaccination (dual prophylaxis) for prevention of bovine respiratory disease complex. In: Proceedings of Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD) Annual Meeting, November 14-16, 2004, Chicago, Illinois. p.24-25.

Interpretive Summary: The prevention of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) by simultaneous Mannheimia haemolytica-Pasteurella multocida (Mh-Pm) vaccination and metaphylaxis with long- acting antibiotic formulations (dual prophylaxis) was investigated. Dual prophylaxis with tilmicosin compared to metaphylaxis with tilmicosin alone resulted in fewer morbid calves (21/48 vs. 39/60; p<0.05) and fewer calves requiring one or more retreatments for BRDC (11/48 vs. 28/60; p<0.025). Rectal temperatures in the metaphylaxis alone treated calves were higher on the ninth day of backgrounding (p<0.05). In a separate study dual prophylaxis with tilmicosin resulted in fewer calves developing BRDC compared to pull-and-treat health management (9/70 vs. 37/70; p<0.01). Dual prophylaxis with oxytetracyline also resulted in fewer calves developing BRDC during backgrounding compared to pull-and-treat (17/69 vs. 37/70; p<0.01). The estimated value of the calves at slaughter in both dual prophylaxis treatment groups, minus the cost of dual prophylaxis and antibiotic therapy, exceeded that of the pull-and-treat managed calves by $10 to $20 per calf.

Technical Abstract: The prevention of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) by simultaneous Mannheimia haemolytica-Pasteurella multocida (Mh-Pm) vaccination and metaphylaxis with long- acting antibiotic formulations (dual prophylaxis) was investigated. Dual prophylaxis with tilmicosin compared to metaphylaxis with tilmicosin alone resulted in fewer morbid calves (21/48 vs. 39/60; p<0.05) and fewer calves requiring one or more retreatments for BRDC (11/48 vs. 28/60; p<0.025). Rectal temperatures in the metaphylaxis alone treated calves were higher on the ninth day of backgrounding (p<0.05). In a separate study dual prophylaxis with tilmicosin resulted in fewer calves developing BRDC compared to pull-and-treat health management (9/70 vs. 37/70; p<0.01). Dual prophylaxis with oxytetracyline also resulted in fewer calves developing BRDC during backgrounding compared to pull-and-treat (17/69 vs. 37/70; p<0.01). The estimated value of the calves at slaughter in both dual prophylaxis treatment groups, minus the cost of dual prophylaxis and antibiotic therapy, exceeded that of the pull-and-treat managed calves by $10 to $20 per calf.