A Comparison of tilmicosin to gamithromycin for on arrival treatment of bovine respiratory disease in feeder steers

Authors

  • Joyce Van Donkersgoed Alberta Beef Health Solutions Inc., Box 307, Picture Butte, Alberta, TOK lV0, Canada
  • John K. Merrill Elanco, Division of Eli Lilly Canada Inc., 150 Research Lane, Guelph, Ontario, NlG 4T2, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol46no1p46-51

Keywords:

gamithromycin, tilmicosin, metaphylaxis, bovine respiratory disease, beef cattle, calves, cost effectiveness analysis, costs, disease control, disease prevention, drug effects, feed conversion efficiency, feed intake, feedlots, liveweight gain, morbidity, mortality, respiratory diseases, risk, steers

Abstract

A trial was conducted in a commercial feedlot in western Canada using fall-placed feedlot calves at moderate risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) to compare the efficacy of gamithromycin to tilmicosin for metaphylactic treatment of BRD. First-pull treatment rates for BRD were significantly lower (P=0.01) in calves in the gamithromycin group than in the tilmicosin group. There were no other significant differences in health or performance between the two groups. The 6.6 percentage point difference in treatment rates for BRD equated to a net advantage of $0.03 CAN/head for those calves given gamithromycin as a metaphylactic drug on arrival compared to metaphylactic treatment with tilmicosin. Drug cost and disease risk should be carefully evaluated in each feedlot and group of incoming cattle to determine the most cost-effective metaphylaxis protocol.

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Published

2012-05-31

How to Cite

Van Donkersgoed, J., & Merrill, J. K. (2012). A Comparison of tilmicosin to gamithromycin for on arrival treatment of bovine respiratory disease in feeder steers. The Bovine Practitioner, 46(1), 46–51. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol46no1p46-51

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