Effects of timing of chlortetracycline in combination with decoquinate on growth performance, health, and carcass characteristics of feeder steers

Authors

  • Daniel U. Thomson Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • R. Spencer Swingle Cactus Research, LTD, Amarillo, TX 79116
  • Mark Branine Zinpro Corporation, Canon City, CO 81212
  • Steven J. Bartle Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • David A. Yates Merck Animal Health, Claremore, OK 74017

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p120-128

Keywords:

receiving cattle, BRD, chlortetracycline, decoquinate, animal health, bacterial diseases, calves, carcass quality, carcasses, coccidiosis, drug combinations, dry matter, feed conversion, feed conversion efficiency, feedlots, growth rate, infections, liveweight gain, morbidity, parasites, performance traits, protozoal infections, respiration, respiratory diseases, steers, parasitoses

Abstract

Steer calves (n=1690) were used in a 220-day study to evaluate the effects of chlortetracycline (CTC) plus decoquinate (DEQ) on health and performance of feedlot cattle. Treatments were (1) control (CON); (2) CTC+decoquinate early (CTC+DEQ Early), and (3) CTC+decoquinate delayed (CTC+DEQ Delayed). Ten mg of CTC/lb (22 mg/kg) body weight (BW) was fed daily for 5 consecutive days beginning either on day 0 (Early) or day 6 (Delayed); decoquinate was fed at 22.7 mg/100 lb (45.4 kg) BW for 28 days. There were 6 pens per treatment, and 85 to 105 steers per pen. Steers in the CTC+DEQ groups had higher (P<0.01 to 0.05) dry matter intake and average daily gain than CON steers, but feed efficiency did not differ among treatments. Respiratory morbidity and re-treatment rates were lower (17 vs 23%, and 11 vs 22%, respectively, P<0.01) for steers in the CTC+DEQ groups than for those in the CON group. Timing of the initial CTC treatment had minimal effect on health and performance; however, feeding CTC for at least 10 days during the receiving period reduced morbidity and improved overall performance.

Author Biographies

Daniel U. Thomson, Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS 66506

formerly with Cactus Research

Mark Branine, Zinpro Corporation, Canon City, CO 81212

formerly with Cactus Research, LTD, Amarillo, TX 79116

Steven J. Bartle, Department of Clinical Sciences, Kansas State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, KS 66506

formerly with Cactus Research, LTD, Amarillo, TX 79116

David A. Yates, Merck Animal Health, Claremore, OK 74017

formerly with Alpharma Animal Health

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Published

2014-06-01

How to Cite

Thomson, D. U., Swingle, R. S., Branine, M., Bartle, S. J., & Yates, D. A. (2014). Effects of timing of chlortetracycline in combination with decoquinate on growth performance, health, and carcass characteristics of feeder steers. The Bovine Practitioner, 48(2), 120–128. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p120-128

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