Comparative efficacy of ceftiofur crystalline free acid and florfenicol-flunixin meglumine for undifferentiated fever treatment in feedlot calves administered tulathromycin metaphylactically on arrival
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol49no1p48-54Keywords:
BRD, treatment, florfenicol, flunixin meglumine, ceftiofur, tulathromycin, calves, costs, diagnosis, efficacy, feedlots, fever, flunixin, potency, profitability, beta-lactam antibiotics, antibioticsAbstract
A field study was conducted at commercial feedlots to compare the relative efficacy of ceftiofur crystalline free acid (CCFA) and florfenicol-flunixin meglumine (FFM) for undifferentiated fever (UF) treatment in calves that were administered tulathromycin metaphylactically on arrival. At the time of initial diagnosis of UF, experimental calves (n=1,056) were randomly allocated to 2 experimental groups, CCFA and FFM. Calves in the CCFA group (n=530) were administered 3.0 mg/lb (6.6 mg/kg) BW of ceftiofur crystalline free acid subcutaneously (SC) at the base of the ear. Calves in the FFM group (n=526) were administered a combination of 18.1 mg/lb (40.0 mg/kg) florfenicol+1.0 mg/lb (2.2 mg/kg) flunixin meglumine SC in the neck region. The first UF relapse treatment rate was lower in the CCFA group compared to the FFM group (P=0.011). The third UF relapse treatment rate was also reduced in the CCFA group (P=0.032), but no difference was detected in the second UF relapse treatment rate between the 2 groups. No differences in overall chronicity, wastage, salvage slaughter, or mortality rates were detected between the 2 groups at the P?0.05 level. There was a net economic advantage of $10.35/treated animal in the CCFA group, driven primarily by the lower initial UF treatment cost when compared to the FFM group.Downloads
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2015-02-01
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Comparative efficacy of ceftiofur crystalline free acid and florfenicol-flunixin meglumine for undifferentiated fever treatment in feedlot calves administered tulathromycin metaphylactically on arrival. (2015). The Bovine Practitioner, 49(1), 48-54. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol49no1p48-54