Effect of tilmicosin alone or in combination with Mannheimia haemolytica toxoid administered at initial feedlot processing on morbidity and mortality of high-risk calves.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol42no1p50-55Keywords:
bovine, feed lot, BRD, tilmicosin, Mannheimia haemolytica, calves, cost benefit analysis, costs, disease prevention, morbidity, mortality, prophylaxis, relapse, respiratory diseases, steers, toxoidsAbstract
A total of 3,996 high-risk steer calves were used to compare effects of metaphylactic treatment with tilmicosin (TIL) alone or in combination with an adjuvanted Mannheimia haemolytica toxoid (MHT) at feedyard arrival on health parameters and economic return in a commercial feedlot setting. Steers receiving TIL-MHT at processing had 17% fewer first time treatments for BRD (P=0.0002) than calves in the TIL group, and a 19% lower relapse rate (P=0.003). TIL-MHT calves had 22% less mortality (P=0.03) than calves in the TIL group. Calves receiving TIL-MHT had $1.37 (P<0.0001) and $13.14/head (P=0.03) lower therapy and mortality costs, respectively, than calves in the TIL group. In total, combined processing, therapy, railer (culls) and mortality costs for TIL-MHT calves were $14.77 lower (P=0.01) than TIL group calves.
