Clinical efficacy of gamithromycin versus florfenicol for the treatment of undifferentiated fever in winter-placed feedlot calves
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol47no2p152-158Keywords:
bovine, BRD, undifferentiated fever, gamithromycin, florfenicol, calves, cost benefit analysis, efficacy, feedlots, respiratory diseasesAbstract
A study was conducted in Alberta, Canada utilizing 4 commercial feedlots to compare the clinical efficacy of gamithromycin to florfenicol for the initial treatment of undifferentiated fever (UF) in winter-placed feedlot calves. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in UF relapse rates and crude case fatality or bovine respiratory disease/histophilus fatality rates between the 2 treatment groups. As a result, the cost-benefit of gamithromycin versus florfenicol was based on the difference in treatment cost between the 2 drugs. Using current market prices and a treatment weight of 750 lb (340 kg), gamithromycin had an economic advantage of $11.52 CAN per head over florfenicol.