Comparative efficacy of tilmicosin, florfenicol, and fiorfenicol-flunixin meglumine for treatment of undifferentiated fever in backgrounded winter-placed feedlot calves given tilmicosin metaphylactically on arrival

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
  • Steve Hendrick Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p103-108

Keywords:

BRD, tilmicosin, florfenicol, flunixin, meglumine, bacterial diseases, calves, costs, drug combinations, drug therapy, efficacy, feedlots, fever, liveweight gain, mortality, potency, prices, relapse, respiratory diseases, winter, antibiotics

Abstract

A study was conducted in 3 feedlots to compare the clinical efficacy of tilmicosin to florfenicol and florfenicol-nunixin meglumine for the initial treatment of undifferentiated fever (UF) in backgrounded winter-placed feedlot calves treated metaphylactically with tilmicosin at arrival processing. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found in UF relapse rates, crude case fatality rates, bovine respiratory disease and histophilus fatality rates, or average daily gain between the 3 groups. The cost benefit of tilmicosin versus florfenicol and florfenicol-flunixin meglumine was based on the difference in treatment cost between the 3 drugs. Using current market prices and a treatment weight of 828 lb (376 kg), the cost of treatment with tilmicosin was $15.85 CAN less per head compared to treatment with florfenicol, and $15.90 CAN per head less than florfenicol-flunixin meglumine.

Cover image of Volume 48, No. 1 of the Bovine Practitioner: a herd of Holstein graze languidly on a field and the land stretches away flatly to the horizon where it meets with the bright blue sky.

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Published

2014-06-01

How to Cite

Van Donkersgoed, J., Merrill, J. K., & Hendrick, S. (2014). Comparative efficacy of tilmicosin, florfenicol, and fiorfenicol-flunixin meglumine for treatment of undifferentiated fever in backgrounded winter-placed feedlot calves given tilmicosin metaphylactically on arrival. The Bovine Practitioner, 48(2), 103–108. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol48no2p103-108

Issue

Vol. 48, No. 2 (2014 Summer)

Section

Articles

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