Agricultural News
As Winter Threatens, New Drugs Help Cattle Producers Stay Ahead of BRD and Parasites
Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:40:53 CST
Pastures are in better shape across the Southern Plains than they were a year ago, but as temperatures fluctuate wildly and begin to drop precipitously, disease pressures on cattle herds will mount. Most predominant among them at this time of year says Dr. Joe Dedrickson, director of field veterinary services for Merial, is BRD.
"The issue that we sometimes forget with BRD is that there are multiple agents. There are viruses and bacteria and they are a normal part of cattle. And, so, when we get into this time we add so many stresses on these calves. This is when we wean them. There may be castration and dehorning associated with that. Right now here in Kansas City, look at those temperatures. You're seeing that down in Oklahoma. We were down to 17 degrees last night and this weekend we're going to be at 70. All stresses make BRD an issue."
Dedrickson says BRD can be very costly to producers and that is why they need to stay ahead of the game.
"With the advent of the new class of drugs that we have available to us over the last couple of years, the macrolides, we're fortunate that, with Zactran, we have one of those. They have what the FDA calls a control label. So, if you're shipping these animals and putting them under that stress, you can give them medication like Zactran which will give you ten days of activity with injection on arrival. So, some of these new drugs really give us opportunities to manage BRD better."
Also of concern to stockers are parasites. Dedrickson says Merial also has a new product coming through the pipeline called Longrange that is meant to help producers better control parasites.
"This is our first year on the market so we're finally getting some good clinical data that producers can use. It's got a new technology called theraphase. The active ingredient is the same as that in Eprinex pour on. With this we get an initial level two-and-a-half times higher than we get with the pour on. And with Longrange, that theraphase forms a matrix which, as it dissolves, it gives you a second release so you get a second dose approximately 100 days after injection which gives you 100 to 150 days of activity-the whole grazing season."
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