Effects of arrival medication with tilmicosin phosphate on health and performance of newly received beef cattle.
Three trials were conducted to evaluate the use of tilmicosin phosphate (Micotil) as a prophylactic medication for newly received, stressed beef cattle. In Trial 1, 57 beef calves (average initial BW = 170 kg) were shipped to the research feedlot from Tennessee and either given no antibiotic at processing or treated with Micotil at 10 mg of tilmicosin phosphate/kg of BW. During a 28-d receiving period, treatment at processing with Micotil did not affect daily gain (P < .17) or DMI (P < .22) compared to control calves. Prophylactic treatment with Micotil decreased (P < .01) the percentage of calves treated for symptoms of bovine respiratory disease from 46.4 to 0%. In Trial 2, 117 calves (average initial BW = 191 kg) were shipped from Tennessee and allotted randomly to the same two treatments as in Trial 1. All calves grazed a 24-ha pasture of irrigated winter wheat during the 28-d receiving period. Treatment of calves with Micotil at the time of arrival processing did not affect (P > .50) daily gain during the trial; however, as in Trial 1, mass treatment with Micotil decreased (P < .01) the percentage of calves treated for respiratory disease from 32.8% to 12.1%. In Trial 3, two truckloads of beef calves (183 total; average initial BW = 232 kg) shipped from Tennessee were allotted randomly to the same two treatments used in Trials 1 and 2 or to a third treatment that consisted of administration of Micotil at arrival processing if the rectal temperature of the calf was > or = 39.7 degrees C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Galyean
M L
ML
Clayton Livestock Research Center, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University 88415-9501, USA.
Gunter
S A
SA
Malcolm-Callis
K J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D018942:Macrolides; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D014186:Transportation; D015645:Tylosin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018942:Macrolides; C052319:tilmicosin; D015645:Tylosin