Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) can have a negative impact on cattle feeding and stocker operations, especially if not managed correctly. BRD management is not a “one size fits all” strategy, says Dr. Jared Gould, DVM MS, technical consultant for Elanco, as several variables need to be considered.

Health interventions represent a significant investment, so veterinarians work hard to recommend the most cost-effective disease control programs. “As veterinarians, we know that by the time an animal exhibits physical signs of distress, it’s pretty darn sick and it’s harder for that calf to recover,” says Gould. “At this point, antibiotic use is still effective but it’s not as effective as if we had been able to treat the calf earlier. That’s the crux of why metaphylaxis works so well: You’re getting antibiotic to the calf before it shows clinical signs of the disease or right at the start of disease onset.”

As part of BRD risk assessment and treatment recommendations, both the correct dose for the animal’s weight and its health status need to be considered.

“As veterinarians, we see large groups of cattle that aren’t the same shape or size,” says Gould. “Let’s say I have an incoming group of 100 calves that averages 400 lbs. That’s the average weight; there might only be a few calves that weigh 400 lbs, while the majority range from 300 lbs to 500 lbs.”

“In most production settings, a metaphylaxis treatment dose is set according to the average weight off the truck, because it isn’t feasible to weigh and treat each calf individually,” says Gould. “However, this means a percentage of cattle are under-dosed.  That can be costly.”

The level of risk also varies between and within groups of cattle.¹ This variability in disease incidence, coupled with differences in severity, is very common, even in calves sourced from the same location.

“When high-risk calves come in, we want to use the most cost-effective drugs at the right dosage to match the degree of disease risk,” continues Gould. “That’s why Micotil^® (tilmicosin injection) Flex Dose (10 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg) offers considerable management benefits. It’s the only antibiotic approved for metaphylaxis that allows for a flexible dosing range. Micotil now allows veterinarians the flexibility to use the product at the dosage needed, based on the weight and risk of animals coming into the feeding or stocker operation.”

Safety is also a consideration, adds Gould. Elanco offers the Flex Dose syringe, which provides an enhanced degree of safety when administering Micotil. It offers three levels of protection to help users avoid accidental exposure and delivers an adjustable dose range. In addition, the syringe is designed for one-handed, subcutaneous injections, leaving the user’s opposing hand free.

“Safety is a high priority for us,” asserts Gould. “We offer a very comprehensive Safe Handling and Use training program. And, it’s not only about Micotil — it’s about animal and worker safety, and the safe use of all injectable products. These trainings help ensure a safe, wholesome product goes into the food chain.”

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Important Safety Information

See label for complete use information, including boxed human warnings and non-target species safety information. Micotil is to be used by, or on the order of, a licensed veterinarian. For cattle or sheep, inject subcutaneously. Intravenous use in cattle or sheep will be fatal. Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. Use in lactating dairy cattle or sheep may cause milk residues. The following adverse reactions have been reported: in cattle: injection site swelling and inflammation, lameness, collapse, anaphylaxis/anaphylactoid reactions, decreased food and water consumption, and death; in sheep: dyspnea and death. Always use proper drug handling procedures to avoid accidental self-injection. Do not use in automatically powered syringes. Consult your veterinarian on the safe handling and use of all injectable products prior to administration. Micotil has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 42 days.

¹Micotil (tilmicosin injection) Research Brief 3. 2011. Variability in Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Morbidity and Mortality Associated with Arrival Truckload. Elanco Study Number: T5CB39905.

Micotil^® is a trademark for Elanco’s brand of tilmicosin injection.
©2011 Elanco Animal Health.
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