Journal of Animal Science, Vol 73, Issue 5 1219-1226, Copyright © 1995 by American Society of Animal Science

CLINICAL TRIAL

Effects of arrival medication with tilmicosin phosphate on health and performance of newly received beef cattle

M. L. Galyean, S. A. Gunter and K. J. Malcolm-Callis
Clayton Livestock Research Center, Department of Animal and Range Sciences, New Mexico State University 88415-9501, USA.

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)

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