Comparison of florfenicol and tulathromycin for the treatment of undifferentiated fever in Alberta feedlot calves.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of florfenicol versus tulathromycin for initial treatment of undifferentiated fever in fall-placed steer calves that received metaphylactic tilmicosin on arrival at the feedlot. No significant differences (P > .10) were observed in undifferentiated fever relapses or the crude case fatality rate. Calves treated with florfenicol had a lower case fatality rate (P = .04) for bovine respiratory disease and Histophilus disease than did calves treated with tulathromycin. The net economic advantage of florfenicol over tulathromycin (Can$17.70/treated animal) was based on differences in costs for the trial drug and calf replacement owing to bovine respiratory disease and Histophilus disease case fatality.

• Authors: Joyce Van Donkersgoed, Janice Berg, Steven Hendrick
• Journal: Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine (Vet Ther) Vol. 9 Issue 4 Pg. 275-81 ( 2008) ISSN: 1528-3593 [Print] United States
• PMID: 19177332 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Disaccharides
• Heterocyclic Compounds
• florfenicol
• Thiamphenicol
• tulathromycin

Topics

• Alberta (epidemiology)
• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (economics, pharmacology)
• Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex (drug therapy, mortality)
• Cattle
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Disaccharides (economics, pharmacology)
• Heterocyclic Compounds (economics, pharmacology)
• Male
• Random Allocation
• Risk Factors
• Thiamphenicol (analogs & derivatives, economics, pharmacology)
• Treatment Outcome