Effects of arrival medication with Gamithromycin on bovine respiratory disease in feedlot cattle in Italy

Abstract

A series of trials were conducted in feedlots in Italy to investigate the efficacy of gamithromycin in the prevention and treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in newly arrived cattle. Three studies were conducted on its preventive efficacy when compared to an untreated control, a long-acting oxytetracycline formulation or tulathromycin. The therapeutic responses to tulathromycin and gamithromycin were compared in the therapeutic study. Preventive treatment with gamithromycin signifi cantly reduced the morbidity due to BRD by 86%, 86% and 35% compared to the untreated control group, the oxytetracycline group and the tulathromycin group respectively. In the therapeutic trial, the number of animals that required re-treatment during the 14 days following the initial medication was significantly reduced in the gamithro mycin group, compared to the positive control group. These results suggest that the dual therapeutic and preventive action of gamithromycin provides a valuable addition to the veterinarians’ armamentarium for the medical management of BRD.