June 3, 2010
Canadian study shows cost-effectiveness of RESFLOR® in feedlot cattle treated for undifferentiated fever related to BRD
Press Release
In a Canadian field trial in feedlot cattle recently published in Veterinary Therapeutics, it was demonstrated that treatment of undifferentiated fever related to Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) with RESFLOR® (florfenicol plus flunixin meglumine) was associated with a lower mortality, resulting in higher economic benefit as compared to treatment with tulathromycin or ceftiofur.
The main finding of this blinded research study was a statistically significantly decreased overall mortality rate in the RESFLOR group (2%) as compared to animals treated with tulathromycin (10%) or ceftiofur (20%), despite a higher initial fever relapse rate with RESFLOR (14%) as compared to tulathromycin (4 %).
The lower overall mortality rate resulted in a statistically significant net economic advantage for RESFLOR of CAD46 (US$44) per treated animal versus tulathromycin and CAD108 (US$103) per treated animal versus ceftiofur. There were no marked differences between the three groups with respect to other morbidity factors, cause-specific mortality rates, feedlot performance, carcass grading or slaughter lung scoring data.
The study was funded by
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health and recently published by Dr. Sherry Hannon and colleagues in Veterinary Therapeutics. The study was performed in 150 beef steer calves, who had received long-acting oxytetracycline on arrival and were vaccinated against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus, parainfluenza-3, bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine respiratory syncytial virus at an average of 63 days after enrollment. Only animals presenting with undifferentiated fever (rectal temperature >40.5°C/105.0°F) and presence of subjective clinical signs of illness indicative of BRD (depression, lethargy, nasal discharge, cough, absence of abnormal clinical signs related to other organ systems than the respiratory system) were included in the trial. The animals were randomised to a single injection with standard doses of either RESFLOR (florfenicol plus flunixin meglumine), tulathromycin or ceftiofur and were monitored until slaughter.
Undifferentiated fever is a clinical syndrome that is also often referred to as Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) or ''shipping fever'' (as it is often diagnosed in recently transported cattle trying to cope with the stress of a new environment). It is one of the most common animal health concerns in calves entering feedlots.
Although the specific approach may vary depending on the predicted risk for development of the syndrome, it typically includes a combination of vaccination, responsible treatment and animal management at or soon after feedlot arrival.
RESFLOR® is a new dual-acting curative preparation approved for the treatment of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) in cattle and consists of a combination of the anti-infective drug florfenicol and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug flunixin meglumine. Florfenicol exerts bactericidal activity against economically important BRD pathogens including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni, whereas flunixin meglumine provides potent antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activity which persists after flunixin meglumine plasma concentrations have declined. RESFLOR Solution for Injection is available in 50 mL, 100 mL and 250 mL presentations to be administered as a single, subcutaneous treatment of 2 mL/15 kg. RESFLOR was launched in 2006 and is available in Europe and Canada (a similar product is available in the USA under the brand name RESFLOR GOLD®).
