Ensuring cattle are healthy and protected against disease can be the foundation for the animals’ lifetime productivity and performance — and is especially important for economics and animal well-being.

April 22, 2016

3 Min Read
Helping clients manage disease this spring

Spring is a critical time to get cattle health started off right. Ensuring cattle are healthy and protected against disease can be the foundation for the animals’ lifetime productivity and performance — and is especially important for economics and animal well-being. Helping your clients evaluate their health protocols now may uncover opportunities to improve overall cattle/herd health and performance, while also benefiting their bottom line.

Starting with the cow

Protecting against respiratory diseases should be an essential part of your clients’ herd health plan. Considering both cows and calves needs is crucial.

“Healthy colostrum is critical for cattle health throughout their lifetime,” said Brett Terhaar, D.V.M. and Elanco technical consultant. “Using a product to protect against respiratory disease prior to calving not only protects the cow, but also has a positive effect on the antibodies in the colostrum. That will help the calf get the healthy start it needs.”

For the cow, Terhaar suggests a product such as Vira Shield® — the number one inactivated vaccine choice in the United States*. The line of Vira Shield vaccines provide safe, flexible and powerful protection against the big three respiratory and reproductive diseases — BVD, IBR and Lepto.

Protecting the calf

Early in life, calves often face many stressors, making disease prevention essential to their growth. Controlling respiratory diseases allows your clients to reduce losses associated with disease, and maximize the full genetic potential of their calves.

“Early on in a calf’s life, prevention of the most common respiratory diseases is key,” Terhaar said. “Exposure to disease can weaken their immune system, which can diminish how productive that calf is throughout its life. Titanium® 5 + PH-M is a combination product that is approved for use in cattle as young as two months of age that can help those animals fight profit-robbing diseases. For pneumonia, consider NUPLURA® PH.”

Prevention beyond respiratory disease

Depending on the region, type of cattle and other factors, additional diseases may be prevalent.

Watching out for signs of diseases like footrot, pinkeye, scours and blackleg is also an important part of managing herd health this spring. Each of these diseases, while different in how they impact cattle, can lead to profit losses; and in today’s tight market, every dollar counts,” says Terhaar.

As you work with clients to set their health protocols, Terhaar recommends looking at Elanco products such as Scour Bos®, Pinkeye Shield®, Fusogard®, and Clostri Shield® to see how they may fit based on your evaluation of their herd to ensure a successful spring. For more information, reach out to your Elanco sales representative or technical consultant.

*Based on 2015 CEESA data.

Elanco®, Clostri Shield®, Fusogard®, NUPLURA®, Pinkeye Shield®, Scour Bos®, Titanium®, Vira Shield® and the diagonal bar are all owned or licensed by Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates.

© 2016 Eli Lilly and Company, its subsidiaries or affiliates.

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