Angus VNR: Keeping Cattle Antibiotics Effective

Farm Journal logo

A treatment for sick cattle that almost always works….suddenly almost never works? It happens when bacteria find ways to defeat the antimicrobial.

“We hear about antibiotic resistance as it relates to people and to animals and a lot of concerns about the relevance to agriculture. But it has also got potential importance in animal health. If a cow has an antibiotic resistant bacteria that's causing an infection, the cow may not get better if we treat it with antibiotics,” says Amelia Woolums, veterinarian, Mississippi State University.

Bovine respiratory disease--or BRD—is a common illness that typically responds well to antibiotics. But the last 10 years have seen an increase in resistant bacteria, although no higher mortality rates….yet.

“We do worry that if those resistant bacteria become more prominent in the environment of the cattle, in the cattle that we might buy or sell, over time, it will lead to the cattle not being able to respond properly to antibiotics, and then maybe not recovering when they get BRD,” she says.

The main bacteria that cause BRD are starting to show resistance to several classes of drugs.

Cattlemen can help head off this challenge.

“What we want to do is prevent the cattle from getting sick. We want to use antibiotics only when we really need them. I would really encourage producers to talk with their vet about how to use antibiotics. For many years, we didn't think it was a big worry, antibiotic resistance, now we're finding that it is. And work to keep the cattle healthy, give the cattle a good living space, not too crowded, not too much mud or overwhelming bad environmental challenges,” Woolums says. “Be careful with the numbers of cattle in groups. Different things that we can do to keep the cattle from ever getting sick are more important now than ever.”

When sickness is caught earlier, the animals typically need a shorter course of antibiotics.

“And when you do need to use antibiotics, use them as the label says—the right dose, the right length of time, don't stop too soon, and watch your animals carefully so that you catch them when they're sick, at the beginning,” she notes.

In the end, Woolums says, good husbandry matters.

 

Latest News

AFIA Objects to EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde
AFIA Objects to EPA’s Draft Risk Evaluation of Formaldehyde

The American Feed Industry Association says formaldehyde has been "safely used in the U.S. animal food industry for over 40 years via accurate automated equipment."

Power of Meat Reports Strong Meat Consumption, Evolving Consumer Trends
Power of Meat Reports Strong Meat Consumption, Evolving Consumer Trends

The Meat Institute and FMI-The Food Industry Association released the 19th annual Power of Meat report.

Cattle Imports from Mexico
Cattle Imports from Mexico

Mexico has become one of the major beef import sources for the U.S. as beef trade evolved from simply supplementing deficit beef production in Mexico to bilateral, product specific trade between the two countries.

Markets: Cash Cattle Markets Nearing Historic Highs
Markets: Cash Cattle Markets Nearing Historic Highs

All classes of cattle sold at higher prices for the week and most are at or near record highs. Supplies of all classes remain extremely tight.

International Genetic Solutions Debuts New Informational Resource
International Genetic Solutions Debuts New Informational Resource

International Genetic Solutions (IGS) recently unveiled a new information resource and video platform for important beef industry topics pertinent to producers’ bottom lines.

Sage_Grouse_Booming
Ranchers Urge BLM to Incorporate Latest Science in New Sage Grouse Plans

NCBA and PLC are requesting that BLM significantly extend the comment period deadlines while ranchers and other local stakeholders evaluate these lengthy proposals.