Merial Press Release - Hidden costs of cattle pneumonia
4th June 2010
Region: National
Hidden costs of cattle pneumonia
The beef industry in the UK may be underestimating the true cost of calf pneumonia, according to Merial Animal Health. The company’s veterinary adviser Fiona MacGillivray MRCVS says she fears that many farmers do not take into account the full range of costs involved, and that the disease could be costing the industry millions.
“Like so many diseases in cattle, pneumonia has an economic consequence because of the effect that it has on production,” says Fiona. “Estimates of the costs vary between £43 and £84 per affected calf1. Most people only take into account the cost of treatment, which is around 40 per cent of the overall cost. However, another 40 per cent is made up from the cost associated with lost production”.
“The cost of labour and mortality make up the rest of the costs associated with the disease. Dealing with pneumonia as quickly as possible, and ensuring that the treatment is fast-acting and effective, is even more important when you take these factors into account.”
Last year Merial Animal Health launched its antibiotic ZACTRAN® designed specifically for the treatment and prevention of pneumonia in cattle. The active ingredient in ZACTRAN®, gamithromycin, concentrates in the lungs to fight the infection. It is fast-acting, reaching maximum plasma levels after just 30 minutes. Just one injection offers long-lasting protection against pneumonia with up to 15 days activity and can be administered as a single, low volume subcutaneous injection in the neck.
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Notes to Editors:
1 Tim Potter BVetMed MRCVS, UK Vet, Vol 12 No1 January 2007
Merial Animal Health Ltd, CM19 5TG, UK. ZACTRAN® is a registered trademark of Merial Animal Health Ltd. ©Merial 2010. All rights reserved. Advice on the use of this or alternative medicines must be sought from the medicine prescriber. Legal category: POM-V (UK) or POM (ROI). Read packaging before use. ZACTRAN 150mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle contains gamithromycin 150mg/ml.
Further information can be obtained by calling the Merial Customer Support Centre on 0800 592699 (UK) or 1850 783 783 (ROI).
For more information:
Peter Crowe, Chamberlain
[email protected]
01223 884600
m: 07967 504034
Mark Debenham, Chamberlain
[email protected]
01223 884600
