Remote Needle-less Delivery of Ceftiofur to Cattle

This project is designed to investigate an innovative remotely delivered needle-less controlled release implant to provide antimicrobial (ceftiofur) therapy to calves with bovine respiratory disease complex. Bovine respiratory disease complex is the most economically important (an economic impact of $624 million in 1992) infectious disease of calves in North American feedlots. Although antimicrobials are available they are only available in the traditional needle and syringe format. Administration via the needle and syringe format requires extensive effort and significant time and animals with marginal symptoms may not be treated promptly. Further, administration imposes stress on an animal already in a precarious condition. Data already collected demonstrate that the needle-less delivery system does not evoke stress (as measured by cortisol response to administration) on animals. Additional data demonstrate that one needle-less controlled release ceftiofur implant may be efficacious for three days. The objectives are to determine efficacy of the needle-less controlled release ceftiofur implant in calves with bovine respiratory disease complex and relate response to blood ceftiofur concentrations. Both studies will include four groups: 1-ceftiofur injected for three days, ceftiofur needle-less implants (2-three daily administrations, 3-two administrations [day 1 and 3], and 4-one administration).