Zoetis announced July 3 that dairy producers can now add its Aureomycin (chlortetracycline) to replacement heifer feed for control of bacterial pneumonia.

This expanded label provides another option against costly pneumonia for veterinarians and dairy producers, Zoetis said.

This label update, recently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, allows for this feed additive to be fed to dairy replacement heifers at a rate of 350 mg per head per day with a veterinary feed directive (VFD) from a licensed veterinarian.

“Aureomycin has been a flexible and reliable control for bacterial pneumonia [caused by Pasteurella spp. susceptible to chlortetracycline] for many years,” said Dr. Aubrey Schroeder, associate director, regulatory affairs at Zoetis. “Veterinarians and dairy producers can now use Aureomycin for this added indication in dairy replacement heifers and take advantage of a zero-day withdrawal period to help keep heifers healthy.”

Respiratory disease is one of the leading health concerns impacting dairy operations. It can reduce average daily gain of calves and heifers, which can lead to reproductive challenges, later calving ages that significantly impact profitability and decrease future milk production.

“A VFD is required to feed rations with Aureomycin, but with a valid veterinarian/client/patient relationship, this process is simple and worth that added benefit to your herd,” Schroeder said. “This update for Aureomycin has already been added to electronic VFD forms.”

Dairy producers are encouraged to contact their veterinarian for more information about Aureomycin. You also can learn more about the product here.

Do not use Aureomycin in calves to be processed for veal.

Caution: Federal law restricts medicated feed containing this veterinary feed directive (VFD) drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.

Source: Zoetis, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.