Has anyone heard of this or done this??

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steermomintx

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I have heard of people giving their cattle terramycin before going to shows to keep them from picking up any illnesses.  Has anyone done this and does it help?? ;D ;D
 

linnettejane

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eastern ky
i do it all the time....get it in the crumbles and use it as a topdress...i start about 2 weeks before going and use it about 2 weeks when i get back....has worked great for me...
 

steermomintx

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Apr 10, 2008
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Texas
linnettejane said:
i do it all the time....get it in the crumbles and use it as a topdress...i start about 2 weeks before going and use it about 2 weeks when i get back....has worked great for me...
Where do you get it local feed store or vet??  Thank you very much for sharing the information!!!
 

Doc

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Apr 13, 2007
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Cottontown, Tennessee
steermomintx said:
linnettejane said:
i do it all the time....get it in the crumbles and use it as a topdress...i start about 2 weeks before going and use it about 2 weeks when i get back....has worked great for me...
Where do you get it local feed store or vet??  Thank you very much for sharing the information!!!

I get mine at the feed mill or at TSC.
 

Malinda

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I will be the odd person out on this one. I am not saying anyone is wrong, it's just that I have a different philosophy.

I do not give any antibiotic for any prevention. You can't kill a bug if it is not there. Plus, antibiotics are specific for treating different bacteria. If bug A is causing the symptoms and you use an antibiotic that will only kill bug B you are shooting blanks.

People and cattle build up a resistance to antibiotics if they are overused. That is why the drug companies have to keep coming up with different strains of antibiotics and there is a concern about a pandemic that there is no antibiotic to treat. Plus, I honestly feel that the amount of antibiotic put in the feed is subtherapeutic.

I make sure all cattle are vaccinated several times a year (the show cattle). If there is something I overuse it is Probios. I swear by that stuff. Every time I stress cattle I usually give some Probios to at least make me feel better.

Just my two cents worth. I know what the feed companies and the drug reps say....I don't work for any of them and it is not my job to sell their product. i just happen to have an opposite opinion.....that usually isn't worth much!

Everyone have a good evening.

Malinda



 

Malinda

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My two brain  cells separated there for a minute and I forgot to mention something.

There are antibiotics that are contraindicated to use together. If you have your calf on one antibiotic and you need to put them on another one, you may be limiting your choices or making the best antibiotic not work because of the actions of the other one.

Always check with your vet when switching or combining antibiotics.

Malinda
 

dori36

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Central Lower Michigan
steermomintx said:
I have heard of people giving their cattle terramycin before going to shows to keep them from picking up any illnesses.  Has anyone done this and does it help?? ;D ;D

You might want to read DL's earlier post on ELDU for additional info on feeding substances off label, in general.
 

TJ

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May 15, 2007
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Malinda said:
I will be the odd person out on this one. I am not saying anyone is wrong, it's just that I have a different philosophy.

I do not give any antibiotic for any prevention. You can't kill a bug if it is not there. Plus, antibiotics are specific for treating different bacteria. If bug A is causing the symptoms and you use an antibiotic that will only kill bug B you are shooting blanks.

People and cattle build up a resistance to antibiotics if they are overused. That is why the drug companies have to keep coming up with different strains of antibiotics and there is a concern about a pandemic that there is no antibiotic to treat. Plus, I honestly feel that the amount of antibiotic put in the feed is subtherapeutic.

I make sure all cattle are vaccinated several times a year (the show cattle). If there is something I overuse it is Probios. I swear by that stuff. Every time I stress cattle I usually give some Probios to at least make me feel better.

Just my two cents worth. I know what the feed companies and the drug reps say....I don't work for any of them and it is not my job to sell their product. i just happen to have an opposite opinion.....that usually isn't worth much!

Everyone have a good evening.

Malinda

I agree with Malinda 100%.  However, I prefer Fastrack over Probios, especially if the Fastrack is fresh & yes, I've tried both.  Both are probiotic products & both put good bacteria into the gut, which will help keep the animals stay healthier & stay on feed better.  Also, keep in mind that if you administer antibiotics of any kind, you will be killing both the bad bugs, as well as, the good bugs too.  So, unless you are replenishing the good bugs with a probiotic, the animals runimant functions will not be operating at their best. 

 
 

Malinda

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I happened to think of another reason to use caution in using antibiotics.

Humans and our bovine friends have normal flora. I'll call normal flora bugs that were put there to prevent sicknees/disease. They are in our noses, mouths, on our skin, etc., etc. They act as a first line of defense against bad bugs. Antibiotics do not differentiate between the normal flora and the unwanted invaders. Ever take an antibiotic and get thrush in your mouth or maybe get diarrhea? Chances are the normal flora was destroyed by the antibiotic and that allowed the unwanted invaders a chance.

Just be careful when using antibiotics, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.

I'm not a vet!!! Your vet can give you your best advise.

Have a good day everyone,

Malinda

 

TJ

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Malinda said:
I happened to think of another reason to use caution in using antibiotics.

Humans and our bovine friends have normal flora. I'll call normal flora bugs that were put there to prevent sicknees/disease. They are in our noses, mouths, on our skin, etc., etc. They act as a first line of defense against bad bugs. Antibiotics do not differentiate between the normal flora and the unwanted invaders. Ever take an antibiotic and get thrush in your mouth or maybe get diarrhea? Chances are the normal flora was destroyed by the antibiotic and that allowed the unwanted invaders a chance.

Just be careful when using antibiotics, you could be shooting yourself in the foot.

I'm not a vet!!! Your vet can give you your best advise.

Have a good day everyone,

Malinda

Once again, I agree 100% with Malinda.  Some real good points made in both of her posts!   
 

DL

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Good am all - the label for terramycin crumbles (which as most of you know is a tetracycline product) does include prevention of shipping fever (see below) and there certainly is evidence that "pre treatment" of calves (aka metaphalyxis)  prior to a stressful event (ie shipping to a feedlot) can decrease sickness and death loss. For example Micotil and Nuflor are  approved for metaphalyxis.

I think we overuse antibiotics in human and animal medicine and we just need to think about what we are treating - not all coughing is pneumonia - a bright alert calf with a cough in dry weather and no elevation in temperature probably doesn't have pneumonia. A baby calf with diarrhea may need antibiotics but more than likely needs fluids and electrolytes. Drugs are not always the answer  :eek: :eek: but they certainly have a place

I am with Malinda and TJ here - I don't use antibiotics as a preventative - low stress handling, vaccinate, deworm, vitamins and minerals (Crystalyx Brigade) and lots of forage keeps the bad bugs at bay! have a great day all


Label for TM4 Crumbles (Terramycin crumbles)
CATTLE: For increased rate of weight gain and improved feed efficiency in calves up to 250 lb; For increased rate of weight gain and improved feed efficiency in calves weighing 250 to 400 lb; For increased rate of weight gain and improved feed efficiency and reduction of liver condemnation due to liver abscesses in growing cattle over 400 lb; For the treatment of bacterial enteritis caused by Escherichia coli susceptible to oxytetracycline in calves up to 250 lb.; For the prevention and treatment of the early stages of shipping fever complex; For treatment of bacterial enteritis caused by Escherichia coli and bacterial pneumonia (shipping fever complex) caused by Pasteurella multocida susceptible to oxytetracycline.
SHEEP: For treatment of bacterial enteritis caused by Escherichia coli and bacterial pneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida susceptible to oxytetracycline
 

linnettejane

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eastern ky
http://www.beeflinks.com/Manual/2180017.pdf

dl beat me to posting the label...the link above is a copy of a label with feeding directions....this label is for 4g....i use the 2g version and a different brand, but it says basically the same thing as the link, my sack wouldnt fit on my scanner... :)....since using this my calves have not gotten sick and do not go off their feed during hauling .....but this is just my personal experience....everyone has their reasons for doing what they do, and i respect differing opinions....my reasons for using it is the improved feed efficiency and the prevention of shipping fever....a few years ago i brought home some calves from a show where they had picked up something (cough, snotty nose) and it ended up going thru my whole barn, horses included(and i DO keep a very clean barn, vaccinate, mineral, and worm religiously)....i was over a month and hundreds of dollars trying to get everyone well....the $13 for the cost of a sack of crumbles for me is...well....priceless....
 

fluffer

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Springfield, Ohio
I never treated my cattle with anything when I showed them and I never had a bit of trouble.  I just made sure that the cattle were vaccinated, dewormed, etc.  And one year I was tired directly (head to head) across a gate from a show heifer that was sick.  They were "big time " people too not local jokals, anyways my cattle never came down with anything.  I can tell you I have been to a couple of shows where they provide a huge water tank for everyone to use, I would pass on that.  Along with that, if I have a bunch of cattle I was showing I would take my own little tub to water in on the way out to tie outs, I would always make sure it was emptied immediatly after we were done cause other people would water their cattle out of it.  never let your cattle drink after someone elses cattle.

Fluffer
 

Malinda

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Feb 16, 2007
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DL,

Thanks for straightening me out on the 'pre treatmaent'.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing!

Malinda
 
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