A Pilot Study of the Impact of Metaphylactic Treatment at Processing on Lung Lesions at Slaughter

The utility of metaphylactic antibiotic/anti-inflammatory treatment in prevention of cattle lung lesions was examined. Sixty-nine, single source, ranch direct, fall weaned steers were allocated to treatment or no treatment groups at feedlot arrival in February, 1999. Treatment consisted of single subcutaneous administration of NuflorTM (florfenicol, Schering-Plough Animal Health) at 18 mg/lb bodyweight and BanamineTM (flunixin meglumine, Schering-Plough Animal Health) at 1 mg/lb bodyweight. All steers were weighed, vaccinated with a modified live IBR/PI3 vaccine, implanted, and identified by ear tag. Cattle were fed for maximum gain on a corn-based diet. At harvest, after 133 days on feed, lungs were observed for lesions indicative of previous pneumonia and scored using an established system. Hot carcass weight, quality grade, and yield grade was collected on each carcass. Results indicate that while lung lesions were prevalent (43.3% of cattle affected), treatment had no effect on the prevalence of lung lesions at slaughter. In addition, lung lesions were not associated with feedlot average daily gain or quality grade. \u27This small study suggests that prevalence of lung lesions in low risk cattle will not be affected by administration of metaphylactic treatment with Nuflor/Banamine at processing