Innovation in Cattle Health

ARS researchers identified methods to reduce antibiotic use in livestock, potentially saving the U.S. beef industry between $50M and $100M per year and reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance in cattle production settings. Metaphylaxis is the process of treating a group of animals with an antibiotic that shows no signs of disease but have been exposed to an infectious disease. This intervention is often used under veterinary directions to protect cattle with a higher risk of disease due to exposure to illness. Metaphylaxis is used in cattle at entry to the feedlot and can help prevent widespread disease outbreaks.

ARS scientists in Lubbock, TX, worked with university partners to evaluate the effects of administering a metaphylaxis dose randomly to either 100%, 66%, 33%, or 0% of high-risk beef cattle groups as they entered the feedlot. The results showed that treating the entire group or only two thirds of the cattle in a group at entry reduced illnesses by 61% in the first 35 days. This study shows the effectiveness of metaphylactic antibiotic intervention on as few as two-thirds of a group, thereby reducing antibiotic use by one-third which saves money, decreases risk of antimicrobial resistance, and maintains cattle health.