FROM next Monday beef producers will have access to a new vaccine claimed to cut bovine respiratory disease (BRD), the biggest killer of cattle in feedlots, by more than 65 per cent.
The vaccine, Bovilis MH+IBR, was launched at an industry dinner in Sydney last night by Coopers.
The new vaccine was developed at the company’s vaccine plant at Bendigo, Victoria.
Coopers said the new vaccine would provide protection against the two pathogens – Mannheima haemolytica (MH) and bovine herpes virus type 1.2b (the cause of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis or IBR) – which cause 50 to 90 per cent of the deaths and illnesses in feedlots.
They combine to cause debilitating and often fatal lung infections in feedlot cattle which are collectively known as BRD and are triggered by a combination of environmental and stress factors which weaken the animal’s immune system.
Coopers Animal Health senior brand manager, Brad Ruscoe, said two doses of Bovilis MH+IBR (at a recommended retail price of $6.30 a shot) – one three to four weeks prior to sale to feedlot and another on arrival – would slash feedlot losses from BRD and potentially boost their profits by $35 a head.
Feedlots, therefore, would be keen to reward producers for using the new product, he said.