2010 Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale - (part 4): Treating BRD

Several consignors and a few people who didn't have cattle at the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale took advantage of the Beef Forum Tuesday after the Kick-Off Breakfast.

The forum, presented by Geoff Gates and Technical Services Veterinarian Dr. Eric Moore of Intervet Schering-Plough Animal Health, was on the latest innovations in Bovine Respiratory Disease.

Gates and Moore spoke about Intervet's two newest drugs for treating the disease, including Nuflor Gold and Resflor Gold.

"We all want to see the calves get better," Gate said. "It's pretty powerful stuff and you can see the difference one dose makes (from watching the video)."

Moore said antibiotics alone are not enough cure the disease.

"In essence, we're controlling the inflammation (with Resflor Gold)," Moore said. "It's a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory like Advil or Ibuprofen combined with an antibiotic to dampen the effect of the disease."

Cattlemen face a costly battle with the disease, which costs the industry about $1 billion a year in losses and is the No. 1 cattle disease the nation, Moore said.

Merlin Peets of Orland has already sold his bulls this year, but he still came to the beef forum.

"It was pretty good and very informative, but they're usually one of the better ones," Peets said.

Peets said he likes how presenters introduce new medicines without tearing down the reputation of other products.

"It's like cars," Peets said. "They keep working on them to improve them. I'm really concerned about results as much as anything else and what are the differences (between varieties)."

Nick Cozzitor works with several ranchers, including CB Westside Angus out of Gustine and Triangle T in Chowchilla.

"Nuflor is a good drug," Cozzitor said. "They've just made it easier to use. In the long run that makes it better. When you're doctoring you want to be able to do it and get it done."

Gary Ford of Sunbright Angus Ranch of Red Bluff didn't attend the workshop as he has attended several on the topic before, but he said it was beneficial for the consignors and others involved in the cattle business.

"There are so many outside influences affecting the cattle industry," Ford said. "Anytime you can pick up extra knowledge on information for the health of your animals, you should. You want to be well-informed on any animal you raise."

Ford and his wife Patsy brought six range ready and one halter ready bull to the sale. The Fords said they hope to have a repeat of last year, when they won the Champion Range Ready Bull.

Frank Lima of Stardust Farms out of Oak Run said he found the forum to be helpful and informative.

"Anytime you get knowledge it's great," Lima said. "As seed stock growers, it's our responsibility to know more than the commercial cattlemen because they're relying on us to provide tomorrow's genetics today to stay competitive in the market."

More information is available at the Intervet booth at the Trade Show.

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Staff Writer Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115, or at jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com

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