Beef Buzz News
Merck Rolling Out Innovative Products for Beef Cattle Producers
Fri, 03 Dec 2021 10:58:14 CST
Bovine Respiratory Disease is one of the most common and costly diseases fought by U.S. beef cattle producers. Affecting around 21%, or about 2.29 million cattle each year, it costs the U.S. beef cattle industry up to $900 million annually in losses due to death, reduced feed efficiency and treatment. Merck Animal Health is on the frontlines with cattle producers, fighting BRD.
Dr. Justin Welsh, executive director of Food Animal Technical Services at Merck Animal Health, told Radio Oklahoma's own KC Sheperd, about some new products available through Merck to identify early signs of BRD and treat the disease.
"We have a new product called Bovilis Nasalgen 3-PMH; it is a first-of-its-kind vaccine," Welsh said. "It is not the first intra-nasal vaccine, but we have advanced the (technology) to where now, we have the first of its kind which includes both viral and bacterial pathogens that are preventative for BRD."
The new intra-nasal vaccine is easy on cattle and effective, according to Welsh.
Thinking outside the box, Merck's Animal Health and Intelligence team has developed Whisper On Arrival, a new precision technology that identifies calves who are likely to respond to antimicrobial therapy for BRD control.
"I think this is very exciting," Welsh said. "Historically, all calves on arrival (who we would call) higher-risk cattle, received a dose of antibiotics."
Whisper On Arrival is a wand-like tool with six microphones on it that is paired to a tablet device. When placed behind the shoulder of an animal it monitors lung sound, heart sound, body temperature and body weight in about eight seconds and then notifies the user to simply "treat" or "Do Not Treat."
"It may sound counter-intuitive for a company that sells antibiotics," Welsh said. "In our initial research we found that depending on the risk level of the calf, we can reduce the use of antibiotics by 11% to 45% on arrival. In the end, that is a huge deal for (producers') bottom line."
Welsh said the whole premise around the new technology from Merck is to detect BRD before cattle are exhibiting visible symptoms while saving producers money.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear more from KC Sheperd and Justin Welsh as they talk about new products available to treat BRD from Merck Animal Health.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
Photo: The Whisper On Arrival sensor by Merck Animal Health.
Listen to KC's conversation with Dr. Welsh here.
right-click to download mp3
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Beef News
Producer Owned Beef Processing Plant to Break Ground in Early 2023 in Amarillo Fri, 12 Aug 2022 09:27:19 CDT
NCBA Chief Veterinarian Kathy Simmons talks about a New Threat to Cattle Producers, the Asian Longhorned Tick Thu, 11 Aug 2022 10:11:48 CDT
Factors to Consider When Planning for Drought with Dr. Laura Goodman Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:14:29 CDT
OSU's Dr. Laura Goodman Provides Strategy for Optimizing Forage Growth in Dry Conditions Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:07:33 CDT
OCA's Michael Kelsey says 2023 Farm Bill was Focus of NCBA Summer Business Meeting in Reno Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:33:22 CDT
OCA's Michael Kelsey says 2023 Farm Bill was the Main Focus of NCBA Summer Business Meeting in Mon, 08 Aug 2022 09:29:58 CDT
OCA's Michael Kelsey Talks Key Policy After OCA Convention Fri, 05 Aug 2022 09:20:39 CDT
Upcoming OCA Ranch Rodeo to Support Children's Miracle Network Thu, 04 Aug 2022 08:10:14 CDT
Tyler Cozzins says Inflation Environment May Be a Headwind for Beef Demand in the Future Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:00:35 CDT
Jennifer Nealson Working to Increase Effectiveness of Beef Checkoff Dollars Wed, 03 Aug 2022 05:29:27 CDT
Beef Checkoff Focusses on Increasing Brand Awareness for Beef in Second Half of 2022 Mon, 01 Aug 2022 09:58:29 CDT
NCBA's Allison Rivera Shares Cattle Industry Priority List for 2023 Farm Bill Fri, 29 Jul 2022 09:23:34 CDT
Reauthorization of LMR Remains a Top Priority for NCBA Thu, 28 Jul 2022 16:59:28 CDT
NCBA Emphasizes Importance of Risk Management for Producers in 2023 Farm Bill Wed, 27 Jul 2022 10:01:49 CDT
Light Weight Placements a Prominent Part of Latest Cattle on Feed Report Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:30:44 CDT
OSU's Derrell Peel says Tighter Cattle Numbers Going Forward are Inevitable at This Point Mon, 25 Jul 2022 09:09:47 CDT
As Supplies Tighten, Lance Zimmerman sees Beef Cattle Supply Chain Increasing to Some Degree in the Next Year Fri, 22 Jul 2022 08:07:07 CDT
Lance Zimmerman Projects Drought will Influence Cow Numbers into Next Year Thu, 21 Jul 2022 11:44:58 CDT
Research from CSU and AHA will Allow Cattle Producers using Hereford Genetics the Opportunity to be More Sustainable Wed, 20 Jul 2022 09:26:24 CDT
Colorado State University and American Hereford Association Working Together to Ensure Sustainable Food Supply Tue, 19 Jul 2022 14:02:05 CDT
Preserving the Foundation of the Ranching Enterprise Through Culling with OSU's Dave Lalman Mon, 18 Jul 2022 10:53:21 CDT
OCA's Michael Kelsey says Congressional Forums Hosted at Upcoming Convention will Showcase Critical Issues Fri, 15 Jul 2022 09:55:04 CDT
Exceptional Educational Opportunities Planned for 2022 OCA Convention and Trade Show Thu, 14 Jul 2022 09:35:37 CDT
Dr. Glenn Tonsor Projects a $300 Swing from Losses to Gains for Remainder of 2022 for Feedlots Wed, 13 Jul 2022 11:12:12 CDT
NCBA Focuses on More Opportunities for Trade Agreements in Beef Export Market Tue, 12 Jul 2022 10:08:58 CDT
NCBA's Kent Bacus says the Loss of Prime Minister Abe is a Great Loss for the World Mon, 11 Jul 2022 12:15:05 CDT
Many Moving Parts Will Influence Beef Demand for Remainder of 2022 Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:07:18 CDT
Derrell Peel Foresees a Decrease in Beef Production for Remainder of 2022 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 19:36:25 CDT
Cattlemen's Congress Reaching Out to Commercial Cattlemen in Year Three- and International Guests as Well Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:14:19 CDT
Born Out of the Pandemic- Cattlemen's Congress Getting Ready for Year Three Fri, 01 Jul 2022 10:26:41 CDT
Telling the Story of Animal Agriculture with Hannah Thompson Weeman Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:16:53 CDT
NCBA's Ethan Lane says the Price Discovery and Transparency Act Passing Committee was the Easy Part Wed, 29 Jun 2022 11:25:56 CDT
Katelyn McCullock with LMIC says Interesting Summer Ahead from a Meat Case Perspective Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:38:57 CDT
Ag Groups Argue About Harm to Animal Ag by California's Prop 12 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 11:31:46 CDT
NCBA's Ethan Lane Voices Concerns with the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2022 Fri, 24 Jun 2022 08:57:35 CDT
