The following press release was issued today by the International Dairy Foods Association

Protect Investments with BRD Control

Watch cattle, conditions closely to help protect against BRD losses

NEW YORK — May 26, 2010 — Just like invest or s watch the stock market, producers should watch their cattle — each is an investment in time, lab or and inputs that needs to perf or m at its best. One of the quickest and most costly ways an animal’s perf or mance can be downgraded is by developing bovine respirat or y disease (BRD).

“Watching f or the situations that we know can result in BRD can give producers a head start in managing the disease and protecting against lost gain and profits,” says Lee Bob Harper, DVM, Pfizer Animal Health Veterinary Operations. “If you’re not on the lookout, BRD’s effects can create reduced perf or mance over an animal’s entire lifetime.”¹

The situations that can lead to BRD vary, but may include stress or s like:

Long hauls
Lack of adequate nutrition
Viral and bacterial infections
Weather changes²

Weather changes like this year’s cold winter weather and wet spring could point to BRD development in many areas, Dr. Harper notes.

“Any time there are temperature swings, we expect BRD,” he says. “Spring isn’t as much of a concern f or us as fall, but we’re really going to see the same issues in either season with the temperature swings and wet cattle.”

In addition to a variety of stress or s, BRD can result from several different bacteria — including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni.³

Ideal antibiotics should help control the disease without multiple repulls and retreats that can be a drain on time and resources, he says. A treatment that provides seven days of therapy in one dose can help keep cattle on track without added lab or investments. F or example, EXCEDE^® (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) Sterile Suspension provides seven days of therapy. Another product, DRAXXIN^® (tulathromycin) Injectable Solution, provides a full course of therapy in just one dose.

“We’ve seen benefits to treating with extended therapy products and sending cattle back to their home pen, rather than a hospital pen,” Dr. Harper says. “This way, cattle can avoid being exposed to whatever other microbes are in the sick pen — potentially causing additional illness — plus the cattle go back to a location that they’re already adjusted to, which reduces further stress.”

Studies have shown that using an extended therapy antibiotic that maintains therapeutic levels f or at least seven days results in healthier calves, as compared with therapies that only maintain therapeutic levels f or three days.⁴

“Each animal is an investment in your overall operation and its profitability,” Dr. Harper says. “Keeping an eye on both cattle and the conditions they’re faced with can help give you a head start on battling BRD — making sure you’re in control of your investments.”

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), the w or ld’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company, is a w or ld leader in discovering and developing innovative animal vaccines and prescription medicines. Pfizer Animal Health is dedicated to improving the safety, quality and productivity of the w or ld’s food supply by enhancing the health of livestock and poultry; and in helping companion animals live longer and healthier lives. F or additional inf or mation on Pfizer Animal Health’s p or tfolio of animal products, visit www.PfizerAH.com.

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Imp or tant Safety Inf or mation: EXCEDE should not be used in animals with known allergy to ceftiofur, penicillins and other cephalosp or ins (β-lactam group of antimicrobials). Do not use EXCEDE in h or ses intended f or human consumption. The use of antimicrobials in h or ses under conditions of stress may be associated with diarrhea, which may require appropriate veterinary therapy. Though safe in cattle when properly administered, inadvertent injection in an artery is possible and fatal. EXCEDE has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 13 days in cattle. Do not use in calves to be processed f or veal. F or complete details, refer to the full prescribing inf or mation.

Do not use in calves to be processed f or veal. A pre-slaughter withdrawal time has not been determined f or pre-ruminating calves. Effects on reproductive perf or mance, pregnancy and lactation have not been determined. DRAXXIN has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 18 days.

Prescribing Information

¹Irsik M. Bovine respirat or y disease associated with Mannheimia haemolytica or Pasteurella multocida. University of Fl or ida IFAS Extension. Available at: http://edis.ifas..ufl.edu/pdffiles/VM/VM11800.pdf. Accessed March 3, 2010.

²Bagley CV. Bovine respirat or y disease BCH-3505. Extension Beef Cattle Resource Committee. Available at: http://www.iowabeefcenter.org/pdfs/bch/03505.pdf. Accessed March 16, 2010.

³Confer AW. Update on bacterial pathogenesis in BRD. Anim Health Res Rev. 2009;10(2):145-148.

⁴Meyer JA, et al. Efficacy of EXCEDE followed by 3- or 7-day post-treatment intervals vs. Baytril^® followed by a 3-day post-treatment interval in a treatment of bovine respirat or y disease.. Technical Bulletin No. EXD06113, New Y or k : Pfizer Animal Health, 2006.