Technical Bulletin
No. CD 0352
Results of 15 research studies involving more than 1000 cattle demonstrate that Bovatec, at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day, increased average daily gain by 11% over nonmedicated controls. This provides an extra 15 lb of liveweight gain per head per 107 days on pasture.
Bovatec is the most palatable (acceptable) feed additive of its kind for pasture cattle. Because cattle adapt quickly and easily to Bovatec, from day one they can consume a nutrient supplement containing Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day. Bovatec does not cause cattle to back-off the supplement.
Bovatec is the safest feed additive of its kind for pasture cattle. Dramatic changes in weather or pasture conditions may cause individual cattle in the herd to over consume supplement. Results of trials show that at levels up to 5 times greater than the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day, Bovatec did not adversely affect health and performance of pasture cattle.
In addition, Bovatec has a wide margin of safety if accidentally consumed by horses. Bovatec was shown to be 7 to 10 times less toxic to horses than Rumensin® (monensin) based on oral LD50 values. However, Bovatec should not be fed to horses.
Through its unique safety and ease of adaptation, Bovatec has improved the standards of safety and palatability for a feed additive of its kind in pasture cattle. Bovatec Improves Cost-Effectiveness of Pasture Supplementation
Grazing stocker and feeder cattle on pasture enables the
rancher to "market" their forage through the animals for
better economic returns.
Pastures may not always provide adequate amounts of nutrients for cattle during all seasons of the year. For example, dormant pasture in late fall and winter, corn stalks in late summer and early fall, and mature perennial pasture in the summer may be nutritionally inadequate.
Nutritional supplements are fed to provide the protein, energy, vitamins and minerals that pasture alone may not supply. Nutrient supplementation helps prevent deficiencies and leads to improved growth and health.
Pasture supplements generally provide balanced nutrition required for normal weight gains of cattle. Adding Bovatec to the supplement improves weight gain over supplement alone. It accomplishes this by improving the efficiency of energy utilization in the rumen.
Consequently, Bovatec improves the cost effectiveness of pasture supplementation. The benefits to the rancher are enhanced cattle nutrition and improved growth leading to more beef per acre and a better bottom line. Pasture Trials
Fifteen trials involving over 1000 cattle were conducted in
12 states to determine the effect of Bovatec at different
levels on weight gain of cattle. Various Bovatec levels
tested included 0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/head/day.
Table 1 shows the results of each trial, and Figure 1 is a pooled summary of the results.
Each trial was performed in accordance with pre-clearance guidelines for drug feed additives established by the Food and Drug Administration. Bovatec or non-medicated grain supplements were fed once daily in bunks located in the pastures. During each trial, cattle were rotated from pasture-to-pasture to reduce pasture effects on the trial results.
Appendix 1 presents information about each of the 15 individual trials. This includes location, days on trial, number of pastures per treatment group, number of cattle per pasture, type and condition of pasture, and kind and quantity of supplement fed daily. The cattle weighed an average of 569 lb initially and were on test for an average of 107 days.
As shown in Figure 1, Bovatec at 100, 200 and 300 mg/head/day significantly increased (P < 0.01) average daily gain of pasture cattle over the nonmedicated controls. At 200 mg/head/day, Bovatec produced an 11.1% increase in average daily gain. This improvement provides an additional 15 lb of gain per head per 107 days on pasture.
At the 300 mg/head/day level, the improvement in weight gain was not significantly increased over that at 200 mg/head/day. Consequently, the highest approved level is 300 mg/head/day; however, the recommended dose for pasture cattle is 200 mg/head/day.
The lowest approved level is 60 mg/head/day because it is the lowest level that would have significantly improved weight gain (P < 0.05) over the controls. It was extrapolated from the growth responses to Bovatec at 0, 50 and 100 mg/head/day.
During the first 28 days, the full Bovatec and nonmedicated supplements were consumed. The results show that Bovatec improved weight gain over the nonmedicated controls during this period (Figure 2). Feeding 100 mg of Bovatec/head/day during the first 28 days improved weight gain by 4.1%; whereas 200 mg of Bovatec/head/ day improved weight gain by 8.9%.
These data show that pasture cattle adapt quickly and easily to Bovatec. From day one they can consume a supplement containing Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day. No step-up program is required. Bovatec is the most palatable feed additive of its kind for pasture cattle.
Data from the entire 114-day grazing period suggest that Bovatec improvements in weight gain over controls were higher than during the first 28 days. Feeding Bovatec at 100 mg/head/day resulted in a 4.2% improvement in growth rate compared with nonmedicated cattle. However, Bovatec fed at 200 mg/head/day improved growth rate by 11.9% compared with nonmedicated cattle. Clearly, feeding Bovatec at the recommended dose (200 mg/head/day) results in a greater improvement in growth rate and return on investment.
The results show that Bovatec improved weight gain of cattle on bromegrass; fescue, clover and/or mixed pastures; alfalfa and orchardgrass; and stargrass over the nonmedicated controls.
An additional three trials were conducted with Bovatec on cool season wheat, rye and/or oat pastures. Bovatec at 200 mg/head/day increased average daily gain by 11.1 % over the nonmedicated controls (Table 3).
Feeding a good quality protein supplement during the months when pasture may be protein-deficient will supply the amounts that cattle require for normal weight gains.
Bovatec improves the cost-effectiveness of pasture supplementation. Adding Bovatec to the supplement improves weight gains over the supplement and pasture alone. The pooled summary of the 15 trials, described previously, shows that Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day increased average daily gain by 0.14 lb over the nonmedicated controls. Applying this improvement to the data in Figure 3, Bovatec would increase the average daily gains of 1.10 and 2.20 lb to 1.24 and 2.34 lb, respectively.
Bovatec is the safest ionophore for pasture cattle. Results of safety trials demonstrate that feeding Bovatec at levels of up to 1000 mg/head/day for 90 or 98 days did not adversely affect health and performance of pasture cattle (Table 4).
Within the 2 safety studies, feeding Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day increased average daily gain by 31.4% over nonmedicated controls.
Breeding Cattle
Trials conducted to test the safety of Bovatec in breeding cattle on pasture are discussed as follows:
Replacement Heifers -
Bovatec was fed at 200 mg/head/day in a protein supplement to replacement heifers fed low or high energy rations on pasture in a 168-day safety trial.1 The heifers were examined twice daily for estrus activity (heat) and artificially inseminated during a 60-day breeding season.
Weight gains of the Bovatec-fed heifers were better than those of the nonmedicated controls on the low and high energy rations (Table 5).
In addition, Bovatec did not adversely affect sexual development. In the Bovatec-fed heifers fed the low energy ration, first heat appeared in fewer days than in the controls. There were no significant differences in the number of days in which first heat appeared in the Bovatec-fed heifers and controls on the high energy ration.
Also, there were no significant differences in the pregnancy rates of the Bovatec-fed heifers and controls on the low or high energy rations.
Breeding Bulls -
Bovatec was fed at 200 mg/head/day in a supplement to breeding bulls on coastal bermuda grass hay pasture in a safety trial.2 The Bovatec-fed bulls gained weight faster and converted feed more efficiently than the nonmedicated controls (Table 6). Average daily feed intakes of the Bovatec and control bulls were not significantly different.
In addition, Bovatec did not adversely affect sexual development. Bulls fed Bovatec reached puberty sooner and their testicular volume at puberty was greater compared to the controls (determined by length × width × depth of testicle).
Horses
Horses are frequently exposed to a drug feed additive fed to pasture cattle. Bovatec has been shown to be 7 to 10 times less toxic to horses than Rumensin based on oral LD50 values (Table 7).5
Additional test results indicate that Bovatec in a concentrated premix form is not palatable to horses, minimizing the risk of accidental intake of Bovatec Premix. Horses were exposed to Bovatec premixes at concentrations of 45, 60, 80 and 227 g/lb. They did not consume any of the Bovatec premixes.
In another study, horses were offered and consumed a pelleted ration containing 113 g of Bovatec per ton. They refused to eat the unpelleted mash containing this level.
In addition, horses ate a ration providing Bovatec at 1.52 to 1.88 mg/kg (0.7 to 0.9 mg/lb) of body weight per day for 11 days and showed no toxicity signs. These Bovatec feeding rates were 7 to 9% of the oral LD50 of Bovatec in horses. These would provide a 1000-lb horse with Bovatec at levels of 700 to 900 mg/head/day which are 3.5 to 4.5 times greater than the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day for pasture cattle.
Bovatec, however, should not be fed to horses.
Bovatec® is a registered trademark of Alpharma Inc.
Rumensin® is a registered trademark of Elanco Animal Health.
Data in Alpharma research file.
Alpharma Inc. Copyright © 2002 Alpharma Inc.
One Executive Drive
Fort Lee, NJ 07024 USA
1-888-897-8657 Additional technical information is available at www.alpharma.com
No. CD 0352
Bovatec® for Pasture Cattle
Summary
Bovatec is a unique feed additive that improves the nutritional value and cost effectiveness of pasture cattle supplements. It increases average daily gain of stocker and feeder cattle on different types of pasture during any season of the year.Results of 15 research studies involving more than 1000 cattle demonstrate that Bovatec, at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day, increased average daily gain by 11% over nonmedicated controls. This provides an extra 15 lb of liveweight gain per head per 107 days on pasture.
Bovatec is the most palatable (acceptable) feed additive of its kind for pasture cattle. Because cattle adapt quickly and easily to Bovatec, from day one they can consume a nutrient supplement containing Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day. Bovatec does not cause cattle to back-off the supplement.
Bovatec is the safest feed additive of its kind for pasture cattle. Dramatic changes in weather or pasture conditions may cause individual cattle in the herd to over consume supplement. Results of trials show that at levels up to 5 times greater than the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day, Bovatec did not adversely affect health and performance of pasture cattle.
In addition, Bovatec has a wide margin of safety if accidentally consumed by horses. Bovatec was shown to be 7 to 10 times less toxic to horses than Rumensin® (monensin) based on oral LD50 values. However, Bovatec should not be fed to horses.
Through its unique safety and ease of adaptation, Bovatec has improved the standards of safety and palatability for a feed additive of its kind in pasture cattle.
Bovatec Improves Cost-Effectiveness of Pasture Supplementation
Enhanced Nutrition, More Beef Per Acre, Better Bottom Line
Grazing stocker and feeder cattle on pasture enables the
rancher to "market" their forage through the animals for
better economic returns. Pastures may not always provide adequate amounts of nutrients for cattle during all seasons of the year. For example, dormant pasture in late fall and winter, corn stalks in late summer and early fall, and mature perennial pasture in the summer may be nutritionally inadequate.
Nutritional supplements are fed to provide the protein, energy, vitamins and minerals that pasture alone may not supply. Nutrient supplementation helps prevent deficiencies and leads to improved growth and health.
Pasture supplements generally provide balanced nutrition required for normal weight gains of cattle. Adding Bovatec to the supplement improves weight gain over supplement alone. It accomplishes this by improving the efficiency of energy utilization in the rumen.
Consequently, Bovatec improves the cost effectiveness of pasture supplementation. The benefits to the rancher are enhanced cattle nutrition and improved growth leading to more beef per acre and a better bottom line.
Pasture Trials
Optimal Level
Fifteen trials involving over 1000 cattle were conducted in
12 states to determine the effect of Bovatec at different
levels on weight gain of cattle. Various Bovatec levels
tested included 0, 50, 100, 200 and 300 mg/head/day. Table 1 shows the results of each trial, and Figure 1 is a pooled summary of the results.
Each trial was performed in accordance with pre-clearance guidelines for drug feed additives established by the Food and Drug Administration. Bovatec or non-medicated grain supplements were fed once daily in bunks located in the pastures. During each trial, cattle were rotated from pasture-to-pasture to reduce pasture effects on the trial results.
Appendix 1 presents information about each of the 15 individual trials. This includes location, days on trial, number of pastures per treatment group, number of cattle per pasture, type and condition of pasture, and kind and quantity of supplement fed daily. The cattle weighed an average of 569 lb initially and were on test for an average of 107 days.
As shown in Figure 1, Bovatec at 100, 200 and 300 mg/head/day significantly increased (P < 0.01) average daily gain of pasture cattle over the nonmedicated controls. At 200 mg/head/day, Bovatec produced an 11.1% increase in average daily gain. This improvement provides an additional 15 lb of gain per head per 107 days on pasture.
At the 300 mg/head/day level, the improvement in weight gain was not significantly increased over that at 200 mg/head/day. Consequently, the highest approved level is 300 mg/head/day; however, the recommended dose for pasture cattle is 200 mg/head/day.
The lowest approved level is 60 mg/head/day because it is the lowest level that would have significantly improved weight gain (P < 0.05) over the controls. It was extrapolated from the growth responses to Bovatec at 0, 50 and 100 mg/head/day.
Adaptation
Adaptation of pasture cattle to Bovatec was determined from the results from 6 of the 15 trials in which it was fed at 100 or 200 mg/head/day during the first 28 days. The cattle included in the studies had an average initial weight of 593 lb.During the first 28 days, the full Bovatec and nonmedicated supplements were consumed. The results show that Bovatec improved weight gain over the nonmedicated controls during this period (Figure 2). Feeding 100 mg of Bovatec/head/day during the first 28 days improved weight gain by 4.1%; whereas 200 mg of Bovatec/head/ day improved weight gain by 8.9%.
These data show that pasture cattle adapt quickly and easily to Bovatec. From day one they can consume a supplement containing Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day. No step-up program is required. Bovatec is the most palatable feed additive of its kind for pasture cattle.
Data from the entire 114-day grazing period suggest that Bovatec improvements in weight gain over controls were higher than during the first 28 days. Feeding Bovatec at 100 mg/head/day resulted in a 4.2% improvement in growth rate compared with nonmedicated cattle. However, Bovatec fed at 200 mg/head/day improved growth rate by 11.9% compared with nonmedicated cattle. Clearly, feeding Bovatec at the recommended dose (200 mg/head/day) results in a greater improvement in growth rate and return on investment.
Efficacy in Different Types of Pasture and Seasons
Pasture trial data confirm that Bovatec improves weight gain of cattle on different types of pasture during any season of the year. The effects of Bovatec on average daily gain of cattle on different types of pasture are shown in Table 2. The data are from 11 of the above 15 trials in which Bovatec was fed at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day. These trials were conducted on cool and warm season grasses; 10 were initiated during April to July and one was started in December.The results show that Bovatec improved weight gain of cattle on bromegrass; fescue, clover and/or mixed pastures; alfalfa and orchardgrass; and stargrass over the nonmedicated controls.
An additional three trials were conducted with Bovatec on cool season wheat, rye and/or oat pastures. Bovatec at 200 mg/head/day increased average daily gain by 11.1 % over the nonmedicated controls (Table 3).
More Cost-Effective Pasture Supplementation
The nutrient content of lush growing spring and early summer pasture generally helps maintain normal weight gains 120 of stocker cattle. However, the nutrient content of pasture may become deficient when it matures and dries-up starting in the late summer and continuing through the fall and winter. Figure 3, for example, shows that during these months, range forage may not supply the amounts of digestible forage required by a 550-lb yearling steer for average daily gains of 1.10 and 2.20 lb.3Feeding a good quality protein supplement during the months when pasture may be protein-deficient will supply the amounts that cattle require for normal weight gains.
Bovatec improves the cost-effectiveness of pasture supplementation. Adding Bovatec to the supplement improves weight gains over the supplement and pasture alone. The pooled summary of the 15 trials, described previously, shows that Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day increased average daily gain by 0.14 lb over the nonmedicated controls. Applying this improvement to the data in Figure 3, Bovatec would increase the average daily gains of 1.10 and 2.20 lb to 1.24 and 2.34 lb, respectively.
Safety
Pasture Cattle (Stocker, Feeder and Slaughter Cattle)Bovatec is the safest ionophore for pasture cattle. Results of safety trials demonstrate that feeding Bovatec at levels of up to 1000 mg/head/day for 90 or 98 days did not adversely affect health and performance of pasture cattle (Table 4).
Within the 2 safety studies, feeding Bovatec at the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day increased average daily gain by 31.4% over nonmedicated controls.
Breeding Cattle
Trials conducted to test the safety of Bovatec in breeding cattle on pasture are discussed as follows:
Replacement Heifers -
Bovatec was fed at 200 mg/head/day in a protein supplement to replacement heifers fed low or high energy rations on pasture in a 168-day safety trial.1 The heifers were examined twice daily for estrus activity (heat) and artificially inseminated during a 60-day breeding season.
Weight gains of the Bovatec-fed heifers were better than those of the nonmedicated controls on the low and high energy rations (Table 5).
In addition, Bovatec did not adversely affect sexual development. In the Bovatec-fed heifers fed the low energy ration, first heat appeared in fewer days than in the controls. There were no significant differences in the number of days in which first heat appeared in the Bovatec-fed heifers and controls on the high energy ration.
Also, there were no significant differences in the pregnancy rates of the Bovatec-fed heifers and controls on the low or high energy rations.
Breeding Bulls -
Bovatec was fed at 200 mg/head/day in a supplement to breeding bulls on coastal bermuda grass hay pasture in a safety trial.2 The Bovatec-fed bulls gained weight faster and converted feed more efficiently than the nonmedicated controls (Table 6). Average daily feed intakes of the Bovatec and control bulls were not significantly different.
In addition, Bovatec did not adversely affect sexual development. Bulls fed Bovatec reached puberty sooner and their testicular volume at puberty was greater compared to the controls (determined by length × width × depth of testicle).
Horses
Horses are frequently exposed to a drug feed additive fed to pasture cattle. Bovatec has been shown to be 7 to 10 times less toxic to horses than Rumensin based on oral LD50 values (Table 7).5
Additional test results indicate that Bovatec in a concentrated premix form is not palatable to horses, minimizing the risk of accidental intake of Bovatec Premix. Horses were exposed to Bovatec premixes at concentrations of 45, 60, 80 and 227 g/lb. They did not consume any of the Bovatec premixes.
In another study, horses were offered and consumed a pelleted ration containing 113 g of Bovatec per ton. They refused to eat the unpelleted mash containing this level.
In addition, horses ate a ration providing Bovatec at 1.52 to 1.88 mg/kg (0.7 to 0.9 mg/lb) of body weight per day for 11 days and showed no toxicity signs. These Bovatec feeding rates were 7 to 9% of the oral LD50 of Bovatec in horses. These would provide a 1000-lb horse with Bovatec at levels of 700 to 900 mg/head/day which are 3.5 to 4.5 times greater than the recommended level of 200 mg/head/day for pasture cattle.
Bovatec, however, should not be fed to horses.
Literature Cited
- Coroh, L., and J. Riley. 1984. Effect of lasalocid on the sexual development of beef heifers. Report of Progress No. 448, 1984 Cattlemen.s Day. Kansas State Univ. Agr. Expt. Sta.
- Neuendorff, D.A., L.M. Rutter, D.R. Hardin, L. A. Peterson, J. Schenk and R. D. Rondel. 1983. The effect of lasalocid on growth and pubertial development in Brahman bulls. J Anim Sci 57, Suppl. 1:17 (Abstr.).
- Raleigh, R.J. Chapter 9. .Range cattle nutrition. in D.C. Church. 1974. Digestive Physiology and Nutrition of Ruminants. Vol. 3. Practical nutrition. p. 188.
- Anderson, M.A., G.W. Horn and R.W McNew. 1985. Effect of lasalocid on weight gain, forage intake and rumen fermentation of stocker cattle grazing winter wheat pasture. Annual Meeting Southern Section ASAS (Abstr.)
- Hanson, L.J., H.G. Eisenbeis and S.V Givens. 1981. Toxic effects of lasalocid in horses. Am J Vet Res 42:456.
Bovatec® is a registered trademark of Alpharma Inc.
Rumensin® is a registered trademark of Elanco Animal Health.
Data in Alpharma research file.
Alpharma Inc. Copyright © 2002 Alpharma Inc.
One Executive Drive
Fort Lee, NJ 07024 USA
1-888-897-8657 Additional technical information is available at www.alpharma.com
© Copyright 2006 - 2007 Alpharma Inc. all rights reserved
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