04 March 2024

This article discusses the significant health threats to Australian beef and dairy cattle, including nutritional imbalances, infectious diseases, and parasites, which impact growth, fertility, and overall productivity. Virbac's Target Beef and Target Dairy programs aim to address these issues through integrated solutions offering comprehensive protection with a focus on improving health, productivity, and return on investment.

Nutritional imbalances, infectious diseases and parasites are the key animal health threats affecting the health and productivity of Australian beef and dairy cattle. Cattle farmers want preventative programs that effectively protect health and productivity, are convenient to implement and deliver a sound return on investment. Virbac’s Target Beef and Target Dairy programs were developed to meet these expectations. Let’s examine the critical animal health threats to Australian cattle and available solutions. 

KEY POINTS

• Nutritional imbalances will directly lead to suboptimal growth and fertility.
• Multimin^® Evolution has been shown to increase productivity by improving fertility and immunity. 
• Infectious diseases can have a direct impact on productivity. Vaccine use at critical times alongside Multimin Evolution can improve the immunity of your herd.
• Parasites can lead to productivity loss by suppressing appetite or directly consuming blood or nutrients.
• Cydectin^® Platinum and Cydectin Long Acting are trusted solutions that are highly effective against hard to kill worms with persistent activity, reducing pasture contamination. 
• The Target Beef and Dairy Programs, developed by Virbac, involves the strategic concurrent use of Multimin Evolution, Websters^® vaccines, and the Cydectin drench range to address all the above threats.

The threats beef and dairy cattle face are interrelated; for example, cattle with nutritional imbalances are more prone to parasites and disease. It makes sense to deliver simultaneous and targeted solutions to these threats.

Nutrition

Nutritional imbalances are common in grazing livestock and can include suboptimal levels of energy, protein, macrominerals (e.g. calcium, magnesium, phosphorus), trace minerals (e.g. zinc, copper, selenium, manganese) and or vitamins (e.g. A, D, E, and B12).  Nutritional imbalances will lead to suboptimal growth and fertility because cattle lack the ‘building blocks’ to grow and reproduce. Nutritional imbalances will also increase the risk of cattle being more prone to infectious diseases and parasites.

Multimin Evolution is a unique trace mineral injection for cattle containing zinc, copper, selenium, and manganese, and it has been shown to increase productivity by improving fertility and immunity. ^1-20

Infectious Diseases

Infectious disease involves a wide range of germs that can cause scours, pneumonia, lameness, abortions and even death. Cattle are more likely to succumb to these illnesses when exposed to stressful environmental and management conditions (e.g. poor nutrition, transport, drought, flood, high stocking rate, heat stress) and under periods of increased metabolic demands (e.g. weaning, joining and calving).²¹  

Infectious diseases can directly impact productivity due to sickness or death.  Productivity is also lost because cattle exposed to germs or infections are forced to use nutrients to support their immune response rather than for growth and fertility. In this way, infectious diseases can significantly and indirectly impact productivity. Clostridial diseases (e.g. tetanus, pulpy kidney, botulism, black leg and black disease) occur too rapidly for cattle to protect themselves, and vaccination is essential.²²  

Websters^® 5 in 1 B12, Websters ^® 7 in 1, and SingVac^® are trusted solutions to prevent economic losses due to infectious diseases from clostridial germs and leptospirosis. 

Parasites

Parasites are found inside (e.g. worms, fluke) and on the skin of cattle (e.g. ticks, lice and flies). Young and adult cattle with infectious diseases and/or nutritional imbalances are more prone to parasites. Parasites directly lead to productivity losses by suppressing appetite and taking blood or nutrients, which can lead to nutrient imbalances. Importantly, they also affect productivity because uncontrolled parasite burdens force cattle to use their immune system against the parasites at a loss to potential growth and productivity. Unfortunately, many parasites of cattle are difficult to control due to chemical resistance and constant re-exposure to new parasite burdens from the paddock.^23,24  

Cydectin Platinum, a dual active combination drench and Cydectin Long Acting, a high concentration injection, are trusted solutions, highly effective against resistant worms with persistent activity reducing pasture contamination.

Target Beef and Target Dairy - Key Programs to Improve Productivity 

Nutritional imbalances, infectious diseases, and parasites are interconnected threats to the health and productivity of cattle.  Therefore, it is unsurprising that the best preventative animal health programs simultaneously address all these critical threats.  

The Target Programs, developed by Virbac, include the concurrent use of Multimin Evolution, Websters vaccines and the Cydectin drench range.  For example, young cattle treatments in southern dairy and beef would consist of:

• Multimin Evolution
• Websters 7 in 1 
• Cydectin Platinum or Cydectin Long Acting 

Websters 5 in 1 B12 is ideal for purchased steers or as a booster before high-risk periods.  Singvac is added to programs where botulism is a risk. Using Cydectin Long Acting to beat the spring rise is critical in cattle tick regions. Multimin Evolution, Websters 7 in 1 and Cydectin Platinum are ideal pre-calving treatments for beef or dairy cows.  All these products can also be used in lactating cows^✝ with Cydectin Platinum recently approved with a Nil Milk withholding period. 

Multimin Evolution optimises immunity & fertility. Multimin has been shown to improve first-cycle conception rates by up to 19.4 %, increase pregnancy rates by up to 12% in cows ^11-16, and improve sperm quality in bulls. ^17-20  

Websters vaccines fast-track protection against infectious diseases the immune system cannot protect against fast enough. Producers can choose Websters 7 in 1 for breeders and Websters 5 in 1 B12 for non-breeding stock.  When Multimin Evolution is given on the same day as a vaccine, cattle can develop enhanced protection against the diseases covered by the vaccine and improve their general health to help fight off infections. ^1,5-10 
 

Cydectin Platinum ensures 99-100% removal of worms and prevents pasture contamination for up to 35 days. ^25,26   Cydectin Long Acting can provide season-long protection against key worms of Ostertagia (112 days) and Barbers Pole Worm (120 days), and at least 65 days of prevention of cattle tick eggs, breaking the cattle tick life cycle and keeping the pastures cleaner for longer.²⁷  These treatments allow the immune system to have a ‘break from fighting parasites, and cattle can focus on growing and staying healthy and fertile. Producers can choose between these treatments based on preferred ESI and application methods.

An effective drench, such as Cydectin Platinum, has been shown to increase productivity (weight gain) compared to single active drenches such as Dectomax.  In a trial involving 345 weaners over 63 days, Cydectin Platinum-treated cattle grew an additional 8kg compared to Dectomax-treated cattle.²⁶

It makes sense to give these animal health treatments concurrently on the same day, offering the following benefits:

• Reduced mustering - allowing more time for grazing for growth, saving labour costs and improving welfare
• Additive effect by optimising protection against infectious disease, parasites and nutritional imbalance all at once. 
• It results in healthier animals that grow better 

Many farmers ask, ‘Can I administer a drench and vaccine on the same day?’.  While different products should not be mixed before administration, all products included in the Target Beef and Target Dairy programs can be given simultaneously*.  Administering Multimin Evolution, a drench, and a vaccine on the same day provides the ultimate holistic approach to animal health, leading to more productive animals.

*Good injection practice recommends that multiple injections be given on opposite sides of the neck or at least one hand width apart. Multimin Evolution can be administered concurrently with other animal health products. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian. DO NOT MIX products with Multimin Evolution in the same syringe prior to administration. Do not use it concurrently with drenches, boluses, or other animal health products containing Se or Cu.

References

1. Palomares, R. et al. (2016). Effects of injectable trace minerals on humoral and cell-mediated

immune responses to Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus, Bovine Herpes Virus 1 and Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus following administration of a modified-live virus vaccine in dairy calves. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol., 178:88-98. 

2. Bates A, et al. (2019). Reduction in morbidity and mortality of dairy calves from an injectable trace mineral supplement. Vet Rec. 184(22):680*.
3. Bates, A., et al. (2020). Effect of an injectable trace mineral supplement on the immune response of dairy calves. Res. Vet. Sci., 130, 1-10*. 
4. Berry et al. (2000). Efficacy of Multimin in Improving Performance and Health in Receiving Cattle. Oklahoma State University Animal Science Report, 980:61-64. 
5. Hoyos-Jaramillo, A. ,et al. (2022). Clinical status and endoscopy of the upper respiratory tract of dairy calves infected with Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 and Bovine herpes virus 1 after vaccination and trace minerals injection. Research in Veterinary Science, 152, 582-595.
6. Arthington, J. D., & Havenga, L. J. (2012). Effect of injectable trace minerals on beef calves the humoral immune response to multivalent vaccine administration. J. Anim. Sci., 90(6), 1966-1971. 
7. Ball, M. (2016). Trace mineral injection enhances antibody response to botulism vaccination. AVA Proceedings, Adelaide*. 
8. Bittar, J. H. et al. (2020). Immune response and the onset of protection from Bovine viral diarrhea virus 2 infection induced by modified-live virus vaccination concurrent with injectable trace minerals administration in newly received beef calves. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol, 110055. 
9. Bittar, J. H. J. et al. (2018). Effects of injectable trace minerals administered concurrently with a modified live virus vaccine on long-term protection against bovine viral diarrhea virus acute infection in dairy calves. Res. Vet. Sci., 119, 250-258. 
10. Bittar, J. H. et al. (2018). Effects of injectable trace minerals on the immune response to Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida following vaccination of dairy calves with a commercial attenuated-live bacterin vaccine. Prof. Anim. Sci., 34(1), 59-66.
12. Mundell, L. et al. (2012). Effects of prepartum and postpartum bolus injections of trace minerals on the performance of beef cows and calves grazing native range, Prof. Anim. Sci., 28:82- 88. 
13. Virbac (2015) Trial protocol 578/15*. 
14. Virbac (2018) Trial protocol 594/18*
15. Sales, J. et al. (2011). Effect of injectable copper, selenium, zinc and manganese on the pregnancy rate of crossbred heifers (Bos indicus x Bos taurus) synchronised for timed embryo transfer. Livest. Sci., 142:59-62. 
16. Hawkins D. (2007). The effect of injectable trace elements (Multimin®) on health and reproduction parameters in NZ dairy herds, NZ Dairy Cattle Veterinarians Newsletter, 24(3):12-16*. 
17. Mitchell. K. et al. (2008). Injectable trace elements increase reproduction efficiency in dairy cows, in Trace Elements in Animal Production Systems, 296-299*. 
18. Durel et al. (2016) Proc. 29th WBC, Dublin, Ireland, 3-8 July 2016*. 
19. Preedy et al. (2018) Prof. Anim. Sci., 34(1), 1-9. 
20. Sullivan et al. (2018) Transl. Anim. Sci., Volume 2, Issue suppl_1, S189–S192. 
21. Virbac (2022) 621-21 Data on file. 
22. Carroll, J. A., & Forsberg, N. E. (2007). Influence of stress and nutrition on cattle immunity. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 23(1), 105-149.

22.Uzal, F. A., Songer, J. G., Prescott, J. F., & Popoff, M. R. (Eds.). (2016). Clostridial diseases of animals. John Wiley & Sons.

23. Kotze, A. C., & Hunt, P. W. (2023). The current status and outlook for insecticide, acaricide and anthelmintic resistances across the Australian ruminant livestock industries: assessing the threat these resistances pose to the livestock sector. Australian Veterinary Journal, 101(9), 321-333.

24 The Australian Society for Parasitology (2014) Australasian Animal Parasites Inside Out. E-Textbook.

25. Refer to registered label, Cydectin Platinum APVMA No. 88072
26. Ball & Gibbison (2021) Resistance patterns of Avermectins and Milbemycins in nematodes of Australian cattle, Australian Cattle Veterinarians Journal, Vol 100: 20-25.
27. Refer to Cydectin Long Acting for Cattle Label 60116

The benefits outlined in the above scientific studies may not necessarily be registered label claims. *The Multimin® formulation in this study contained lower levels of minerals compared to Multimin® Evolution.

Multimin® Cydectin®, Websters®, Singvac®  are registered trademarks of Virbac.

†Except for Cydectin Long Acting injection. Do not use Cydectin Long Acting Injection in lactating cows or within 80 days of calving where milk or milk products may be used for human consumption.

The information provided in this article is intended as a guide only. Information contained in this article has been provided by the manufacturer/ You should not rely on the information in this article, and it should not be considered advice. You should seek professional advice regarding relevant factors specific to your situation. This article does not take into account variable conditions that may impact performance. Always read and follow label directions before using any product in this article. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Nutrien Ag Solutions Limited and its related associated entities will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by any person arising out of any reliance on any information contained in this article.