Bayer Healthcare has formally launched a product that will be very exciting for dairy producers across the country: the product is Zelnate, the latest non-antibiotic innovation to help treat Bovine Respiratory Disease(BRD) due to Mannheimia haemolytica.
The DNA Immunostimulant is not a vaccine or an antibiotic, though it will work well as a supplement to those products. Zelnate is the first of it’s kind within the realm of pharmaceuticals for cattle, and aids in the treatment of BRD in cattle four months of age or older.
The product jumpstarts the animal’s own line of defense through a unique DNA liposome complex, which stimulates the innate immune system.
“The bottom line on the product is that we see improvements in lung lesions in the animals where it’s administered, and we see improvements in the amount of mortality that occurs when used with a vaccine or antibiotic,” said Dr. Larry Hawkins, DVM, Bayer Pharmaceuticals Technical Services Veterinarian in an interview at the 2015 World Dairy Expo, “Pneumonia lesions in cattle or pneumonia in dairy calves actually decreases milk production in the first two lactations in a dairy cow by about 1500 pounds. That’s a significant cost to producers, and if they can prevent some of that with Zelzate, then they’re that much better off.”
The product is administered through intramuscular injection and is available in 5, 10, and 50 dose package sizes. Contact your Bayer Sales Representative for more information about Zelnate, or visit their website.
Listen to my interview with Dr. Hawkins here:
Interview with Dr. Larry Hawkins, DVM, Bayer Health Care
View and download photos from the event here: 2015 World Dairy Expo Photo Album
