Efficacy of Corticosteroids as Supportive Therapy for Bronchial Pnuemonia in Yearling Feedlot Cattle

Respiratory diseases cause more fatalities to feedlot cattle than all other diseases combined (1). Conventional treatment for bacterial pneumonias usually consists of antibiotics and/or sulfonamides. Rationale for supportive therapy in the treatment of pneumonia lacks scientific basis and proof. One of the most controversial drugs for supportive therapy are corticosteroids. The purpose of this paper is to report on the efficacy of dexamethasone,a a potent synthetic anti-inflammatory corticosteroid when used with antibiotics and sulfonamides in Shipping Fever pneumonia of yearling feedlot cattle.