Comparison of tildipirosin and tulathromycin for control of bovine respiratory disease in high-risk beef heifers

The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of tildipirosin (TIP) to tulathromycin (TUL) administered at arrival to reduce morbidity in beef heifers (Charolais; n=785; age=11.1n1.9 months; average body weight=830.9 ± 78.48 lb (376.9 ± 35.6 kg)) at high risk of developing bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD morbidity was lower in the TIP group (TIP=6.8%; TUL=20.9%; P<0.01) over the feeding period. Animals in the TIP group had greater average daily gain compared to heifers in the TUL group (TIP=2.49 lb (1.13 kg); TUL=2.34 lb (1.06 kg); P<0.01). No differences were observed between groups for number and severity of lung lesions. In the present study, tildipirosin was more effective than tulathromycin in reducing BRD morbidity and improving growth performance in newly received beef heifers considered at high risk for BRD.