AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Elizabeth Homerosky to discuss a research project that was funded by the AABP Foundation through the Competitive Research Grant program. Her purpose in conducting this research trial was to investigate if administration of meloxicam on arrival to calves would decrease their ability to respond to a viral vaccine. The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of meloxicam on vaccination response and health outcomes on a larger scale in a field setting. Calves enrolled in the study were from commercial farms in Alberta, Canada and were abruptly weaned and transported to the feedlot. Calves were randomly allotted to a control group which received a saline injection and a treatment group which received a commercial injectable meloxicam product. Antibody titers to BHV-1, BRSV, BPIV-3 and BCV were measured on arrival, day 7 and day 21. There was no statistical difference in titer response by treatment groups. Health outcomes demonstrated a numerical difference, but no statistical difference between treatment groups with four animals in the meloxicam-treated group pulled for BRD treatment. Homerosky discussed the challenges she identified in her study with the smaller treatment groups and low frequency of BRD in identifying a difference between the treatment groups, suggesting that more research is needed. The take-home message from her study demonstrated that administering meloxicam to calves on arrival concurrently with administration of a modified-live respiratory viral vaccine does not impact antibody titer response to the vaccine. We also discuss the importance of the AABP Foundation in funding clinically relevant research for cattle veterinarians to use in their practice. We challenge listeners to donate to the Foundation to continue to support our efforts in funding this research.
To donate to the AABP Foundation, visit this link. Projects that were funded by the Foundation through the Competitive Research Grants can be found on this page which includes links to publications and AABP conference presentations for completed projects.
Homerosky, Elizabeth R., Michael J. Jelinski, and Craig Dorin. "Impact of meloxicam on respiratory virus titers and health outcomes when administered concurrently with a modified live respiratory vaccine in abruptly weaned beef steers." Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research 85.2 (2021): 101-105. https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/cvma/cjvr/2021/00000085/00000002/art00003