Posted: June 4, 2010 at 9:31 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Take note, animal activists – most dairy producers know that happy cows are more productive, so they do everything they can to make them comfortable.
Dr. Brian Miller, professional service veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc., says that includes managing and controlling ectoparasites like mange and lice.
“Even in dairy herds where cows do not have access to grass, a well thought out program is important to controlling external parasites and keeping cows comfortable and productive,” says Miller. “Chorioptes bovis, the parasite that causes chorioptic mange in dairy cattle, lives at the base of a cow’s hair and tends to be concentrated around the tail head, escutcheon, udder and thighs. These parasites are spread by direct contact, and because of close confinement, they spread very quickly and easily within a dairy herd.”
Miller offers a few tips to help control irritating mange mites and keep your dairy herd more profitable:
• Do not abandon deworming or parasite control programs in difficult economic times. Keeping animals healthy and comfortable also keeps them productive.
• Regardless of cold or warm weather climates, implement a whole herd deworming or parasite control program in the late fall.
• Remember to pour any new animals entering the herd on arrival, including dry cows, first calf heifers and newly purchased additions as an important element in the biosecurity program.
• Pouring first lactation cows is important for protecting them in the last 10-15% of their growth and maximizing the first lactation.
Posted: May 6, 2010 at 9:02 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
As reports of internal parasite resistance to deworming treatments are on the upswing, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) is urging herd managers to test first, then treat, to avoid both the overuse and underuse of anthelmintics that can lead to a resistance problem.
Overuse is the result of producers deworming too often, and underuse occurs when too little product is administered, according to Dr. Mac Devin, professional services veterinarian with Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. “In a closed population, if you treat too frequently, the remaining worms are the only ones left to breed,” he says. “Resistance increases with each generation. And if less than the labeled dose is given, again, this leaves too many survivors to pass on their resistant genes to the next generation.”
To establish a resistance management program in your herd, Devin recommends, with the help of your herd veterinarian, first conducting a fecal egg count reduction test to detect if you have parasite resistance in your herd. Two tests are taken; after the first test, treat the entire herd, then come back in 14 days to take another count and then calculate the loss. “Do this test on 20 percent of your herd, or 20 animals, whichever is less,” he says. “We want to see a 90 percent fecal egg production reduction.” Less than that would suggest a resistant population is present.
Secondly, herd managers should do a coproculture. Samples are incubated and then evaluated by a parasitologist to determine the composition of the nematode population.
With this information, cattle producers can determine the most effective program that will minimize the risk of resistance.
Posted: November 30, 2009 at 11:19 am
By Chuck
It sure sounds like Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica did very well in the cattle market with their acquisition of a portion of Ft. Dodge Animal Health. To tell us about is Tim Bettington, Director Livestock Marketing. I spoke with him at their recent media day in St. Joseph, MO. He says that although BIVI has been a long standing player in the cattle business it has only been in certain segments like the stocker and feedlot sector. But now he says they have great opportunities in the cow/calf and dairy sectors.
According to Tim, the stand out products will be Cydectin, Today and Tomorrow Mastitis Tubes and newer vaccines like Triangle. He says that although there is an integration of staff, customers will see the same look and feel of the products and deal with the same representatives they were dealing with.
You can listen to my interview with Tim below.
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: November 21, 2009 at 7:13 pm
By Chuck
With the acquisition of Ft. Dodge Animal Health products and facilities, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has really expanded their business in the dairy industry. The head of the U.S. cattle business is Colin Meyers. He spoke at the media event I attended in St. Joseph, MO.
Colin says the main thing the acquisition of Ft. Dodge Animal Health means to the company is that they now have a much broader range of products to offer. For the dairy sector they now offer Pyramid, Triangle, Presponse, Today and Tomorrow mastitis therapy, Cydectin and more.
Colin says they’ll have a larger sales and veterinarian force to reach out to customers and a bigger distribution network. They’ve spent the last three weeks bringing in new staff, distributors and others to help enable a smooth transition for customers.
You can listen to my interview with Colin below.
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Media Day Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: November 21, 2009 at 4:49 pm
By Chuck
Now that Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica has taken over a significant portion of Ft. Dodge Animal Health you may be wondering what it means to the company and dairy producer customers. To help us find out, BIVI brought a group of media representatives into St. Joseph, MO to hear the story.
I spoke with BIVI President, George Heidgerken (pictured on left), about changes in the company after the acquisition. He says the purchase is a big deal for BIVI here in the United States and globally since it essentially doubles their business including their ability to innovate in the future. While merging the two company cultures he says they will maintain the BI vision and mission and how they achieve them.
George says they can take the best of both companies, put them together and get excited about what they can achieve. They’re calling it the “new BIVI.” He says that full integration may take a couple years although they hope to achieve that sooner. The products they’ve acquired fit in perfectly with their existing portfolio and expand their cattle, dairy and pet business. The vision for the future of the company he says, is “value through innovation.”
You can listen to my interview with George below.
Here’s a group of photos from the media event last Thursday Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Media Day Photo Album
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
Posted: October 27, 2009 at 10:24 am
By Cindy Zimmerman
Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. (BIVI) has closed a deal with Pfizer to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge Animal Health business. The acquisition, which includes products in the U.S., Australia, Canada and South Africa, as well as two manufacturing and research facilities located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, significantly increases the size of Boehringer Ingelheim’s companion animal and cattle portfolios and strengthens the company’s position as a leading vaccine supplier.
“We’ll be expanding our business significantly, in fact, doubling our sales in the United States,” said BIVI president George Heidgerken. “The product assets we’ve acquired from Fort Dodge are a broad range of strong brands in the cattle vaccine business. This is part of our long term strategy to improve our product offerings and our capabilities for the U.S. cattle producers and the U.S. cattle market.”
The cattle vaccines included in the acquisition include the Triangle®, Pyramid®, and Presponse® vaccine lines. Pharmaceutical products being acquired include Cydectin® (moxidectin) for cattle and sheep as well as Polyflex® (ampicillin sodium). The dairy portfolio includes the key brands Today® and Tomorrow®.
Listen to or download an interview with George Heidgerken here:
Podcast: Play in new window
| Download
