{"id":10820,"date":"2026-01-15T12:34:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T18:34:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharmgate.com\/usa\/?p=10820"},"modified":"2026-01-22T12:10:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T18:10:00","slug":"bacterial-pneumonia-delayed-not-gone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharmgate.com\/usa\/news\/bacterial-pneumonia-delayed-not-gone\/","title":{"rendered":"Bacterial Pneumonia: Delayed, Not Gone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Jeff Okones, DVM, Pharmgate Animal Health<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite advances in vaccines, nutrition and management, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains one of the most persistent and costly challenges in beef production. While the weather this fall has been off to an unseasonably mild start, producers shouldn\u2019t mistake low rates of BRD in early months for a disease-free season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBRD, or bacterial pneumonia, isn\u2019t gone; it\u2019s just delayed,\u201d says Dr. Jeff Okones, DVM, with Pharmgate Animal Health. \u201cAs calves move through sale barns and feedyards in late fall, that\u2019s when we\u2019ll see cases pick up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The combination of weaning stress, transport, commingling and fluctuating weather makes fall and winter one of the most challenging times of year for respiratory health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNearly 20 percent of cattle will face a BRD challenge in their lifetime,\u201d Okones says. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the most costly health issues we deal with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industrywide, BRD costs nearly $1 billion annually across treatment expenses, lost performance and death loss.1 With high cattle prices on the line, it is a risk producers cannot afford to ignore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Complex Challenge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

BRD, often referred to interchangeably as pneumonia or shipping fever, is not a single disease, but a complex of bacterial and viral infections that attack the respiratory system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bacterial side of the equation, or bacterial pneumonia, commonly involves Mannheimia haemolytica<\/em> and Pasteurella multocida<\/em>, with Histophilus somni, <\/em>and Mycoplasma bovis<\/em> also playing a role. These bacteria can be primary pathogens but are more often secondary, taking advantage of an immune system already stressed by viral infections or environmental factors. In most cases, the bacteria found are already living in the respiratory tract and stress on cattle can tip the balance. For example, when cattle are weaned, commingled or transported, their immune defenses weaken, which allows those commensal bacteria to flourish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe bacteria are often present in the respiratory system,\u201d Okones explains. \u201cIt\u2019s when stress weakens cattle\u2019s immunity that the bacteria can take hold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timing + Treatment = Better Outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While seasonality varies, the most dangerous window tends to be the four to six weeks following major stress events, such as weaning or relocation, which increases exposure to pathogens and suppresses immunity. Early detection can make or break treatment outcomes. Producers should watch for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Droopy ears or lowered head posture<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Lethargy or separation from the group<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Reduced appetite or failure to come to the bunk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Labored breathing or coughing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Clear to cloudy nasal discharge<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne leading indicator of illness in cattle is when they stop moving with the rest of their pen mates.\u201d Okones says. \u201cIf they\u2019re not coming to the bunk, that\u2019s your first clue something\u2019s wrong.\u201d When pneumonia is confirmed, medicated feed containing chlortetracycline, used under veterinary direction, can help control and treat bacterial pneumonia as part of a responsible herd health strategy. Products, such as Pennchlor\u00ae (Chlortetracycline) and Deracin\u2122 (Chlortetracycline) Type A medicated articles from Pharmgate are approved for this purpose under the order of a licensed veterinarian. Work with your veterinarian to determine the best approach for your operation \u2013 whether that\u2019s a complete feed or a top-dress application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Ahead, Stay Ahead with Good Management<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medicated feeds are only part of the equation. The foundation of good respiratory health is effective management and that starts long before symptoms appear. While pathogens cannot be eliminated from the environment, producers can manage the stress animals face and prepare their immune systems to respond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are top practices Okones recommends to reduce stress in calves:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Precondition calves with vaccines against key viruses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Use dewormers to control internal and external parasites<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Wean early and gradually, before transport or sale<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Introduce feed rations pre-weaning so calves learn to eat confidently on their own<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7 Provide a clean, well-ventilated environment with minimal dust, moisture and crowding<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese foundational steps are still the gold standard to manage stress,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Insights and Outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back over decades in the industry, Okones says impactful progress has come from improved vaccines, faster diagnostics and stronger awareness among producers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cForty years ago, preconditioning programs were rare and diagnostic tools like PCR didn\u2019t exist,\u201d he recalls. \u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way in understanding the disease complex and the pathogens involved. Today, producers are far more proactive about animal health and understand the return on investment in prevention.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for the future, he anticipates gradual evolution rather than revolution. Okones expects gains will continue to come from continued advances in nutrition, immunomodulation and genetics. But for now, proactive and strategic management remains an effective tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While BRD continues to challenge the industry, the fundamentals have not changed. Stress drives disease and optimal results come from understanding and minimizing stress, controlling the environment, attentive observation and timely decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll continue refining management practices, but the basics of stress reduction and early prevention will always matter most,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turn to Trusted Experts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Pharmgate Animal Health, a skilled and knowledgeable cattle team delivers more than 100 years of combined experience in medicated feed expertise and on-the-ground experience in cattle production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExperience and responsiveness matter when animal health is on the line,\u201d Okones says. \u201cWe take pride in helping producers and veterinarians find practical, science-based solutions to manage respiratory disease efficiently and responsibly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pneumonia may be delayed, but it is not going away any time soon. The best defense is preparation. By combining proven tools like chlortetracycline with smart, stress-reducing management and vigilant observation, producers can stay ahead of the disease curve and protect both animal health and profitability. Visit pharmgate.com\/usa\/find-a-rep\/ to discuss your defense strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CAUTION: Federal law restricts medicated feed containing this veterinary feed directive (VFD) drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUESTIONS \/ COMMENTS? For technical assistance or to obtain a Safety Data Sheet(s), contact Pharmgate Animal Health LLC at 1-800-380-6099 or www.pharmgate.com. To report side effects, contact Pharmgate Animal Health LLC at 1-833-531-0114. For additional information about reporting side effects for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or http:\/\/www.fda.gov\/reportanimalae<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a92026 Pharmgate Animal Health. Pennchlor\u00ae is a registered trademark and Deracin\u2122 is a trademark of Pharmgate Inc. 20156-1125<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeff Okones, DVM, Pharmgate Animal Health Despite advances in vaccines, nutrition and management, bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains one of the most persistent and costly<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"4635,8482,4504,3975,10690,8487","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[127],"product":[],"active_ingredient":[],"species_vfd":[],"indication":[],"blue_bird_label":[],"watersolutions":[],"post-category":[],"class_list":["post-10820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBacterial Pneumonia: Delayed, Not Gone - 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