The use of Baypamun N in crowding-associated infectious respiratory disease: efficacy of Baypamun N (freeze dried product) in 2-week-old veal calves.

The efficacy of an immunomodulator, Baypamun N, was tested in 10-20-day-old veal calves from different farms, which were exposed to stress by transport and commingling (crowding). Verum and placebo animals (n = 50, each group) received three intramuscular injections of the investigational products (days 0, 2, 4) starting the day of arrival on the farm. Data from 49 calves in each group could be used for statistical evaluation. The incidence of acute bovine respiratory disease was anticipated to be high during the first 2 weeks after arrival on farm based on experience from other years. The clinical scores in the Baypamun N group were significantly reduced by 52.7% (P < 0.001) compared to the placebo group. The number of antibiotic treatments was significantly reduced by 53.8% (P < 0.001) in the Baypamun N group. Of the calves treated with Baypamun N, 51.02% remained untreated with antibiotics during the first 2 weeks after arrival on the farm compared with only 16.3% of the placebo treated control calves (P < 0.001).