This month’s edition of “Gizmos & Gadgets” includes a new line of respiratory vaccines, two gel starters for newborns, an antibiotic for treatment of respiratory disease, a dewormer with two active ingredients, and a compact telehandler.

New respiratory and repro vaccines

Virbac is expanding its U.S. cattle product line with four vaccines under the Bovigen™ brand name — Platinum 5, Platinum 5 L5, Platinum 3 and Platinum 3 LP. All four protect against key respiratory viruses, while Platinum 5 L5 and 3 LP add bacterial protection against leptospirosis.

Bovigen Platinum 5 is effective for weaned calves as part of preconditioning, value-added and replacement-heifer development programs, as well as mature cattle. It protects against the country’s most prevalent strains of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD), including Types 1 and 2. Additional protection includes infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus (IBR), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (PI₃) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV).

Bovigen L5 offers the same five-way respiratory protection as Bovigen Platinum 5 with the addition of bacterial protection against abortion-causing Leptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. hardjo, L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. pomona. It also provides cross-protection against L. hardjo-bovis.

For more information, https://bit.ly/3EuXn6e.

Immune, digestive support for newborns

LifeStock Animal Health introduces Calf Start, a three-in-one product designed to help newborn calves thrive in high-risk situations. This innovative solution supports calves’ health and growth during their critical first week of life.

Calf Start was created in collaboration with a nutritionist from Montana State University during three years of intensive research and development.

The product combines the three essential needs newborn calves have in the first 24 hours of life: antibodies; microbiota (in the form of probiotics); and vitamins A, D and natural E. Together, these components provide comprehensive support newborn calves need to build strength and resilience.

Calf Start is an all-natural product that comes in a ready-to-use paste and a powder that can be easily mixed with water or milk replacer.

For more information visit https://bit.ly/4aPejAs.

Novel antibiotic for respiratory diseases

Elanco Animal Health Inc. introduces Pradalex™ (pradofloxacin injection) for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and swine respiratory disease (SRD). Pradalex is the first new molecule and injectable antibiotic treatment to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in roughly two decades for the treatment of BRD and SRD.

Pradalex is a convenient single-dose, low-volume antibiotic with excellent syringeability and an industry-leading withdrawal period. Pradalex’s structural differences result in a dual targeting effect, yielding improved potency compared to similar antibiotics. The product is indicated for the treatment of BRD and kills major BRD bacteria, including Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni and Mycoplasma bovis in cattle.

Pradalex is rapidly absorbed and distributed at the injection site, reaching a high and effective therapeutic concentration in plasma within 45 minutes of administration to cattle and a high maximum therapeutic concentration in cattle lung pulmonary epithelial lining fluid within six hours.

For more information visit https://bit.ly/4aSO0t5.

Injectable dewormer combines two active ingredients

Valcor^® (doramectin and levamisole injection) is a prescription endectocide that offers broad-spectrum control of internal and external parasites with the convenience of a single injection containing two active ingredients.

Valcor is indicated for the treatment and control of internal and external parasites in beef cattle 2 months of age or older and in replacement dairy heifers less than 20 months of age. It is not for use in beef bulls intended for breeding over 1 year of age, dairy calves and veal calves.

With different mechanisms of action, both active ingredients ultimately lead to paralysis and death of the parasites. Doramectin modulates the activity of chloride ion channels in the nervous system of nematodes and arthropods to inhibit the electrical activity of nerve cells. Levamisole is a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist that continuously stimulates worm muscles. Research demonstrated that levamisole reaches peak blood concentration in the animal in less than 12 hours.

For more information visit https://bit.ly/4gvuCnk.

Compact telehandler gets upgrade

New Holland is elevating its telehandler range with the North American launch of its TH6.26 Compact Telehandler. Designed to meet diverse needs, it offers a combination of maneuverability, strength and technology.

This latest addition to the TH Series is built to excel in various environments. Its compact size and robust performance make it an indispensable tool for dairy and livestock farms, landscaping businesses and material handling operations to conduct tasks like stacking bales, loading feed, manure handling and more. The TH6.26 is also built to enhance operational efficiency in tight spaces while delivering impressive lifting capabilities.