Effects of a Tylosin Tartrate Pellet Added to Cattle Growth Implants on the Incidence of Implant Site Abscesses

Abstract

The antibacterial effects of tylosin tartrate, added to a cattle growth implant, were evaluated in terms of prevention of implant site abscess formation. An implant site abscess induction model was developed to create implant site abscesses reliably in test animals. This model was then used to test the ability of tylosin tartrate, added as a separate compressed pellet to Component® brand implants (Ivy Animal Health, Overland Park, KS), to reduce implant site abscess incidence in animals expected to develop an ear abscess. Abscesses were induced in all cattle at implanting (d 0). Implant sites were observed on d 6, 10, 16, 21, 28, and 35 post-implantation to determine the presence and severity of an abscess. Three steer implant formulations and two heifer implant formulations, each with and without the tylosin tartrate pellet, were tested. The overall implant site abscess rate was 94.1% in animals that did not receive a tylosin tartrate pellet and 4.2% in animals that received a tylosin tartrate pellet. For each implant at each implant site observation, abscess rate was significantly less (P<0.002) in steers or heifers treated with the tylosin tartrate pellet. Results show that a significantly lesser percentage of ear implant site abscesses are induced if a tylosin tartrate pellet is added to the implant.