Gizmos & Gadgets
Products for use on farms and ranches.
This month’s edition features two synchronization products and a product to foster nutritional balance for your horse.
Expanded approval for synchronization Merck Animal Health announces Fertagyl® (gonadorelin) is now approved for use with cloprostenol sodium to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for fixed-timed artificial insemination (FTAI) in beef cows. Already approved for use with Estrumate® (cloprostenol injection) to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for FTAI in lactating dairy cows, the new label indication enables beef veterinarians and producers to use the two products on-label in their breeding program.
“Merck Animal Health is committed to providing new solutions; to provide veterinarians and cattle producers with options to advance their herd health and management protocols,” says Todd Bilby, associate director of ruminant technical services. “Reproduction is the most economically important trait in beef cattle, and this two-product protocol helps simplify fertility, and will make a real impact with cattle producers.”
The effectiveness of gonadorelin for use with cloprostenol sodium to synchronize estrous cycles to allow for FTAI in beef cows was demonstrated in a field study at 10 different U.S. locations. Pregnancy rate to FTAI was significantly higher in cows treated with gonadorelin than in cows treated with control.
Fertagyl is easy to administer. The dosage for beef cows is 2 mL via intramuscular (IM) injection. Refer to the package insert for complete dosing instructions. The product is available in 10-dose and 50-dose vials. To learn more, visit https://bit.ly/0720gizmo1.
Estrous-suppression product approved Huvepharma has received FDA approval for CycleGuard® 500, a melengestrol acetate feed additive used for suppression of estrus in heifers.
Available as a Type A liquid medicated article, CycleGuard 500 is a bioequivalent product to MGA® and HeifermaX®, meaning it provides the same benefits of dosage, chemical identity, potency, quality and safety to these existing melengestrol acetate brands.
CycleGuard 500 can be used to suppress estrus in heifers intended for breeding, as well as to suppress estrus among heifers fed in confinement intended for slaughter. For feedyard heifers, melengestrol acetate is proven to increase rate of weight gain and improve feed efficiency. The product must be mixed with other feeds when fed and be fed according to label directions.
“We are excited to bring more products to the U.S. cattle industry as we continue to rapidly expand our Huvepharma portfolio,” notes Glen Wilkinson, president of Huvepharma U.S. “Huvepharma is focused on offering quality product choices and technical expertise to livestock producers and feeders to aid the industry in enhancing production and efficiency.”
Huvepharma has offered animal health products for cattle, swine and poultry in the United States since 2005. In addition to CycleGuard 500, during the past year the company has received FDA approvals for Monovet® 90 (monensin), the first available bio-equivalent monensin, and Optigrid® 45 (ractopamine HCl), as well as launched RESPIVaxTM, a new bovine respiratory disease (BRD) vaccine.
For more information, contact a Huvepharma sales representative and/or Huvepharma’s customer service team at 877-994-4883 or visit https://bit.ly/0720gizmo2.
Nutritional support for equine digestive balance For horse owners that seek nutritional support for their horse’s gut discomfort, Nutrena has added Empower® Digestive Balance supplement to its lineup. Intestinal and gastric discomfort in horses is often due to stressful situations such as rigorous training, competing, shipping, frequent changes in environment, and even drastic changes in weather. While the structure of a horse is quite large, their gastrointestinal system is rather small, sensitive and susceptible to upset.
“Horses can suffer from digestive upset, which can be demonstrated through irritable behavior, poor appetite and sometimes loose manure,” says Russell Mueller, equine product line manager with Cargill Animal Nutrition. “These challenges can be even greater in performance horses, which are exposed to more stress from travelling, performing and constantly changing environments. Empower Digestive Balance is a pelleted top-dress that brings multiple nutritional technologies into one product to support the overall health of the entire digestive tract.”
The supplement contains marine calcite, encapsulated butyric acid, zinc and proprietary yeast culture. This innovative product provides a comprehensive approach to gastric health by buffering the stomach, maintains or supports tissue integrity for better nutrient absorption, and helps balance the normal microbial environment.
This new offering from Nutrena joins the Empower product family, which includes Empower Boost and Empower Topline Balance®. All Empower products are scientifically designed for low feeding rates.
Digestive Balance is intended to be fed with any fully fortified and balanced existing diet. It is offered in 40-pound bags across the United States and is available at more than 4,000 Nutrena retailers.
To learn more about this new product offering, visit https://bit.ly/0720gizmo3.
