[
NEW ’N’ NOTED
ELCANCO ANIMAL HEALTH
ANNOUNCES HEALTH CANADA
APPROVAL OF IMRESTOR
BENEFITS OF USING
PROPER LIGHTING
E
lanco Animal Health, a division
of Eli Lilly and Company, has
announced the approval of
Imrestor in Canada, the first product of
its kind for the dairy industry.
Available only by veterinary prescription, Imrestor is approved by the Veterinary Drugs Directorate, Health Canada
for reducing the incidence of clinical
mastitis in the first 30 days of lactation in
periparturient dairy cows and periparturient replacement dairy heifers.
Imrestor is a protein that helps support the natural function of a dairy cow’s
immune system during the critical time
around calving, when she is most vulnerable to mastitis. “Imrestor is an innovative new approach for reducing clinical
mastitis by proactively helping to restore
the function of a cow’s immune system,”
explains Paul Rapnicki, DVM, MBA, associate technical adviser, Elanco Animal
Health.
Pivotal efficacy studies conducted for
Health Canada approval showed a 31.9
per cent reduction in clinical mastitis incidence in the first 30 days of lactation
among cows and heifers receiving Imrestor
compared with control animals. Mastitis
is the most common disease among dairy
cows, affecting as many as one in four
cows. Clinical mastitis affects each cow’s
potential leading to reduced conception
rates, an increased risk for another case of
mastitis, and lost milk production potential throughout the lactation. Dairy cows
experiencing immune suppression at calving are vulnerable to infection and an increased risk of mastitis.
Dairy cows and heifers are in need of
protection particularly at calving due to a
decline in the function of neutrophils –
the primary type of white blood cell that
recognizes and destroys harmful bacteria. Imrestor helps restore the function
and increase the number of neutrophils
at calving, which helps the cow fight invading bacteria that cause mastitis. “We
know that even the best producers need
a little help protecting their dairy herds,”
says Rapnicki. Imrestor is a proactive approach that can help keep cows healthy
and help reduce
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APRIL 2016 | MILKPRODUCER
W
the frustration, financial strain and stress
associated with treating them.
Mastitis is the most common illness
treated with antimicrobials in dairy
cows. The launch of Imrestor is aligned
with Elanco’s eight-point antibiotic stewardship plan that ensures the responsible
use of antibiotics, reduces shared-class
antibiotic use and replaces antibiotics
with alternatives. The plan was outlined
by Elanco President Jeff Simmons at an
antibiotic stewardship forum last year.
Available in pre-filled, single-dose syringes, Imrestor is administered with
two injections; one seven days before the
anticipated date of calving and the other
within 24 hours after calving. This method helps protect the cow against mastitis
when she needs it most. Imrestor does
not require a meat or milk withdrawal
period. Imrestor will be available for purchase in 10-dose pack sizes.
The product availability date will be
announced at a later time. Dairy producers are encouraged to contact their veterinarian to discuss incorporating Imrestor
into their herd health program. The
approval of Imrestor is the work of the
Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health
Canada and the Center for Veterinary
Medicine of the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration completing a concurrent
drug approval registration through the
Regulatory Co-operation Council process. This is an exciting step for the dairy
industry in both countries as veterinarians and producers have access to new
innovation for their farms.
For additional information about Imrestor, call 800-265-5475.
hat’s the big deal with lights
anyways? We get this all the
time and for a dairy operation,
lighting, or should we say good lighting,
has many benefits to the herd and farmer.
Having perfect uniformity in the barn,
a light level over 20 foot-candle with the
proper colour, can have positive benefits
to milk production and cattle comfort, and
not to mention the energy savings and
fixtures suited for a dairy barn that will
perform for the next 10 years and beyond.
When retrofitted to an LED fixture from
our company, most barns will have a
payback on energy and maintenance of
less than 2.5 years, including the installation. New build paybacks are even less.
Depending on the province you’re in,
government rebates are available and done
for you by us.
We will work with you directly or with
your electrician to bring the solution to
your operation. We provide the layouts,
payback, fixtures and turnkey projects, if
needed. Also available is light controlling
software that will maintain the perfect light
levels in your barn, run on a schedule,
dim and turn off during daylight hours,
depending on ambient light entering the
barn, giving the cows perfect light at all
times of the day. If chosen as an option,
light management software would be set
up for you and turn lighting into an advanced and automated function for your
operation.
As a promotion, the manufacturer of
the wireless system is ready to subsidize
part of the cost of the system and accept
partial payment until the wireless components have proven their effectiveness
and savings. The system comes complete
with a mobile app.
For more information, call PDS Lighting
at 519-760-2438 or email [email protected].
Note: Descriptions of products and services are for
the information of our readers only. Publication of
this information does not constitute endorsement
by Milk Producer.
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