Ten days ago I brought home three 350-400 lb calves, bought individually so likely from different sellers. I had them vaccinated and wormed at the sale barn, and they did an 8-way, and a 3-way for respiratory stuff. I've had friends who bought calves at auction and they always seemed to come down with upper respiratory infections, and I was told 7-10 days is when it hits.
A few days after I brought mine home, I heard a cough or two, but no major symptoms. I bought them for training my dog on and for grazing our pasture, so I started dog breaking them in my round pen which was also their home pen, and the work did not bring on coughing. One friend said after always waiting until there were symptoms, she started treating them with LA 200 up front when bringing new calves home because by the time the symptoms started they always got really sick.
Since I don't have a squeeze and they are untamed beef types, I decided to put tetracycline HCl in their water, and they have been getting this for going on 6 days. The initial coughs were in the steer, and I heard another couple of coughs yesterday, but still no other symptoms like snotty nose or coughing with exercise. Today I heard a few coughs in one of the heifers, but again, no other symptoms.
Should I just wait and see if they clear whatever this is on their own, or should I find a way to get an injectable antibiotic into them now? I hate to over-treat. They are otherwise eating fine.
A few days after I brought mine home, I heard a cough or two, but no major symptoms. I bought them for training my dog on and for grazing our pasture, so I started dog breaking them in my round pen which was also their home pen, and the work did not bring on coughing. One friend said after always waiting until there were symptoms, she started treating them with LA 200 up front when bringing new calves home because by the time the symptoms started they always got really sick.
Since I don't have a squeeze and they are untamed beef types, I decided to put tetracycline HCl in their water, and they have been getting this for going on 6 days. The initial coughs were in the steer, and I heard another couple of coughs yesterday, but still no other symptoms like snotty nose or coughing with exercise. Today I heard a few coughs in one of the heifers, but again, no other symptoms.
Should I just wait and see if they clear whatever this is on their own, or should I find a way to get an injectable antibiotic into them now? I hate to over-treat. They are otherwise eating fine.
