Improper dosing using average cattle weights

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of 6,231 head of stocker and feeder cattle comprising 24 separate lots was conducted to evaluate the extent and degree of improper dosing that would have occurred in individual animals if all animals in each lot were treated with a single dosage level of a pharmaceutical product based upon the average weight of the lot. Nine hundred forty-six head would have been overdosed by 10% or more, while 831 head would have been underdosed by 10% or more. Four hundred thirty-eight head would have been overdosed by 15% or more, while 366 head would have been underdosed by 15% or more. Two hundred and four head would have been overdosed by 20% or more, while 128 would have been underdosed by 20% or more. Ninety-eight head would have been overdosed by 25% or more, while 35 head would have underdosed by 25% or more.