Effects of a clostridial bacterin-toxoid administered subcutaneously at the base of the ear on stocker heifer performance, testosterone serum concentrations, and infrared thermal characteristics of the injection site and adjacent tissues
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Abstract
A 129-day field study was conducted to
evaluate the effects of a clostridial bacterintoxoid
administered subcutaneously at the base
of the ear on heifer calf performance, surfaceear
temperature, and testosterone concentration.
Two hundred previously non-implanted
heifers averaging 372 lb were assigned to one of
four treatments: 1) Alpha-7 (clostridial toxoid)
in left neck, Synovex-H in left ear (NL); 2)
Alpha-7 in left neck, Synovex-H in right ear
(NR); 3) Alpha-7 in right ear, Synovex-H in
opposite ear (OP); and 4) Alpha-7 in right ear,
Synovex-H in same ear (SM). On day 7, the
right ear of each heifer was thermographically
imaged. On trial days 7, 28, 59, and 87, jugular
blood samples were collected to determine if
placement of the clostridial vaccine reduced
serum concentration of testosterone. Although
vaccinating in the base of the ear increased
(P<.01) ear temperature, daily gains through 59
days were similar (P