Alpharma Animal Health has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the combination use of decoquinate (Deccox) and chlortetracycline (Aureomycin) in feed rations to treat bacterial enteritis and bacterial pneumonia, while preventing coccidiosis. This approval will give producers a new cost-effective way to fight coccidiosis and knock out respiratory or enteric diseases at the same time. In October of 2000, Alpharma received approval for the combination of Deccox and ChlorMax(R), another of the company's CTC products.

"The approved use of Deccox plus Aureomycin is a major victory for the cattle industry, as the combination has demonstrated that it prevents coccidiosis and treats bacterial diseases at the same time," according to Mark Taylor, Cattle Products Manager at Alpharma. "Unlike other products which are cleared for one problem, producers no longer must choose which disease should be addressed. They now have the ability to safeguard cattle from damages caused by coccidiosis, pneumonia, and enteritis with a single convenient program. Deccox plus Aureomycin is an integral component of a strategic program targeted at getting cattle off to a quick start."

The approval calls for Deccox to be fed at 13.6 to 27.2 grams per ton, to provide 22.7 mg per 100 pounds of bodyweight per day; and Aureomycin at 500 to 1000 grams per ton, to provide 10 mg per pound of bodyweight per day, for the prevention of coccidiosis caused by Eimeria bovis and E. zuernii; for the treatment of bacterial enteritis caused by Escherichia coli; and for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia caused by Pasteurella multocida organisms susceptible to chlortetracycline in calves, beef cattle and non-lactating dairy cows. Following the five-day treatment, Deccox should continue to be fed at 22.7 mg per 100 pounds of bodyweight for at least another 23 days. Producers have the ability to strategically pulse Aureomycin with Deccox as needed without a pre-slaughter withdrawal period. ©