Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), and Allflex Livestock Intelligence, a livestock portfolio of digital products within Merck Animal Health, announced the release of WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL. The breakthrough technology is the only precision tool on the market today that uses a multitude of factors to predict which cattle may be at higher risk of sickness. Farmers and veterinarians can use this information to determine a strategy for the treatment of Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), one of the most prevalent diseases in beef cattle.
“WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL offers feedlot managers and veterinarians an innovative new approach to assist with feedlot management of BRD,” says Jason Nickell, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVPM, manager, Professional Services, Allflex Livestock Intelligence. “The technology was developed exclusively for feedlot and backgrounded cattle on arrival.”
Consisting of a specialized sound collection device and a predictive algorithm, the device analyzes an individual animal’s lung sound, heart sound, rectal temperature and weight and delivers actionable data to feedlot managers and veterinarians for decisions at the individual animal level.
Based on the individual animal examination, the predictive algorithm calculates each animal’s risk of sickness. Farmers and veterinarians can then use this information to determine which beef cattle may benefit from antimicrobial therapy for BRD control, while leaving those at reduced risk of disease untreated, thereby ensuring responsible use of antibiotics.
“WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL is another innovation from Merck Animal Health as we continue to seek new solutions for the cattle industry,” says Paul Koffman, North America lead, Allflex Livestock Intelligence. “The technology has the potential to transform how feedlot managers and veterinarians can help to prevent diseases in cattle. It advances thoughtful antimicrobial stewardship by maintaining the animal health and welfare benefits associated with conventional control practices. Providing precision targeting of only those animals that may be at a higher risk of sickness can result in a reduction in unnecessary use of antibiotics and a positive impact to the bottom line for producers.”
WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL is now available as a part of a limited rollout, with plans to expand availability in 2022.
For more information on WHISPER® ON ARRIVAL, go to WhisperOnArrival.com.
