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Cited by 16Microbial infections and disease researchAnimal health and immunologyVeterinary medicine and infectious diseases

Comparison of a traditional bovine respiratory disease control regimen with a targeted program based upon individualized risk predictions generated by the Whisper On Arrival technology

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Nickell, Jason S, Hutcheson, John P, Renter, David G, Amrine, David A·2021·Translational Animal Science
DOI 10.1093/tas/txab081PMC PMC8246073
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Abstract

The study objective was to determine if cattle health and performance comparing a targeted bovine respiratory disease (BRD) control program based on individualized risk prediction generated by a novel technology (Whisper On Arrival) was superior to a negative control (no metaphylaxis) yet no different than a positive control (conventional BRD control; 100% application). Across four study sites, auction market-derived beef calves were randomly allocated to one of four BRD control treatment groups: 1) Negative control (Saline), 2) Positive control (Tildipirosin [TIL] to 100% of the group), 3) Whisper-high (±TIL based on conservative algorithm threshold), and 4) Whisper-low (±TIL based on aggressive algorithm threshold). Within either Whisper On Arrival group, only calves predicted to be above the algorithm threshold by the technology (determined a priori) were administered TIL leaving the remainder untreated. Cattle were followed to either a short-term timepoint (50 or 60 d; health outcomes, all sites; feed performance outcomes, two sites) or to closeout (two sites). Data were analyzed as a completely randomized block design separately at each site. Across all sites, BRD control antibiotic use was reduced by 11% to 43% between the two Whisper On Arrival treatment groups compared to the positive control. The positive control and both Whisper On Arrival groups reduced (P ≤ 0.05) BRD morbidity compared to negative controls at both the short-term timepoint at three of the four sites and at closeout at one of two sites. The positive control and both Whisper-managed groups had improved (P ≤ 0.05) average daily gain (ADG), dry-matter intake (DMI), and feed efficiency compared to negative controls at the short-term timepoint at one of two sites. At closeout, the positive control and both Whisper-managed groups improved (P ≤ 0.05) ADG (deads-in) compared to the negative control at one of the two sites. At one of two sites, the positive control and the Whisper-high group displayed an improvement (P ≤ 0.05) in hot carcass weight compared to the negative control. The Whisper On Arrival technology maintained the benefits of a conventional BRD control program yet reduced BRD control antibiotic use by 11% to 43%. This technology maintained the benefits of a conventional BRD control program while reducing antibiotic costs to the producer and supporting judicious antimicrobial use.

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  • Adopting risk-based targeted therapy can reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic use up to 43% while maintaining animal health outcomes.

    “Nickell et al. (71) demonstrated that adopting risk-based targeted therapy can reduce broad-spectrum antibiotic use up to 43% while maintaining animal health outcomes.”

    From Understanding antibiotic decision-making for bovine respiratory disease: a survey of UK farm veterinarians (2026) · cites this paper as [71]

    The Discussion (page not provided) reports that risk-based Whisper On Arrival treatment reduced BRD-control antibiotic use by 11%–43% across four cattle study sites, without evidence of worse health outcomes than conventional treatment. The Methods identify the antibiotic as tildipirosin, but our copy does not characterize it as broad-spectrum, so that descriptor is not verified. (LLM, conf=0.87)

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Authors
Nickell, J. S., Hutcheson, J. P., Renter, D. G., & Amrine, D. A.
Affiliations
  • Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA (United States) (US)
  • Merck Animal Health, De Soto, KS 66018
  • Kansas State University (US)
Corresponding author
Nickell, Jason S
ORCID
Venue
Translational Animal Science
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2021-04-01
Volume
5
Issue
2
Pages
txab081-txab081
ISSN
2573-2102 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1093/tas/txab081
PMC
PMC8246073
OpenAlex
W3159431489
Cited by
16
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1
FWCI
1.41
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Translational Animal Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Microbial infections and disease research
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
  • Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary medicine and infectious diseases
Keywords
bovine respiratory disease, targeted antibiotic therapy, metaphylaxis, personalized risk prediction, beef calves, antibiotic use reduction, feed performance, carcass weight, antimicrobial stewardship, dry matter intake, average daily gain, feed efficiency, carcass grading

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