MSD Animal Health Demonstrates its Commitment to Ruminant Health at the 2025 European Buiatrics Congress 

Data demonstrates the benefits of vaccination for Cryptosporidium parvum disease prevention, management and herd health 

Rahway, N.J. – May 12, 2025 – MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (NYSE:MRK), today announced the company will present more than 10 new studies at The European Buiatrics Congress and ECBHM Jubilee Symposium 2025 (EBC 2025), demonstrating MSD Animal Health’s commitment to science and innovation while continuing to solve unmet medical needs in the Ruminant space. EBC 2025 will be held in Nantes, France, May 15-16, 2025. 

“Cryptosporidium parvum is a highly contagious zoonotic parasite linked to neonatal calf diarrhea, which is a primary cause of illness and death in calves. It is essential to prevent this detrimental infection,” stated Geert Vertenten, Ph.D., DVM, global technical director of ruminant biologicals at MSD Animal Health. “Our data at the European Buiatrics Congress 2025 provides strong evidence that supports the vaccination of cattle for Cryptosporidium parvum. 

The study, Cost assessment of cryptosporidiosis in dairy cattle, examined the cost of cryptosporidiosis on a typical dairy farm and underscores the significant financial implications of the disease, suggesting that effective management and prevention strategies including vaccination in dairy farming are essential. Key highlights include: 

  • Cost assessments of cryptosporidiosis in dairy cattle showed an average increase of €141 in costs per heifer.  
  • Additionally, mortality costs due to the disease amount to €7 per heifer, while reduced milk production in the first lactation adds €47 per heifer. 
  • In total, the estimated economic burden of cryptosporidiosis on a successfully raised heifer, including immediate and long-term costs, is €195.  

“At MSD Animal Health, we are committed to delivering innovation and safeguarding cattle from the most prevalent and harmful pathogens while providing solutions that assist in herd management decisions, ultimately enhancing animal welfare and operational efficiency. This responsibility starts with equipping those involved in bovine herd health management with the necessary tools to maintain animal health and reduce the need for treatments,” stated Tiago Arantes, associate vice president of the global ruminant business at MSD Animal Health. “We are excited to present our latest research on C. parvum, which we hope will contribute to the growing body of economic and scientific evidence aimed at demonstrating the value of C.  parvum vaccination.” 

A full list of MSD Animal Health supported presentations at EBC 2024 include: 

May 15, 2025: 

  • 11.30-11.45: Intranasal vaccination of calves in the first week of life: duration of shedding of vaccine virus & effect on specific serum IgG titers  
  • 11.30-11.45: Effect of additional prednisolone in the intramammary treatment of clinical mastitis 
  • 12.15-12.30: Prevalence of bovine coronavirus on farms with respiratory disease in northern Germany 
  • 15.00-15.15: Botulism in cattle: assessing risk factors and vaccination interest in the Netherlands 

May 16, 2025: 

  • 11.45-12.00 Impact of residues in colostrum from first generation cephalosporin treated cows at drying off on antimicrobial resistance in neonatal dairy calves 
  • 14.45-15.00: Cost assessment of cryptosporidiosis in dairy cattle 

Posters: 

  • Agreement among deep nasopharyngeal swab and non-endoscopic broncho-alveolar lavage sampling to detect respiratory pathogens in young Holstein-Friesian dairy calves. 
  • Bovine respiratory pathogen associations in Holstein-Friesian dairy calves 
  • Effect of intranasal bovine respiratory vaccination on mortality, average daily weight gain (ADWG), treatment rate and use of antimicrobials in Finnish calf rearing unit 
  • Efficacy of an annual herd vaccination with a live BoHV1 marker vaccine under field conditions 
  • Case Report: Bovine coronavirus associated respiratory infections in rearing calves 
  • are German calves on a better way since 2004/05? – actual data about the colostrum supply in German dairy herds 
  • Diagnosing and treating reproductive tract diseases in dairy cows of 100 days in milk or more 

About MSD Animal Health 

At MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA in the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. MSD Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of MSD. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, MSD Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. MSD Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. MSD Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.msd-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).  

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA 

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline candidates that the candidates will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. 

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