Remote drug delivery devices, also known as dart guns, are becoming more common in some modern cow-calf operations.
Veterinarians used the older style capture guns to tranquilize and “capture” cattle that needed further treatment. They would be loaded and transported if necessary or put in a smaller compound.
Veterinarians also used these guns to capture escaped stock in areas where there were no collection corrals.
Wildlife officers would also use them to catch and relocate wildlife.
But what about using the new RDDs to treat cattle, primarily those on large pastures?
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The older capture guns were cumbersome and had hard metal darts that could inflict lots of damage.
Today’s RDDs shoot lightweight darts that are loaded easily and accurate to shoot.
The two I am most familiar with are the Dan-Inject system and the Pneu-Dart system. Both have darts that can take up to 10 cc of product each and have projection systems that accurately deliver product up to 20 to 30 metres.
The greatest issue with these RDDs is the difficulty making a proper diagnosis from a distance. Close examination isn’t possible, and identification of the animal may be difficult.
Also, there is a question of whether the gun can deliver the product where it needs to go as required by verified beef production standards. Can we deliver the proper dosage?
If you are going to use these devices to deliver drugs, particularly prescription drugs, your veterinarian should work out the protocols for the specific conditions you can treat.
Many modern medicines need only low dosages and have long lasting capabilities. Most are approved subcutaneously.
The darts can be used with shorter needles, which means that although it isn’t guaranteed, most of the product can be delivered subcutaneously. The neck or shoulder areas are decent targets with these accurate rifles when shooting mature animals from the side.
Take into account whether darting a calf, yearling, cow or bull because the skin thickness is different between these groups. Always beware of the location of the jugular vein.
Most products will likely spark a severe allergic reaction if given intravenously. Have epinephrine on hand whenever medication is injected.
I have seen animals limp for a few days when hit up over the shoulder. In these cases, the shoulder blade may have been hit.
Never dart cattle on the run.
These dart guns offer producers easy and timely treatments, labour savings and minimal stress on the cattle.
Response is improved if the right treatment is given even one day or several hours earlier than usual. Fewer treatments may be necessary.
Some darts can be used only once, while others are reusable. They come out shortly after contact so can be gathered up. They are colourful, so seldom are lost.
Work with a veterinarian to develop standard operating procedures for common pasture conditions.
Veterinarians want to be sure cattle are not treated unnecessarily, and we must be prudent in antimicrobial use. Diagnosing from a distance can cause problems.
Lameness might be one of the best conditions to treat with these devices. You can watch a couple days for natural improvement and then treat if necessary.
One person can do all the locating, identifying, diagnosing and treating in a cost effective manner.
An animal with a serious ailment that requires further testing or diagnosing might have to be caught and removed to a treatment area.
That is the sort of decision the person in charge of animal health must deal with on a case-by-case, day-by-day basis.
A firearms safety course isn’t required to use an RDD, but be careful because they are like a real gun. A firearms safety course may be a good idea if you have never handled guns.
RDDs might provide an easier way to treat animals, but it is still imperative that the animals be identified and the treatment recorded.
Have legible ear tags and carry a good set of binoculars on your pasture checks.
Understand product labels and withdrawal periods, don’t over-treat or treat unnecessarily and work with a veterinarian.
