Merck Animal Health Discusses BRD and New World Screwworm at CattleCon 2026

Experts share insights on preventing and managing cattle health challenges

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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At the recent CattleCon 2026 event in Nashville, Tennessee, representatives from Merck Animal Health provided updates on the ongoing battle against Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) and the potential threat of New World Screwworm. Che Trejo, Beef Technical Services Veterinarian, discussed BRD prevention and management strategies, while John Hutcheson, Ph.D., Director of Beef Cattle Technical Services, highlighted a new FDA-conditionally approved pour-on treatment for New World Screwworm and cattle fever tick.

Why it matters

BRD and New World Screwworm pose significant challenges to the cattle industry, impacting animal health, productivity, and profitability. Merck Animal Health's experts shared their insights on the latest developments and solutions to help cattle producers address these critical issues.

The details

During the CattleCon 2026 event, Che Trejo and John Hutcheson from Merck Animal Health provided updates on two major cattle health concerns. Trejo discussed the ongoing battle against Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD), sharing strategies for prevention and management. Hutcheson, on the other hand, highlighted a new FDA-conditionally approved pour-on treatment called Exzolt Cattle-CA1, which is the first of its kind for addressing New World Screwworm and cattle fever tick.

  • CattleCon 2026 took place in Nashville, Tennessee in February 2026.

The players

Che Trejo

Beef Technical Services Veterinarian with Merck Animal Health.

John Hutcheson, Ph.D.

Director of Beef Cattle Technical Services with Merck Animal Health.

Exzolt Cattle-CA1

A first-of-its-kind FDA conditionally approved pour-on for New World Screwworm and cattle fever tick.

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The takeaway

Merck Animal Health's experts provided valuable insights on the ongoing challenges of BRD and the emerging threat of New World Screwworm, highlighting the importance of proactive measures and innovative solutions to protect the health and productivity of cattle herds.