What is it?
An Auto-Dosing Gun, also referred to as a Smart Dosing Gun, is a tool used to administer veterinary medicines to livestock. Administration methods such as injection, oral drenching, or pour-on may be used with different attachments to the device. The aim of the device is to deliver accurate and consistent doses.
To ensure the proper dose is provided to each animal, the Auto-Dosing Gun uses the weight of the individual animal to calculate the correct dose and subsequently administers it [1].
The team from KCL Feedlot in Canada talk about how they are using the Te Pari Dosing Gun in their Cattle Feedlot. Video produced by Te Pari.
Challenges
- Calibrating the dose based on weight requires additional infrastructure, including a scale where each animal can be accurately weighed.
How Does it Prevent AMR?
Providing the incorrect dose, whether that be overdosing or underdosing, is an issue in animal health and the development of antimicrobial resistance. Using an Auto-Dosing Gun to provide vaccines and antimicrobial drugs to animals helps ensure that the exact dose for each animal based on their individual weight is provided. Providing the correct dose is an important component of antimicrobial stewardship, as indicated by the phrase: “Right drug, right time, right dose, right duration.”
The Te Pari gun is from New Zealand and has various sizes and attachments available to best suit your needs.
Research Gaps
Product/Service Gaps
References
[1] ‘Dosing Guns With Auto Dose Calibration | Te Pari’. https://www.tepari.com/us/products/dosing-guns/smart-dosing-gun/ (accessed Aug. 22, 2022).
