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Effect of a New Antibiotic, Spiramycin, on Young Dairy Calves^{1, 2, 3,}

Dairy Department, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Baton Rouge

ABSTRACT

Thirty-six newborn male Holstein and Jersey calves were divided at random into three groups according to breed. Group I served as the control and was fed an unsupplemented calf starter. Group II was fed 250 mg. CTC for the first three days of life, 50 mg. for the next 28 days during the milk feeding period, and also a CTC-supplemented calf starter (18.6 mg. CTC per lb.). Group III was fed 250 mg. spiramycin for the first three days of life, 50 mg. for the next 28 days, and a spiramycin-supplemented calf starter (18.6 mg. per pound). Beginning at four days of age, whole milk was fed to all calves at the rate of 10% of the body weight daily for 28 days. Good-quality alfalfa hay and calf starter were also fed, beginning on the fourth day of life.

At 12 wk. of age, the two antibiotic groups of calves had achieved a significantly (P < .05) larger body weight gain than the control calves, by approximately 22%. A comparison between the gains of the two antibiotic groups showed no statistical difference. Feed conversion data in therms of E.N.E. required per pound of gain in body weight were in favor of the antibiotic-fed groups over the control, but this difference was not statistically significant.

The calves in the two antibiotic-supplemented groups had less severe periods of scours, which were found to be highly significant (P < .01) over the controls.

Spiramycin is of nutritional value for young calves as it promotes growth and reduces scours and compares favorably with CTC.

¹ Supported in part by a grant from Rhodia, Inc., New York, New York.

² The data are from a thesis presented by the senior author to the graduate faculty of Louisiana State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.S. degree.

³ Presented in part at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association, Logan, Utah, June, 1960.

⁴ Present address: School of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, College Station, Texas.