HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Swanson, E. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Swanson, E. W.

Effects of Chlortetracycline in Calf Starter and Milk

Department of Dairying, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

ABSTRACT

The dairyman may use commercial milk replacers or feeds containing antibiotic or may add antibiotic separately to milk or other feeds used in calf raising. This experiment was to determine the effects of feeding 50 mg per day of antibiotic in milk, 25 mg per pound of starter, or these concentrations in both milk and starter. Thirty calves were reared to 16 wk on each of the three treatments and compared to a control group of 30 calves not fed antibiotic. During the first 8 wk, the calves fed antibiotic in the milk grew significantly faster and ate significantly more feed than those in the control and starter-supplemented groups. Those receiving antibiotic in the starter alone gained significantly more than the controls, and those fed antibiotic in both milk and starter gained slightly more than those with antibiotic only from milk. Antibiotic feeding did not reduce calf mortality or significantly prevent diarrhea. From 8 to 16 wk antibiotic feeding in starter produced slightly greater weight gains and feed consumption, but the differences were not significant statistically. These results indicate that the most effective method of feeding calves antibiotic is in milk and, that after weaning, the effects of antibiotic feeding are of small importance.