EFFECT OF CHLORTETRACYCLINE ON CARCASS YIELDS INCLUDING PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF DAIRY CALVES

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Abstract
It has been repeatedly demonstrated that nutritional levels of chlortetracycline in the ration of young ruminants have increased growth rate and efficiency of feed utilization (Lassiter, 1955; Rusoff et al., 1950 Rusoff et al., 1951). Reports on the effect of antibiotics on the carcasses of these fast growing animals have been limited. In a previous study (Rusoff et al., 1954) it was observed that chlortetracycline-fed dairy calves were heavier and had larger carcasses and skeletal development than control calves. In. lambs fed antibiotics, higher dressing percentages have been reported by Hatfield and Garrigus (1952) and Botkin and Paules (1954). The latter workers also reported a lower carcass grade for the antibiotic-fed lambs. Marion et al. 1955 obtained a slightly higher dressing percentage and a lower carcass grade in yearling steers fed oxytetracycline. There are a few studies (Ashton et al., 1955; Perry et al., 1954; Pierce, 1954; Wilson et al., 1953) on the effects of antibiotics upon the physical and chemical characteristics of the carcasses of simple-stomach animals but the results of these various experiments have been at variance with one another. The objectives of this experiment were to determine the effect of chlortetracycline upon the carcass yield, physical characteristics and chemical composition of carcasses of 12 or 16 week-old dairy calves so as to obtain information which might help in determining the mode of action of this antibiotic.

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