Comparison of Antibiotics for Dairy Calves on Two Levels of Milk Feeding

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Abstract
Growth studies with 96 Holstein calves were conducted to determine the effects of chlortetracycline, streptomycin, and a mixture of bacitracin and penicillin at 3 levels and 2 periods and the effects of 2 levels of milk feeding. A general increase of growth rate, concentrate consumption, and feed efficiency and a decrease of digestive disturbances were seen as a result of antibiotic supplementation. Chlortetracycline and streptomycin were more effective than the baci-tracin-penicillin mixture in all criteria except controlling diarrhea, where they were equal. Chlortetracycline was superior to streptomycin in increasing feed efficiency and daily gain. Calves fed 350 lb. of milk grew faster than those fed 175 lb. for the first 7 weeks but the antibiotics tended to minimize this difference by being more effective on the lower milk fed group. No differences were noted between the levels or periods of antibiotic feeding tested.

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