Effect of flavomycin or tetracycline as a growth promotant in calf milk replacer.

Abstract

Animal Production in Australia EFFECT OF FLAVOMYCIN OR TETRACYCLINE AS A GROWTH PROMOTANT IN CALF MILK REPLACER J.A. STEWART*, R. JAMES* and J.W. TAYLOR** Fourteen calf milk replacers (CMR) were registered for sale in Victoria for 1979/81 and of these, 13 contained tetracycline at 50-75 p.p.m. (Anon 1979). The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has recommended against the use of tetracyclines as growth promotants in animal feedstuffs (NHMRC 1977) since such use 'could lead to an impairment of the efficiency of tetracyclines in the treatment of human diseases'. In this experiment the effect of including an antibiotic in CMR was investigated. Tetracycline was also compared with Flavomycin, an antibiotic not included in the NHMRC proscribed list. Seventy two Friesian calves about four days old were penned in groups of six, individually fed 500 g CMR (16% fat) in 3.5 R warm water daily in two feeds and offered a pelleted concentrate ad libitum on a group basis. The antibiotic content of the three CMR before reconstitution was : C (Control), Nil ; F, 18 p.p.m. flavophospholipol (Flavomycin) and T, 72 p.p.m. oxytetracycline. Covariance adjusted (for initial weight) live significant pellet intake) and 8 weeks, mean pellet diarrhoea are shown in Table 1. Treatments F and T no significant differences (P>O.O5) between them for C calves, one F and one T calf which died at about have been excluded. TABLE 1 weights at 2 weeks (before intakes and incidence of were combined since there were any measure. Data from two two weeks following diarrhoea Performance of calves fed milk replacer with or without antibiotic Inclusion of antibiotic in CMR was associated with a reduced incidence of diarrhoea and a small but significant increase in live weight at two weeks. Antibiotic in CMR appeared to stimulate dry feed consumption, as has previously been reported (Swanson 1963), resulting in a higher live weight at eight weeks. Although there was a tendency for T calves to eat more pellets and grow slightly faster than F calves the differences were not significant (P>O.O5). It is concluded that, where it is desired to include an antibiotic in CMR', Flavomycin would be a satisfactory alternative to oxytetracycline. ANON, (1979). List of Stock Feeds. Victoria Government Gazette No. 24 3535/79. NHMRC (1977). Australia. National Health and Medical Research Council. Reports of sessions. 83rd. 1977. p. 15. SWANSON, E.W. (1963). J. Dairy Sci. 46355. * Department of Agriculture, Dairy Research Institute, Ellinbank, Vic. 3820. **Hoechst Australia Limited, Melbourne, Vic. 3001. 627