A study on the feeding of dairy calves: the effect of feeding antibiotics on growth rate and rumen development

Content Partner: Lincoln University. In New Zealand several investigations into problems associated with unthriftiness and wastage among dairy calves has been carried out. These studies have been carried out to clarify the basic causes of calf wastage and to indicate possible means of reducing wastage, while at the same time providing cheaper and more efficient methods of calf rearing. In recent years much attention has been paid in overseas countries to the use of antibiotics in animal nutrition. In countries where concentrates are used to a large extent for rearing calves, a cheap efficient method of rearing is essential. The addition of small quantities of antibiotics to calf starters and meals has shown very promising results. The calves have made superior weight gains and have utilized food more efficiently. In some cases the incidence of scours has been reduced. In light of the result obtained overseas with antibiotics in calf feeding, and bearing in mind the cause and extent of calf wastage in New Zealand, it was thought advisable to carry out investigations with antibiotics in New Zealand conditions to determine whether antibiotics might find a useful place in the feeding of dairy calves in this country.