Aureomycin (Clortetracycline) feeding test on calves and heifers suffering from indigestion

Authors

• S. Haaranen Institute of Pharmacology, Veterinary College, Helsinki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23986/afsci.71477

Abstract

6 heifers of 4—9 months suffering from indigestion were given oat meal containing 80 mg of Aureomycin for 43 days. 6 similar heifers, serving as controls, were kept on the same diet and in the same shed. The average daily additional growth of the group receiving aureomycin was 285 g; the corresponding additional growth of the control groups was 108 g. The average increases for the test and control group, respectively, were: live weight 14.45 kg/6.48 kg, length 9.33 cm/3.33 cm, chest circumference 6.50 cm/4.33 cm, height of withers 1.8 cm/1.2 cm, pelvic breadth at the tubera coxae 1.7 cm/0.7 cm. Serum calcium and copper fell and potassium rose in the material as a whole. There were no statistically significant differences between the test and control groups except in Na, which rose in the test and fell the control groups. In view of the small size of each group and the nevertheless nearly significant difference in average weights (0.05 < P < 0.1), it would seem that aureomycin additive in the feed was beneficial for the heifers in these conditions. Economic consiferations will decide whether it is generally advisable to resort to aureomycin additive. The blood changes were regarded as being due to the transfer of the animals from the cold winter air indoors to a warm shed.