Effect of High-Level Administration of Chlortetracycline at Birth on the Health and Growth of Young Dairy Calves

Therapeutic and nutritional aspects of the offect of chlortetraeyeline (CTC) on health, growth, and feed efficiency of 64 newborn Holstein and Jersey female and male calves were studied. Daily levels of either 0, 250, 500, or 1,000 rag. of the antibiotic administered for the first three days of life resulted in a reduction in enteritis and death in those calves receiving chlortetracyeline, with the 250-mg. level being as effective as the two higher levels. The high-level three-day treatments of the antibiotic to dairy calves at birth did not result in any subsequent stinmlation in growth up to 16 wk. of age.