Antibiotics in Dairy Cattle Nutrition. VI. The Effects of Aureomycin Feeding on the Apparent Digestibility of Certain Calf Rations

Abstract

Male dairy calves (12) were used to determine the effect of administering Aureomycin on digestibility of rations of milk only, milk and oats, and milk and alfalfa hay. Digestion trials were conducted when the calves were 9 weeks old and again when they were 13 weeks old. When calves were fed only milk, the administration of Aureomycin improved slightly the digestibility of the various nutrients, but differences were small. When rations of milk and oats or milk and alfalfa hay were fed there were no marked or consistent effects of Aureomycin on digestibility of nutrients, except crude fiber. Beneficial effects of Aureomycin on growth and feed efficiency are not due to improvements in digestibility of feeds.