Efficacy of Formic Acid as a Means of Controlling Mycoplasma bovis and Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

Adequate colostral transfer of immunoglobulins is critical to the health of the dairy calf. However, colostrum and waste milk can also serve as an efficient mode of transmission for pathogens including Mycoplasma spp and Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis, the causative agent for Johne's disease. Pasteurization and colostrum substitutes are successful means of eliminating this threat, but are cost-restrictive for many smaller dairy producers. There is a critical need for an alternative method to prevent the transmission of these diseases while maintaining adequate passive transfer of immunoglobulins. This study examines the use of acidification of colostrum and waste milk using formic acid as a control system for these pathogens while maintaining the integrity of the immunoglobulins.