The Effect of Feeding Medicated or Non-medicated Milk Replacer on Growth, Morbidity and Mortality of Holstein Heifer Calves

Abstract

With the emergence of antimicrobial resistance in the medical communities, the agricultural community has been heavily scrutinized on how antimicrobial agents are used. This has led to calling for more prudent use of such drugs in animal agriculture. Given the advances in veterinary preventive medicine, some question the necessity of adding antimicrobial agents to milk replacer for dairy calves. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of feeding milk replacer with or without antimicrobial agents on growth, morbidity and mortality in dairy heifers.