What happens during the first several weeks of life for a calf has a significant impact on their development as a heifer and on productivity later in life. Proper nutrition in the form of high-quality colostrum, whole milk or a milk replacer and starter during the first few weeks of life is critically important to growth and development, as well as future productivity.
According to an industry study, just over half of calves in the U.S. are fed whole milk, which may be waste milk from cows treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics can come either from dry cow therapies that result in antibiotic residues in colostrum or fresh-cow milk, or antibiotic treatments for cows later in lactation.
Persistent bacteria populations
Waste milk can either be dumped down the drain or fed to calves. If dumped, the milk usually ends up in a waste management system that eventually gets spread on crop fields along with the rest of the manure from the dairy. These residues don’t break down in soil, so they either have the potential to end up in the groundwater or be taken up by plants that eventually get fed back to the herd.
If it gets fed to calves, those calves can also develop bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. This poses a larger issue that impacts the long-term health and productivity of the animal.
So if you feed waste milk to calves that contains antibiotic residues, you risk the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria and the associated health risks. If you don’t feed the waste milk, you probably pay a higher price for milk replacer while risking the introduction of antibiotic residues to the environment.
Supplement Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance
One novel strategy can help reduce the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria in calves fed waste milk containing antibiotic residues. This strategy involves feeding Orego-Stim, manufactured by Anpario, in the milk fed to dairy calves.
A research study conducted at the University of Reading in England evaluated the potential of using Orego-Stim, a source of 100% natural oregano essential oil, to mitigate the risk of the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Two similar groups of calves were fed waste milk from the University dairy herd. The milk fed to one group of calves was supplemented with Orego-Stim at 10ml/calf/day, included in both the morning and evening feeding (5ml per 2.5 liters of milk twice daily). Calves were on this feeding regimen from 2 days of age for 10 days, then calves resumed similar rations of milk and solid feed, without any Orego Stim.
Fecal samples were collected before and during feeding of the supplement, then every two weeks until weaning. The samples were analyzed for antibiotic resistant E. coli, changes to the gut microbial profile, as well as Cryptosporidium oocyst counts.
Calves fed the Orego-Stim diet tended to have lower fecal E. coli levels, and they also shed Cryptosporidium in significantly lower amounts.
With regard to antibiotic resistance, the resistance to amoxicillin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin or tylosin was similar between the two groups. However, there was also presence of E. coli resistant to cefquinome, a fourth-generation cephalosporin and one of the most critically important antibiotic treatments for infection control in humans. Calves fed Orego-Stim had significantly lower levels of E. coli that were resistant to this antibiotic – about 70% less (41.2% down to 12.6%).
Improved the “good” bacteria
Within the gut microbiota, calves supplemented with Orego-Stim had higher levels of actinobacteria, which can be considered “good” bacteria and support good gut health. In addition, Orego-Stim supplemented calves had lower levels of Arthrobacter, which are generally aligned with adverse health events. These effects continued when testing concluded two weeks after supplementation ended.
In summary, supplementing calves with Orego-Stim reduced the presence of E. coli in the gut that were resistant to one of the most critically important antibiotics while the presence of Cryptosporidium was lower. At the same time, the levels of more beneficial bacteria were higher in supplemented calves.
Beneficial Bioactive Compounds
Orego-Stim contains bioactive compounds which are generally higher in number and more diverse than synthetic compounds. 100% natural oregano essential oil is used in Orego-Stim, distilled from the whole plant. The active compounds work synergistically to offer well-documented antimicrobial benefits and have a complex mode of action which involves the breakdown of bacterial cell membranes.
In the study, calves were only supplemented for 10 days and at a higher dose (10ml/calf/day vs. a normal dose of 2ml/calf/day). However, the benefits lasted with the calves through weaning. This suggests that producers would be able to add Orego-Stim to waste milk for a short period of time to gain longer term benefits. There was no difference in intake at this higher level, and supplemented calves gained more weight in the first 10 days than calves that didn’t receive the oregano essential oil product.
Controlling antibiotic resistance takes a multi-faceted approach that includes reducing antibiotic use on the farm. This takes input and advice from all stakeholders, including the veterinarian, nutritionist and other consultants who can help develop management protocols. This also includes engagement with critical staff to make sure protocols are followed to responsibly reduce antibiotic use.
Find out more about Orego-Stim for calves
What happens during the first several weeks of life for a calf has a significant impact on their development as a heifer and on productivity later in life. Proper nutrition in the form of high-quality colostrum, whole milk or a milk replacer and starter during the first few weeks of life is critically important to growth and development, as well as future productivity.
According to an industry study, just over half of calves in the U.S. are fed whole milk, which may be waste milk from cows treated with antibiotics. The antibiotics can come either from dry cow therapies that result in antibiotic residues in colostrum or fresh-cow milk, or antibiotic treatments for cows later in lactation.
Persistent bacteria populations
Waste milk can either be dumped down the drain or fed to calves. If dumped, the milk usually ends up in a waste management system that eventually gets spread on crop fields along with the rest of the manure from the dairy. These residues don’t break down in soil, so they either have the potential to end up in the groundwater or be taken up by plants that eventually get fed back to the herd.
If it gets fed to calves, those calves can also develop bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. This poses a larger issue that impacts the long-term health and productivity of the animal.
So if you feed waste milk to calves that contains antibiotic residues, you risk the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria and the associated health risks. If you don’t feed the waste milk, you probably pay a higher price for milk replacer while risking the introduction of antibiotic residues to the environment.
Supplement Can Reduce Antibiotic Resistance
One novel strategy can help reduce the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria in calves fed waste milk containing antibiotic residues. This strategy involves feeding Orego-Stim, manufactured by Anpario, in the milk fed to dairy calves.
A research study conducted at the University of Reading in England evaluated the potential of using Orego-Stim, a source of 100% natural oregano essential oil, to mitigate the risk of the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Two similar groups of calves were fed waste milk from the University dairy herd. The milk fed to one group of calves was supplemented with Orego-Stim at 10ml/calf/day, included in both the morning and evening feeding (5ml per 2.5 liters of milk twice daily). Calves were on this feeding regimen from 2 days of age for 10 days, then calves resumed similar rations of milk and solid feed, without any Orego Stim.
Fecal samples were collected before and during feeding of the supplement, then every two weeks until weaning. The samples were analyzed for antibiotic resistant E. coli, changes to the gut microbial profile, as well as Cryptosporidium oocyst counts.
Calves fed the Orego-Stim diet tended to have lower fecal E. coli levels, and they also shed Cryptosporidium in significantly lower amounts.
With regard to antibiotic resistance, the resistance to amoxicillin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin or tylosin was similar between the two groups. However, there was also presence of E. coli resistant to cefquinome, a fourth-generation cephalosporin and one of the most critically important antibiotic treatments for infection control in humans. Calves fed Orego-Stim had significantly lower levels of E. coli that were resistant to this antibiotic – about 70% less (41.2% down to 12.6%).
Improved the “good” bacteria
Within the gut microbiota, calves supplemented with Orego-Stim had higher levels of actinobacteria, which can be considered “good” bacteria and support good gut health. In addition, Orego-Stim supplemented calves had lower levels of Arthrobacter, which are generally aligned with adverse health events. These effects continued when testing concluded two weeks after supplementation ended.
In summary, supplementing calves with Orego-Stim reduced the presence of E. coli in the gut that were resistant to one of the most critically important antibiotics while the presence of Cryptosporidium was lower. At the same time, the levels of more beneficial bacteria were higher in supplemented calves.
Beneficial Bioactive Compounds
Orego-Stim contains bioactive compounds which are generally higher in number and more diverse than synthetic compounds. 100% natural oregano essential oil is used in Orego-Stim, distilled from the whole plant. The active compounds work synergistically to offer well-documented antimicrobial benefits and have a complex mode of action which involves the breakdown of bacterial cell membranes.
In the study, calves were only supplemented for 10 days and at a higher dose (10ml/calf/day vs. a normal dose of 2ml/calf/day). However, the benefits lasted with the calves through weaning. This suggests that producers would be able to add Orego-Stim to waste milk for a short period of time to gain longer term benefits. There was no difference in intake at this higher level, and supplemented calves gained more weight in the first 10 days than calves that didn’t receive the oregano essential oil product.
Controlling antibiotic resistance takes a multi-faceted approach that includes reducing antibiotic use on the farm. This takes input and advice from all stakeholders, including the veterinarian, nutritionist and other consultants who can help develop management protocols. This also includes engagement with critical staff to make sure protocols are followed to responsibly reduce antibiotic use.
Find out more about Orego-Stim for calves