Reports vary on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance on dairies, ranging from 3 – 50% across farms. However, calves routinely rank highest in antibiotic resistance on any individual farm – likely due to broad antibiotic use in calves.
Antibiotic resistance reduces the efficacy of antibiotics over time and puts farms at risk for uncontrollable disease outbreaks. Recommended methods for reducing the risk of developing antibiotic resistance include: (1) treating only sick calves instead of the whole herd, (2) utilizing antibiotics specifically designed to target the pathogen of interest rather than a broad-spectrum antibiotic, (3) having a clear protocol on what symptoms warrant antibiotic use and (4) utilizing antibiotic alternatives that don’t promote antibiotic resistance such as probiotics.
When it comes to non-antibiotic alternatives like probiotics, the biggest question is whether they can consistently support a reduction in antibiotic dependence. The answer to this question comes down to the probiotic itself.
Not all probiotics are the same – each probiotic specie and strain provides unique benefits to the calf. Probiotics can support things like gut integrity, pathogen inhibition, immune modulation, growth of “good” gut bacteria, nutrient absorption or mycotoxin degradation.
When supporting calves through pathogen challenges, the best probiotic will inhibit pathogen growth, modulate the immune system to better protect against pathogens, support gut integrity and advance gut healing to restore gut health.
How do you know if a probiotic is going to deliver?
In vitro data showing the probiotic strains of interest can inhibit a wide array of bacterial pathogen species and strains is the most critical. Data around gut integrity or gut healing is also valuable.
Data in calves is the next most important piece. Go beyond pathogen loads and consider how a probiotic might impact growth, intake and health markers like respiratory and scours events. And make sure to understand the antibiotic program in each trial to see if the probiotic works in synergy with antibiotics or can support calves on a standalone basis.
BaciFlex®-Calf is an example of a probiotic that delivers real-world results in calves. With data supporting its extensive inhibition of bacterial pathogens, healing of the gut and optimization of gut integrity, BaciFlex-Calf is a natural alternative to antibiotics. In calves housed in both university facilities, as well as on-farm, it has been proven that BaciFlex-Calf reduces fecal pathogen loads, improves fecal quality, reduces respiratory events and increases calf growth.
To learn more about how Papillon can help your calves, visit Papillon-ag.com.
Be the first to comment