Can weanling kids eat calf starter?

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Something just occurred to me... I don't feed it as directed. Most of my goats simply don't need that much grain. Is feeding less medicated grain in this case the same thing as under-dosing a coccidiostat? Could it possibly contribute to Deccox resistant cocci if I don't maintain the levels intended?

What type of organism is cocci? If it is a bacteria, almost certainly. Or is it something else? Viruses can develop resistance but not as quickly or easily. Very little is known about Prions so I couldn't tell you.

If it is some kind of insect, worm or something else multi-cellular, than probably not. Multi-cellular organisms can develop resistance but it is much slower if at all since they cannot pass resistance between individuals like bacteria can.

Isn't that the primary reason deworming as needed rather than routinely is being advocated? Are you saying that the timeframe in which resistance develops means it won't be an issue for me personally or it's not likely that under-dosing would create resistance in parasites?

 

[jodief100]

Parasites are one of the few multi-cellular organisms that can develop resistance quickly. Quickly being a relative term here.

Most of the wormier resistance that has developed has done so over the last 30 years or so. That is very slow as compared to bacteria. In the last 50 years bacteria have become resistant to over 100 varieties of antibiotic.

So, if your wormer works, yes it may be years or even decades before the parasites become resistant to it. Using it as needed as opposed to on schedule *potentially* stretches this from years to decades. The purpose of using only as needed is not to prevent resistance, just slow it down.

So yes, resistance *may* not be a problem for you personally.

Unfortunately, that still doesn't answer the question, will low dose use of medicated feed cause resistance? My best guess is probably, maybe?

It really depends on the mechanism by which the medication works.