Research Shows Concentrated Sugar Solution Effective for Treating Infection in Dairy Cattle

Researchers at Penn State published work in the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science, showing that a concentrated sugar solution was as effective as antibiotics in treating mild cases of a common uterine infection in dairy cattle, called clinical metritis. The discovery has the potential to reduce reliance on antibiotics and ultimately help combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in both humans and animals, said Adrian Barragan, co-lead author on the paper. The findings are particularly significant for the organic dairy industry where antibiotic use is restricted, he added. Additionally, analysis of treated cows’ microbiomes revealed that treatment with intrauterine dextrose does not significantly disrupt the bacterial balance of bacteria in the reproductive tract, unlike treatment with antibiotics.