Startup Says Antibiotic-Free Therapy For Cows Yields Better Milk

An Israeli biopharm startup says clinical trials show that it can safely replace the use of antibiotics in the dairy industry and produce more nutritious milk from healthier cows. 

Ness Ziona-based Mileutis conducted the trial with more than 500 cows at seven large Israeli dairy farms, using its own Imilac therapy instead of antibiotics during a herd’s annual dry-off stage. 

This is a period when cows are not milked to allow their udders to rejuvenate and heal from mastitis, and the animals are normally given antibiotics to help with this process. 

All seven farms provide milk to the two largest dairy companies in Israel – Yotvata and Tnuva. 

The trial monitored the cows for one year after the therapy was administered and, according to Mileutis, using the antibiotic replacement resulted in a 7.2 percent increase in protein content, a 4 percent increase in fat content, and an 8.6 percent increase in milk yield per cow.

The company also said that the trial showed evidence that Imilac allows for the dry-off period to be shortened and the number of milking days increased. 

“Consumers can anticipate a future where they will enjoy better milk, produced by healthier cows, and with superior nutritional values,” said Mileutis co-founder and CEO David Javier Iscovich.