According to work done by USDA Agricultural Research Service scientists – natural compounds may offer an alternative to certain antibiotics for treating young animals that are susceptible to bacterial infections. Researchers have invented a new method using chlorate and nitro compounds to significantly reduce or eliminate intestinal bacterial pathogens in animals such as piglets and calves. USDA reports the chlorate and nitro compounds have proven effective against the foodborne pathogens Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. Salmonella and certain E. coli strains cause considerable losses to the swine and cattle industries due to enteric or intestinal diseases of newborns. The combination of nitro and chlorate compounds – according to the USDA team – could offer an alternative to certain antibiotics commonly used to treat diarrheal infections in young animals.