WHOLE MILK AND ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION FOR CALVES WITH DIARRHEA OF SPONTANEOUS ORIGIN

Forty-two calves (mean 10 d of age) that spontaneously contracted diar rhea were used to test the therapeutic value of an oral rehydration so lution with or without whole milk. Therapy began on the first feeding after a fecal score was >2 (five-point scale). Amounts (percentages of BW daily) of milk and oral rehydration solution on d 1 and 2. 3 and 4 , 5 and 6. and 7 for treatments 1, 2, and 3 were 1) 0 and 10, 5 and 5. 7.5 and 2.5. 10 and 0% (in two feedings); 2) 2.5 and 10, 5 and 7.5, 7 .5 and 5, 10 and 0% (in two feedings); 3) 10 and 10, 10 and 5. 10 and 2.5, 10 and 0% (in three feedings). Oral rehydration solution was fed 15 min after milk. Fecal score, rectal temperature, packed cell volume of whole blood, concentrations of glucose and electrolytes in serum, and strong ion difference of serum were unaffected by treatments. Calv es given treatment 3 gained BW throughout the experiment, whereas thos e given treatments 1 or 2 lost BW during the first 3 d of therapy. Fec al cultures indicated that 70% of calves were infected with Cryptospor idium on d 1 of therapy. No mortality occurred. Whole milk and oral re hydration solution fed to calves did not adversely affect calves or pr olong or worsen diarrhea but promoted gain of BW.