Bd. Garthwaite et al., WHOLE MILK AND ORAL REHYDRATION SOLUTION FOR CALVES WITH DIARRHEA OF SPONTANEOUS ORIGIN, Journal of dairy science, 77(3), 1994, pp. 835-843
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.