STUDIES ON THE EFFECT OF BROTIZOLAM ON AN OREXIA IN NEONATAL CALVES

In a field study, 32 neonatal calves exhibiting an abnormally reduced milk intake were treated with Mederantil(R) (brotizolam) at dose from 2.5 to 4.4 mug/kg body weight. The voluntary feed intake within 30 min utes of treatment and the clinical course over the first 10 days after treatment were studied. Within 30 minutes of treatment, 24 (75 per ce nt) calves showed a reversion to a normal intake of milk. Using clinic al criteria, 23 animals were considered to be cured and one case was i mproved. Of the remaining 8 cases repeated treatment was unsuccessful and all of these animals died within 10 days of treatment. There was e vidence of a viral infection in three of these calves. The pathologica l and physiological basis of anorexia in neonatal calves is discussed.