METABOLIC-ACIDOSIS IN DIARRHEIC NEONATAL CALVES - ESTIMATION USING SUCKLING REFLEX AND STANDING ABILITY

The objective of this study was to investigate whether suckling reflex or standing ability might estimate metabolic acidosis in diarrheic ne onatal calves. A total of 65 neonatal calves which were sick with diar rhea were examined retrospectively. 72 percent of these calveds had co ncurrent metabolic acidosis. The base deviation was significantly corr elated to the suckling reflex (r = 0.70) and the ability to stand (r = 0.64). Normal suckling reflex was associated with average base losses of 4.2 mmol/l (95% confidence interval 2.3-6.1), weak suckling reflex with 11.4 (95% CI 9.3-13.4), and no suckling reflex with losses of 21 .5 mmol/l (95% CI 20.0-23.0). Normal standing ability was associated w ith average base losses of 5.2 mmol/l (95% CI 3.2-7.2), staggering wit h 7.8 (95% CI 5.8-10.6) and recumbency with 19.1 (95% CI 16.9-21,2). I n diarrheic neonatal calves base losses might be estimated using weak suckling reflex, no suckling reflex, and recumbency.