[Effect of ad lib and restricted milk feeding on the course of illness and body weight in young calves with diarrhea].
Two different feeding regimens for calves (age up to 21 days) suffering from acute diarrhea were evaluated with respect to course of illness and change in body weight. The patients of the experimental group were given whole milk ad libitum three times a day. The patients of the control group were offered whole milk at a rate of 13% their body mass per day divided into three meals. In addition, both groups were offered an oral rehydration solution at a rate 9.5% of body mass per day, also divided into three portions. Data from 60 calves (30 in both groups) were available for statistical analysis. The duration of illness in the experimental group was 10.9 +/- 6.0 days vs. 10.0 +/- 5.2 days in the control group. The daily increase of body mass in the experimental group averaged 0.607 +/- 0.452 kg, the one in the control group 0.230 +/- 0.231 kg (p = 0.0002). The calves of the experimental group required 13.16 +/- 11.18 I milk per kg weight gain, the calves of the control group 21.39 +/- 12.80 I. Six calves of the experimental group and two calves of the control group subsequently had a relapse. On the basis of the results obtained, a feeding regimen for calves suffering from acute diarrhea is suggested.
II. Medizinischen Tierklinik, Universität München.
A
A
Hinderer
G
G
Seemann
W
W
Klee
D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005508:Food Deprivation; D008892:Milk; D012008:Recurrence; D015430:Weight Gain