{"id":2171,"date":"2023-01-02T18:16:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-02T18:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruminta.eu\/?p=2171"},"modified":"2023-08-22T18:28:45","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T18:28:45","slug":"biegunka-u-cielat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruminta.eu\/en\/biegunka-u-cielat\/","title":{"rendered":"Diarrhea in calves"},"content":{"rendered":"

Along with gastrointestinal diseases, diarrhea is the leading cause of calf collapses. There are many factors contributing to their occurrence, but the most important are improper feeding of colostrum, milk or milk replacers, unsuitable microclimatic conditions and infections caused by bacteria and viruses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diarrhea is a symptom of gastrointestinal dysfunction, causing dehydration, which makes it particularly dangerous. Failure to continuously monitor and observe animals for several hours can lead to loss of valuable electrolytes and increase the risk of dehydration, which can result in collapse. Successful treatment and recovery depend primarily on the speed of diagnosis, the condition of the calves and the factors causing the disorder. It is also important to note that even after successful treatment, the growth and development of the young animal's body may be significantly reduced. As for pathogens, the main causes of diarrhea are Escherichia coli and Salmonella bacteria, Cryptosporidium protozoa, Eimeria coccidia, as well as rotaviruses and coronaviruses, which have a high affinity for the intestinal epithelium. However, it is important to understand that the greater susceptibility to infection in calves is due to a weakened immune barrier in the body. Among other reasons, this is why it is so important to give colostrum to the animal as soon as possible after birth. In addition to the immunological values, the organoleptic characteristics of colostrum are also important. According to the definition, it should be thick and yellowish. Colostrum of cows after abnormal drying may contain an admixture of blood, which indicates inflammation of the mammary gland. Its use in calf feeding can significantly increase the risk of diarrhea. Proper dosage and method of administration of colostrum is also important. Due to the limited capacity of the stomach and the need to form an esophageal gutter, a calf should receive no more than 2 liters of colostrum fed from a bottle or bucket with a teat in the first hours of life. For older calves fed milk or milk replacers, the amount fed should not exceed 3 liters. Otherwise, there is a risk of acidosis. Younger calves should be fed more frequently, four to three times a day, and portion sizes should be adjusted according to age. An important factor affecting the absorption of nutrients, especially colostrum, is its proper temperature, which should be at least 35\u00b0C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another determinant of diarrhea in calves is environmental conditions. Pathogens are more easily accumulated and spread in livestock housing that is not regularly disinfected, with high humidity and high animal density.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosis and management of sick calves
In the early stages of diarrhea, calves experience dilute feces and weakness. In more advanced cases, there is an increase in body temperature and loss of appetite, which manifests itself in the absence of the suckling reflex. Often breeders, when they notice the condition at an early stage, decide to stop feeding colostrum, milk or milk replacers altogether, claiming that this aggravates the disease in calves. This is erroneous reasoning. Liquid feed contains not only the necessary nutrients to sustain life, but also biologically active substances that help regenerate damaged intestinal epithelium. However, the proper amount of food is a matter of debate. In the case of diarrhea, it is recommended to reduce the volume of fed food by 1\/3 to avoid the onset of acidosis. It is also a good idea to use anti-diarrheal agents with a complex formulation - due to the intense loss of minerals from the body and the risk of dehydration. Examples of such preparations are Diablock and Calfix mraki Ruminta, which contain pectins in addition to electrolytes and nutrients. Pectins are polysaccharides that are an integral structure of plant cell walls. They are a soluble component of dietary fiber, which forms a gel in an acidic environment. In the case of diarrhea, this property of pectins helps to thicken the digestive contents and stabilize their flow. In addition, the gel-like consistency protects the intestinal mucosa from pathogen attacks. The aforementioned preparations are also a source of vitamins that support the immune system, and their high concentration and assimilability of ingredients help maintain the proper condition of calves.
An additional element of support for diarrhea in calves is rehydration formulas - such as Ecolyte. However, it should be remembered that they should be administered alternately with milk, with appropriate time intervals. According to many experts, administering formulas immediately before or after feeding milk increases the pH of the stomach, leading to less efficient utilization of proteins such as casein. Therefore, the electrolyte product should be given to the calf no later than 3 hours before the liquid feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After diarrhea, it is important to help the calf rebuild the losses incurred as soon as possible. In this case, it is recommended to use Grow Plus- which is a highly concentrated preparation based on vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It replenishes deficiencies of these substances in the calf's body and allows it to return to full performance in a short time.<\/p>\n\n\n