Effects of ororuminal forced feeding of oral electrolytes or milk replacer combined with intravenous fluids on blood metabolites and mortality in dehydrated surplus calves.

Abstract

Objective: We hypothesized that dehydrated calves treated with IV fluids containing 14 g of sodium bicarbonate, combined with oral electrolytes, would reduce mortality and improve recovery of anion gap compared to calves treated with IV fluids containing 14 g of sodium bicarbonate only or IV fluids with 14 g of sodium bicarbonate combined with milk replacer feeding.

Methods: In a randomized control study, dairy and beef-on-dairy cross calves (n = 460) were enrolled into the following groups at diagnosis of dehydration: sick controls treated with IV fluids only (Con-IV), calves treated with IV fluids plus oral force-fed electrolytes (ELE), calves treated with IV fluids plus oral force-fed milk replacer (MILK), and healthy controls (Con-Health). Mortality and IV fluid treatment counts were analyzed. Blood metabolites and fecal dry matter were measured (n = 80).

Results: Mortality for each group was as follows: Con-Health, 5.31% (95% CI, 2.4% to 11.3%); Con-IV, 13.91% (95% CI, 8.6% to 21.5%); ELE, 10.43% (95% CI, 6.0% to 17.5%); and MILK, 11.3% (95% CI, 6.6% to 18.5%). Bicarbonate concentrations in the Con-IV group returned to normal levels 1 hour after treatment. Anion gap in MILK calves was the highest after treatment. The relative risk of additional IV treatments for dehydration was 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2 to 1.8), 1.3 (95% CI, 1.1 to 1.6), and 2.1 (95% CI, 1.8 to 2.4) for the Con-IV, ELE, and MILK groups, respectively.

Conclusions: IV fluid with 14 g of sodium bicarbonate alone or combined with oral electrolytes was the most effective treatment for changes in acid-base balance in dehydrated bovine neonates in this study.

Clinical relevance: IV therapy with sodium bicarbonate may practically rehydrate diarrheic calves in the field and correct acid-base balance. The use of forced feeding of ororuminal milk may not be beneficial for dehydrated and diarrheic calves.