Diarrhoea treatment for calves

01-07-2008 | Not Specified

A new rehydration solution that can be mixed with milk is set to make treating diarrhoea in calves much easier.

Bayer New Zealand is currently launching Glutellac, an oral rehydration solution, for treating scouring calves.

Glutellac brand manager Libby Evans said most other fluid therapies either require the withholding of milk feeding for the duration of the therapy, or separate feeding of milk and the therapy.

"Bayer has specifically developed Glutellac for mixing directly with milk, which has advantages for both the calf and the farmer."

She says irrespective of the cause of diarrhoea, calves lose large quantities of fluid and electrolytes. By adding Glutellac to milk, calves can quickly replenish fluid and electrolytes, and therefore their energy supply.

Evans says from the farmer's point of view Glutellac is easy to handle and administer. The product comes in 50ml ampoules which are easy to open and add to milk, saving both time and labour costs for the farmer.

Glutellac is a vet only treatment.

How Glutellac works
Most calves with diarrhoea suffer from metabolic acidosis. Rapid and focused correction of this serious condition with an alkaline buffer substance is vital.

Glutellac contains acetate as a buffer which is converted to bicarbonate by the liver, thus aiding correction of metabolic acidosis while avoiding the negative impact of impairment of milk coagulation in the abomasum. Acetate is the most easily metabolized buffering agent.

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