Evaluation of differing interventions (pork plasma, colostrum, or antibiotic) at the onset of neonatal calf diarrhea

Research at Mapleview Agri Ltd in Ontario examined supplementing either spray-dried pork plasma (30 g 2x daily of APC Nutrapro P), spray-dried whole colostrum (30 g 2x daily of Saskatoon Colostrum Company), administering an antibiotic (3 ml trimethoprim sulphadoxine, Borgal), or no additive/medication commencing at the onset of diarrhea for 5 consecutive days. Results: Calves on the antimicrobial had a greater ADG over the 56 d experimental period. Calves fed antimicrobial noted increased 56-d BW, while calves supplemented with either functional protein tended to greater BW at 56 d. No other differences were noted. The cash outlay for colostrum was $22.40, for plasma was $1.65, and for the antibiotic was $1.12 per calf.