Therapeutic management of acute calf diarrhoea in pre-weaned buffalo calves with herbal electrolyte combination regimens

Diverse pathobionts, undeveloped or disturbance in intestinal micro biota, unhygienic managemental practices, emergence of antibiotic resistant strain as a consequence of inappropriate use of antibiotic and various environment factors may account for acute calf diarrohea. Suppression of pathobionts and restoration of good intestinal health via use of herbal drug or synbiotics may be alternative strategy to combat diarrohea. The comparative therapeutic efficacy of different herbal-synbiotic formulations in combination with oral rehydration solution (ORS) were systematically evaluated in 24 diarrhoeic buffalo calves of either sex up to 12 weeks post-partum both in the organized and unorganized dairy farms in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh). The haemato-biochemical profiles of the diarrhoeic and apparently healthy calves were also monitored. The herbal anti-diarrhoreal agent (Kutaja/ Bael) in combination with synbiotics (prebiotics + probiotics) and ORS brought prompt relief to the diarrhoeic calves as evidenced by abatement of shooting diarrhoea, restoration of faecal consistency and the suckling impulse, improved skin tonicity and normal behaviour profile. The best results were obtained with the oral package: Kutaja+Synbiotic+ORS followed by Bael+Synbiotic+ORS clearly reflected in favourable changes in the internal milieu explored with the highly dependable haemato-biochemical indices.