Indigestion in young calves. VI. Studies of diarrheic calves fed milk replacers made of normal and heat-treated skim milk and whey powder.

Diarrhea occurred in 12 pre-ruminant calves after the introduction of milk replacers. Six of the calves were fed a replacer made of normally treated skim milk and whey powder, while the other 6 got a replacer made of heat-treated powders, although otherwise similar to that of the first group. Abomasal curd formation was deficient in calves fed for 9 or 17 days on the heat-treated replacer (4 of 6 calves). Otherwise, no clear differences between the calves given normally treated and heat-treated replacer occurred, as regards diarrhea, bacteriological, virological, and pathomorphological findings in the intestinal tract. Rotavirus and chlamydial infections were indicated and considered as the major cause of the diarrheic condition, although bacteria, including coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, may have contributed. The milk replacers may have been involved was provoking factors.