Randomized controlled clinical trial on the effect of oral immunoglobulin supplementation on neonatal dairy calves with diarrhea

Chung, James J.; Rayburn, Maire C.; Chigerwe, Munashe

Neonatal heifer calves diagnosed with diarrhea by the authors based on a fecal consistency scoring system 15 and deemed nonseptic based on a septic scoring system 16 were randomly assigned using a random generator number into 1 of the following calf groups: TRXT, placebo (PLCB), or CONT. The CONT group calves received no supplements in the milk, and the final total solids content of the milk after preparation ranged from 12 to 14% based on a digital refractometer reading (Palm Abbe Table 1 . The PLCB group calves were supplemented with 182 g of a supplement powder of similar nutritional value as the TRXT group calves, but without the IgG (Lifeline Intervene, APC Inc, Boone, Iowa), mixed thoroughly with milk, twice daily for 14 days. Nutrients of the supplement fed to the PLCB group calves are summarized in Table 1 .