Efficacy of a new natural remedy in the treatment of calves with gastrointestinal diseases accompanied by diarrhea

The article presents the results of an evaluation of the effectiveness of a new product based on natural raw materials for the treatment of young cattle from gastrointestinal diseases accompanied by diarrhea. The object of the study was two groups of newborn calves with signs of diarrhea. The experimental group animals received the product we developed (composition: rhizome of bergenia, fennel leaf, calendula flowers, amaranth seeds, probiotic, NaCl), the control group received the gastric herbal collection No. 1 (composition: rhizome of bergenia, caraway seeds, yarrow and saltwort herb, currant and plantain leaves). The therapy for each calf was carried out according to the following scheme: twice (morning and evening) orally in the form of a decoction at a dosage of 2 ml/kg of live weight. As a result of the experiment, on the 3rd day of therapy, the treatment effectiveness in the experimental group was 90%, in the control group on the 7th day – 80%. Moreover, the general blood test results in the experimental group were within the normal range on the 10th day of treatment. In the control, the level of leukocytes and hematocrit exceeded the reference values by 40.4 and 15.7%, respectively ( p < 0.001). Positive dynamics towards normalization of values were observed in the biochemical status of the experimental group of young animals. In the control group, the water-salt metabolism indicators (Na, K) were below the norm by 41.2 and 20.7%, respectively, the calcium level was lower by 63.1% ( p < 0.001), the phosphorus and iron indicators corresponded to the lower limit of the norm. The cost of a treatment course with the experimental agent was 123 rubles, and with the control agent – 260 rubles per calf. The average daily gain in live weight in the experimental group was 69.5% higher than the control data ( p < 0.001). In order to prevent economic losses associated with calf mortality and the loss of weight gain, the studied phyto probiotic complex is recommended for use at the first signs of diarrhea as a safe astringent, anti-inflammatory and enveloping agent.