[The health status and metabolic indicators in calves fed colostrum and first milk preserved with potassium sorbate and milk replacements].

The aim of the experiments was to investigate the effects of the preservation of colostrum and unripe milk with potassium sorbate at a concentration of 0.5% and of its storage for three to five days at normal environmental temperatures on the calf health condition. A set of 30 calves divided into two groups was included in the trial. Calves belonging to the experimental group were fed preserved colostrum and unripe milk from day 9 to day 30 of their life (the first experimental period), and from day 31 to day 50 (the second experimental period) milk replacer. Calves belonging to the control group were fed milk replacer from day 9 to day 50 of their life. One calf from the experimental group died from a respiratory disease. In the control group, one calf died and another had to be slaughtered; in both cases digestive tract diseases were diagnosed. The number of calves which had to be treated medically was also lower in the experimental group--in the calves fed preserved colostrum--one case of periodic tympany was recorded in comparison with four cases in the control group. When haematological and biochemical characteristics were examined, significantly lower haemoglobin levels were found in experimental calves at the end of the first experimental period (105.4 g.l-1 when compared with 112 g.l-1 in the control group) and significantly higher values of proteinaemia were found in the blood plasma of these calves at the same period (59.6 g.l-1 and 53.8 g.l-1, respectively). Similar differences were also found during a single haematological and biochemical examination.