Studies on Diarrhea in Neonatal Calves III. Acid-base and Serum Electrolyte Values in Normal Calves from Birth to Ten Days of Age

A detailed clinical examination was conducted and blood samples were collected from a total of 151 normal calves as soon as possible after birth and at two to three day intervals until the calves were ten days old.

The mean venous pH values for calves from birth to ten days of age was 7.38 ± 0.05.

The mean serum sodium, potassium, magnesium, inorganic phosphate, calcium and chloride ion concentrations in normal calves from birth to ten days of age were 148 ± 13, 5.4 ± 0.8, 2.1 ± 0.4, 4.3 ± 0.8, 5.6 ± 0.5, 95 ±5, mEq/litre respectively. The mean serum osmolality in normal calves from birth to ten days of age was 280 ± 12 mOsm/litre.