The effectiveness of ascorbic acid in the prevention of calf neonatal diarrhoea

A trial was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of ascorbic acid in the prevention of neonatal calf diarrhoea. Ascorbic acid was given orally to 65 calves as follows: one tablet (1000 mg) three times a day for the first week; one tablet twice a day for the second week; and one tablet daily for the third week after birth (test group). Another 65 calves did not receive ascorbic acid (control group). The calves in these two groups were matched on the basis of the stage of lactation of their dams. The number of diarrhoeic calves that received ascorbic acid was significantly (P < 0.005) lower than the number of diarrhoeic calves in the control group that did not receive the drug.