Electrolytes for calves are salts and sugars that you dissolve in lukewarm water and give as a drink, alongside the milk feed. This collection contains complementary feeds and dietetic feeds from Excellent: the Electrolytenmix in 2.5, 5 and 10 kilo, Rehy-Tab Plus effervescent tablets, Kalvital Direct Stop in sachets and Crypto Block as a block and as a liquid. They are not medicines.
Powder, tablet or sachet
- Electrolytenmix: a powder that you weigh out yourself and dissolve in lukewarm water. Practical if you have many calves; the large packs last a long time.
- Rehy-Tab Plus: effervescent tablets with electrolytes and energy. According to the manufacturer, they dissolve within a minute and do not settle. The label also mentions foals, lambs and piglets.
- Kalvital Direct Stop: pre-measured 50-gram sachets with fibre, electrolytes, vitamins and energy. Handy if you do not want to weigh.
- Crypto Block: a supplement that you mix into the milk feed of calves and goat kids, as a block or liquid.
How to give electrolytes
How much, at what water temperature and for how many days is stated on the label; stick to it exactly. Only mix electrolytes into milk if the label says so. Use a clean feeding bucket or bottle and clean it after every use, and give a calf that is kept separately its own bucket.
Drinking water and fluid balance
Milk is food, but not a substitute for water. Alongside the milk, always provide clean, fresh drinking water, especially in warm weather or in a warm barn. Check daily that the drinker is clean and that every calf can reach it. In a hutch or single pen, hang the bucket so that it does not tip over and does not get dirty with bedding.
Unsure about your calf?
Electrolytes and dietetic feeds are an addition to good care, not a treatment. If a calf drinks poorly or seems ill, consult your vet about what it needs.
See also: calf feeding buckets and teats, calf milk, calf jackets and hutches, cleaning and disinfecting the barn and everything for calf rearing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I mix electrolytes into the milk?
Only if the product label says so. If it does not, give the electrolyte drink separately from the milk.
How long do I give electrolytes?
Follow the duration of use and amount on the packaging. If a calf seems ill, consult your vet.
Are these products also for lambs or piglets?
Rehy-Tab Plus and the Electrolytenmix also mention lambs and piglets, Crypto Block also goat kids. Read the feeding advice per species.