There are many homemade electrolyte recipes floating around however while there is nothing wrong with homemade electrolytes if done properly, there is the old saying, ‘you get what you pay for’. They have their place for treating mild dehydration or as a preventative treatment, but anything more serious may require a more comprehensive product.
(One thing though, there is one recipe that suggests you can substitute table sugar for glucose. Unfortunately that is a no no. Table sugar, or sucrose, is a carbohydrate that cannot be metabolized by cattle because they do not have the enzyme to break it down. Adding sucrose may actually increase scouring and worsen dehydration).
Commercial electrolyte formulations generally contain a mix of dextrose and lactose to optimise the utilization of the energy content. They also contain several forms of alkalinizing agents to decrease metabolic acidosis and may also provide some energy. These are usually attached to sodium and include bicarbonate, citrate, lactate, acetate or propionate.
They will also contain other electrolytes, especially potassium and chloride, as well as many minerals. Potassium and chloride are needed to maintain pH of the blood and for muscle contractions, especially in the heart. The relationship between sodium and glucose is also critical as a solution too high in glucose will draw water from the intestine instead of into the intestine. Too much sodium can also cause problems.
Some products such as Biocalf Plus replace important gut bacteria that may be lost due to diarrhoea or antibiotic treatment to enhance a speedy recovery.
While making up your own electrolyte may cost very little, a good commercial electrolyte such as the Biocalf Plus which cost between $1.50 and $3.00 per treatment is an exceptional investment if it means that you are saving a calf that is at the very least worth several hundred dollars or a replacement heifer worth much more.
