Magic Elixir for the calf poops

[Liberty's Ledge]

So I am new to this forum so forgive me for sharing things that may have already been shared. I read some of the other threads on sale barn calves and figured I could share some of my limited experience and some secrets I have picked up from farming old timers. One of those secrets is a recipe for helping a calf with diarrhea. I used it on the last calf I bought and it turned him around 180 degrees. I knew the calf was poopy when I took him home but I got him for pennies and figured I couldn't do any worse than leaving him at the dairy where live or die could be like flipping a coin. So here is the magic secret that works for the old timers and has worked for me on one occasion.

Ingredients:
2 quarts water
6 tbsp honey
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp potassium salt (Morton's not regular table salt has to have Potassium)
1 pkg sure gel
1 pkg Knox gelatin

Heat on stove until foams
Add an additional 2 quarts water
Give 1 quart 1-2 hours before or after milk.
For treatment of scours add 2 tbsp of kaopectate (Pepto Bismol Works Great)
I would use the pepto on the first dose no matter what, it slows the spasms caused by diarrhea.

Like I said maybe this recipe has been shared in the past but I hadn't come across it so forgive me for taking up space if it has.

[myersfarm]

thanks will try it out...and I raise a bunch of calfs

[Oakshire_Farm]

I want to give that one a try!!!

But what is Sure Gel??

[springvalley]

Sure Gel is what you add to your jellies to make it jell, when you are canning them. > Marc

[Liberty's Ledge]

I had great success the one time I used this. I have put a lot of effort into sickly calves in the past with limited success. This recipe seems to make things comfy for the calf and a whole lot easier on me. Just a quart, 2 hours after the morning bottle and 2 hours prior to the evening bottle, works wonders. If you do it too soon after or before the bottle the milk and backing soda will react and you will end up with a sicker calf. Please let me know if you do try it and how it works.

[myersfarm]

[QUOTE=Liberty's Ledge;4826583]
Give 1 pint 1-2 hours before or after milk.

Just a quart, 2 hours after the morning bottle and 2 hours prior to the evening bottle


which is it

[topside1]

Thanks for sharing...Topside

[Liberty's Ledge]

Fixed it Myersfarm, it was supposed to say quart, I was transcribing it from paper and had it short hand. Couldn't read my own rwriting. Go figure. Sorry for any confusion.

[Oakshire_Farm]

Do you mean Pectin?? Is Sure Gel a brand name? I have never heard of it before, it may be a product only available in the States? This looks like something I want to try, just need to find out where I can get all the stuff!

You know I cannot even get Rennet here in Canada unless I order it online? I have to smuggle it across the border, lol

[copperhead46]

I have used Knox gelatin in this kind of mix, might try it. Yes, the sure gel is a pectin, I guess any brand would do.
P.J.

[Liberty's Ledge]

Copperhead, there is already Knox in it as another ingredient.

Yes Sure Gel is pectin. Any pectin will work. I use Sure Gel because it is readily available.

Ingredients:
2 quarts water
6 tbsp honey (Any Brand)
2 tsp baking soda (Any Brand)
1 tsp potassium salt (not regular table salt has to have Potassium)(Any brand as long as it has potassium)
1 pkg sure gel (Any Brand of Pectin)
1 pkg Knox gelatin (Any Gelatin Not Jello)

Sorry if any of this was confusing, I guess I made the bold assumption that if I could get it here in Podunk Maine that everybody could get it.