In August 1994, a young (est. 1 month old, 58kg) female Kogia breviceps calf stranded on the Florida east coast, and was transported to Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida for treatment and care. Separated from its mother, the calf was suffering from malnourishment, dehydration, and other stranding-related conditions. Along with medical treatment, administration of a Multi-Milk`R'-based formula used previously with other cetacean calves was initiated within 36 hours of arrival. While attempts to develop an acceptable nursing device were unsuccessful, the calf was successfully conditioned to voluntarily accept regular feedings via stomach tube. The calf typically consumed 500­1000 ml of formula per feed and averaged 6-8 feeds/day, although volume and frequency were variable.

Basic formula ingredients, and the most regularly-administered concentrations, were as follows:

Daily supplements of vitamins E (100 IU) and B1 (250 ma) were also provided. These ingredients yielded an average of 2 liters total formula volume and the caloric content of the most regularly-administered formula variations ranged from 0.95 kcal/ml to 1.59 kcal/ml. Several modifications to the basic formula were made based upon indications of nausea and vomiting, elevated/depressed blood parameters, indications of dehydration/overhydration, end targeted consumption of kilocalories per day. Small amounts of salt (NaC1) for instance, were added to the formula when sodium and chloride levels in the blood declined. Herring viscera were removed from the formula when uric acid levels were noted to have increased.

The calf typically averaged between 6000 and 7200 kcals consumed per day. Also included under daily caloric intake were relatively small amounts of whole squid (pens and beaks removed), which the calf began to accept after approximately 70 days of care. Weight gain by the calf was noted when a daily caloric intake of 60 to 80 kcals/kg body weight was maintained. In January, 1995, the calf expired as a result of acute respiratory failure associated with several pathological conditions. During her 147-day stay, the calf gained a maximum of 66.4 kg (Figure 1). The successes associated with the nutritional aspects of this case are attributed to the close monitoring of a variety of medical parameters (weight, blood chemistry and hematology, ultrasound, stomach contents, and fecal sampling) appropriate modification of formula volume and composition, and the behavioral conditioning of the calf to readily accept feedings via stomach tube and to voluntarily enter a sling for weighing.