Protect your calves against scours
W
hen West Virginia cow herds
enter the last trimester of
pregnancy, it is time to prepare for
the challenges of calving. Cows and
calves are too valuable not to receive
the producer’s full attention.
About scours
Scours, which causes dehydration
through diarrhea in calves, indicates
an underlying condition or infection
in the herd. The complex disease
has a variety of infectious agents and
conditions. A calf scours problem is
best corrected through management,
rather than medication. The main
pathogens that cause calf scours are
E. coli, rotavirus, coronavirus,
clostridia, Salmonella, and
Cryptosporidium. Sometimes, the
pathogen creating the problem is
determined by the age of the calf
when it exhibits clinical signs.
Prevention measures
Many scour vaccines should be given
at least six weeks before calving. The
vaccines are administered to pregnant
cows in two doses three weeks apart,
with the second dose given three to six
weeks before calving. Some product
labels state that vaccines should be
administered 8 to 16 weeks before
calving. Regardless of the product, calf
scours vaccines must be administered
in advance of calving to be effective.
The “gold standard” to prevent
scours is controlling environmental
contamination. If the vaccination
window is missed, the next alternative
is to treat calves within 12 hours of
birth with commercial oral antibodies.
Practice tight biosecurity because
E. coli can travel on boots from field
to field or farm to farm. A common
practice that introduces scours into
many herds is bringing in a calf from
the sale barn, a dairy, or a neighbor’s
farm. If you insist on replacing the calf
of a cow or heifer that has lost a calf, at
least move the pair to an isolated area.
Portable calf shelters can provide
protection and reduce stress. Change
bedding or move calves to fresh
ground regularly. Shelters work
replacement colostrum from one
of your own cows and avoid using
colostrum from dairies or other
outside herds.
A properly immunized cow herd
ensures the quality of the colostrum
and helps the newborn calf ’s immune
system to develop. Vaccinating before
the breeding season will build a high
level of whole-herd immunity.
Treatment
Management, rather than medication,
is best way to correct calf scours.
(www.flickr.com/photos/markhsal/25058373/)
when the weather turns cold and wet,
but monitor them regularly to make
sure that too many calves do not
crowd under a shelter. Sometimes,
calves should be shut out totally to
avoid exposure to contamination.
Colostrum important
Nature offers the best treatment and
prevention of scours – the colostrum
of the calf ’s mother. Ensure that
all calves nurse and get all the
colostrum the dam provides in
the first 12 hours after birth. If
commercial colostrum is provided,
use a colostrum replacement, not
a colostrum supplement. Save
The universal treatment of scours
is rehydrating and correcting
electrolyte imbalances. Fluids
can be administered either orally
or intravenously, depending on
the severity of the illness. Se ٕɅ