ST. CLOUD, Minn. — For many beef producers, calving season is just getting underway or may be starting soon. New calves require extra care to ensure a healthy start. One calf health problem many beef producers face is scours. Scours in calves is marked by frequent diarrhea and can cause severe dehydration and electrolyte loss. In severe cases, scours can cause death. Scours is one of the first disorders calves can come down with, so being prepared to combat it immediately is important.
The best way to fight scours is to prevent it. Scours is caused by pathogens that calves are exposed to at birth. The best way to minimize those pathogens is by keeping the calving area as clean as possible. If you are calving in a barn or shed, clean up the area between each calving. If you are calving outside, make sure cows have a clean, fresh area to calve in, NOT an area that has already been used and is dirty. The important thing is to make sure calves and the results of their birth are not co-mingled at any time.
Scours is caused by pathogens that calves are exposed to at birth. Where are these pathogens coming from? They are shed by cows to varying degrees, based on their level of stress. Highly stressed cows will shed more, which increases the amount the calf is exposed to. The easiest ways to reduce stress to the cows is to keep their area comfortable, clean, calm, and not overly crowded. It may be easier to keep all the cows together for various reasons, but remember that the cow is a part of the calf’s environment. Crowded cows are likely more dirty, and the calf will be exposed to the excess manure on her belly, flanks, and udder.
Besides cleanliness, the best way to prevent scours is colostrum. Ensuring calves get plenty of high quality colostrum at birth will provide the best protection. Colostrum, of course, is full of antibodies that are specific to whatever the cow is or has been exposed to, including the pathogens she may be currently shedding. Think of it as a “custom made” antibiotic for the calf.
If your calves do come down with scours, it should be fairly easy to diagnose. Diagnosis is based on the age of the calf at the onset of scours. Calves are exposed at birth, but each bug has a different incubation period, which is why age is the best tool to diagnose. Some common causative organisms are E. coli, rotavirus, coronavirus, cryptosporidium, and coccidia. E. coli is seen at 0-5 days of age, rotavirus at 4-14 days, coronavirus at 7-30 days, cryptosporidium at 8-16 days, and coccidia at 21 days and beyond. Treatment of scours should be based on the age of the calf and the likelihood of the pathogen causing it. If you aren’t sure what to treat your calf with, be sure to consult with your veterinarian. Whatever type of scours you are treating, remember that calves will need plenty of water and electrolytes to keep from getting dehydrated.
— Emily Wilmes, University of Minnesota Extension
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