Scours is the end result, but what was the cause?
Not knowing the cause of calf scours certainly limits our approach to reducing the problem. Research by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (USA) revealed 24% of unweaned calves experienced scours; and worse, diarrhoea accounted for 56% of deaths in this age group. I doubt the figures are much different in Australia.
Cryptosporidium sp is the most common cause in the US. Although Crypto has not become a common discussion issue here, I know from a significant number of diagnosis on sick calves that it is more prevalent than we realise. Crypto is easily contracted by humans and produces the same diarrhea symptoms. It is most commonly contracted by calves between 5 and 7 days old and has damaging results. Mucousy feces at the onset is a good indicator within this time frame. Sanitation is the only preventative measure.
Coronavirus and Rotavirus are next most common causes of diarrhea. Both can be minimised by vaccinating the dam inducing protection to the calf via colostrum. Both these viruses can cause significant intestinal lining damage reducing both nutrient and water absorption.
The third most common diarrhea cause is Escherichia coli (E. coli). E. coli usually affects calves at less than six days old. It is the most common pathogen to infect newborn calves. Often calves become dehydrated and die before diarrhea symptoms appear. Hence fluid therapy is paramount for calf survival if this pathogen is suspected.
Scours have a huge impact on newborn calves and farm viability. The most effective prevention is good dry cow care and nutrition, a subject we are focusing more and more on. A short dry spell (40 days or less) will produce poor quality colostrum and immune transfer compared to 60 days. As discussed in January’s article, we are only recently realising the magnitude of calcium nutrition in dry cows. The other discovery in this area is sound protein nutrition of dry cows and springers. Inherently, both calcium and protein are major deficiencies in typical Australian dry cow management.
CALFMAX has demonstrated to be a very effective ingredient in the diet of milk fed calves over the 2015 season. The hydrolysation of yeast cell (a major ingredient in CALFMAX) has produced a plethora of benefits verified in healthy vibrant calves.
