Understanding and Managing Diarrhea in Pre-Weaned Calves
Diarrhea in pre-weaned calves is a common challenge for farmers, especially for those under two weeks of age, when their immune system is still developing. Scours, caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites like E. coli, Salmonella, rotavirus, and cryptosporidium. These pathogens attack the lining of the gut, impairing nutrient absorption and leading to watery diarrhea, dehydration and even death if left untreated. In this month’s newsletter, we’ll provide key insights on prevention and treatment strategies to help you manage this issue effectively.
Prevention
Cleanliness
Ensuring a clean environment is crucial in reducing pathogen load, as pathogens are usually spread when calves ingest them from their environment. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting all equipment, including bottles, pails, esophageal feeders, and hutches, helps prevent the spread of infection.
Colostrum
Ensure adequate colostrum intake within the first 4 hours of life by feeding a minimum of 4L of good-quality colostrum (with a Brix reading of >22) to provide proper immunity. After the first 24 hours, a calf’s ability to absorb immunoglobulins decreases significantly, making timely colostrum feeding essential for providing the necessary immunity to help fight off these pathogens in the future.
Vaccination
AT THE DAM LEVEL – Pre-calving scour vaccines are an effective way to boost antibody levels in the dam’s colostrum, providing protection against common scour-causing pathogens. These vaccines can help reduce the severity of symptoms, lower the need for antibiotic treatments, and decrease the risk of antibiotic resistance. The antibodies produced by the dam are transferred to the calf through high-quality colostrum, so it’s essential that the Kirkton Veterinary Clinic calf receives the dam’s colostrum to benefit from this protection. Calves that only receive powdered colostrum won’t gain the advantages of the dam’s vaccination.
AT THE CALF LEVEL – Antibodies can be delivered directly to the calf at birth through products like First Defense. When combined with maternal colostrum, these products provide instant protection by delivering antibodies directly to the gut, supporting passive immunity against specific scour causing pathogens.
Treatment
Fluid Therapy
ORAL ELECTROLYTES – When dealing with scouring calves, oral electrolyte feeding is ESSENTIAL for recovery. If the calf is standing and has a strong suckle reflex, you can offer electrolyte solutions. For calves that are not eating, it’s important to feed electrolytes up to four times a day. Scouring calves often experience acidosis and need these electrolytes to restore their balance. If a calf has a weak suckle reflex, tube feeding may be necessary. Keep in mind that a healthy 45 kg (100 lb) calf requires 10% of its body weight—approximately 4L of fluids—daily just for maintenance. Therefore, a scouring calf needs not only the 4L for basic hydration but additional fluids to address dehydration and the ongoing losses caused by diarrhea.
MILK – It is very important to remember to continue to feed the gut! Providing milk or milk replacer is vital for supporting a scouring calf, as these meals serve as an important energy source to help repair the damaged gut lining. If a scouring calf is willing to drink, it’s best to continue offering milk, as every bit of intake helps with recovery. However, it’s important to note that you should never tube-feed milk or milk replacer to a scouring calf, as this can lead to further complications.
IV FLUIDS – In more severe cases, as dehydration and acidosis progress calves may exhibit a very weak or absent suck reflex and may be unable to rise. A complete loss of the suck reflex often correlates with a loss of gastrointestinal function, meaning oral fluids may not be absorbed. In these calves, IV fluid therapy becomes the only option. These fluids are typically administered over 1-2 days until the calf regains its strength, suck reflex, and it can start consuming oral fluids or milk again. If you have a calf that requires IV fluids, it’s crucial to consult with your veterinarian to ensure proper treatment and care.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatories (NSAIDs)
Scours often causes significant abdominal pain and gut inflammation, which can hinder a calf’s recovery. While rehydration with electrolytes is the primary treatment, adding an anti-inflammatory like Metacam can help calves recover more quickly. By reducing pain and discomfort, NSAIDs help maintain the calf’s appetite and overall well-being, enabling them to bounce back faster and improving their overall welfare during the recovery process.
Gut Protectants
Products like Kaopectate or Pepto-Bismol can be valuable in supporting the treatment of scours by helping to coat and protect the gut lining. These protectants also assist in absorbing excess fluid and binding endotoxins, offering relief to the inflamed and damaged intestine. However, it’s important to remember that while these products provide protective benefits, they do not address the underlying cause of the infection. As such, they should not be used as a substitute for oral electrolytes or NSAIDs but can be used in addition to your overall treatment protocol.
Antibiotics
Most scours cases are caused by viruses or parasites, so antibiotics aren’t warranted for every calf. Only about 30% develop a bacterial infection. Antibiotics should be reserved for calves showing signs of systemic illness, such as depression, fever >39.4°C, or a weak/absent suckle reflex. Using antibiotics when they aren’t necessary reduces their effectiveness when they’re truly needed.
Scours is a complex disease, and no single method will completely prevent it from affecting your herd. However, combining good management practices, proper nutrition, and vaccination can go a long way in reducing the risk of an outbreak. Consult your herd veterinarian to create a prevention/treatment plan tailored to your farm’s needs to minimize the impact of scours on your herd in the future.
UPCOMING EVENTS
BULL BREEDING SOUNDNESS EVALUATION DAY – Saturday, March 21st
Denfield Livestock Exchange (12952 Sixteen Mile Rd, Denfield) Cost: $110/bull RSVP by March 14th by calling the clinic at 519-229-8911
BEEF PRODUCER MEETING – Wednesday, April 8th at 6 PM
Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre Dinner included! RSVP by April 1st by calling the clinic at 519-229-8911
DAIRY PRODUCER MEETING – Thursday, April 9th at 10 AM
River Valley Golf & Tube Slide Lunch included! RSVP by April 2nd by calling the clinic at 519-229-8911