Techniques for Scours Control

Calf scours is a debilitating disease that causes acute diarrhea and is often fatal.

Scours is a condition that afflicts baby calves, usually within the first month after birth, and causes acute diarrhea and often death. Calf scours is an infectious disease thought to be caused by one or more parasites, bacteria and viruses; among these are corona and rota viruses, E. coli bacteria and cryptosporidia. However, results of vaccinations against these bugs and antibiotics used to treat them have proved ineffective, according to Drovers Cattle Network. A detailed study on scours by Washington State University researchers found that most, if not all, calf-raising facilities carried many or all of the scours-causing organisms. Researchers discovered, however, that while some farms had significant scours problems, others had none. Scientists found that many other factors are important when establishing a scours control program, including controlling the amount of scours pathogens the calf is exposed to, providing the calf with enough high-quality colostrum at birth, regularly disinfecting materials and facilities and reducing stresses on the calf, including wet and cold.

Herd Management

If a calf with scours is in the same pasture with a pregnant cow, the cow might get scours organisms on their teats and pass a huge dose of them onto their newborn calf when it nurses. To prevent this, cows that have not calved should be moved to a separate pasture away from calves that have already been born. Splitting the herd can significantly reduce the build-up of scours organisms. Feeding nursing cows hay in a different location every day moves cattle around so they spend less time in potentially infected areas. While not always possible in cold weather, calves born outside are less likely to contract scours than those calved in a barn.

Sanitizing Facilities

Controlling the introduction and spread of scours can be reduced significantly with consistent sanitary practices. Calving stalls should be stripped clean and disinfected after every birth. Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences recommends spraying stalls with diluted bleach. Bleached stalls must then be thoroughly dried to avoid respiratory complications from chlorine fumes. Nursing bottles, tube feeders and calf feeding pails and buckets should be disinfected with diluted bleach after every use.

Colostrum

To help the calf develop a healthy immune system it is critical it is fed five to six pints of high-quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of birth. It's also helpful for calves to be supplemented with colostrum for the first four days after birth, but the first feeding is the most important. Colostrum is the first milk the mother cow produces after birth. To ensure newborns receive the proper dose, many farmers bottle or tube feed calves purchased high-quality colostrum for their first feeding. Most dairy farmers hand-feed all newborn calves colostrum for the first four days after birth.

Stress Management

Protecting newborn calves from wet, cold, heat and stress can reduce the spread of scours. Some cattlemen choose to hand-raise newborn calves in individual, draft-free hutches in the barn or another sheltered area to avoid potential contamination from a sick calf and reduce from stress from exposure to other animals and the elements. Hutches should be in a well-ventilated area, protected from drafts and overexposure to sunlight and heat.

References

• Drovers CattleNetwork: Preventing Scours in the Upcoming Calving Season
• Range Beef Cow Symposium XVIII: Managing to Alleviate Calf Scours
• Colorado State University: Department of Animal Sciences: Calf Scours; Cause, Prevention, Control and Treatment
• University of Kentucky: College of Agriculture: Feeding and Managing Baby Calves from Birth to 3 Months of Age