Calf Scours Causes Prevention Treatment Brendan Kraus DVM
Calf Scours Causes, Prevention, & Treatment Brendan Kraus, DVM Thanks Dr. Larson
Calf Scours Complex l Multifactorial Disease Host Environment Agent
Host Factors Level of Immunity l Passive l Calves Transfer are born without antibodies l Calves should ingest at least 1 gallon of colostrum in the first 12 hours of life (recommendations have changed) l Many calves ingest inadequate levels
Host: Level of Immunity Passive Transfer
Host: Level of Immunity Prevention Tips 1) Ensure Adequate Passive Transfer 2) Prevent Dystocia 3) Bull Selection Based on EPD for birth weight and calving ease
Select for Calving Ease
Host: Level of Immunity Prevention Tips 4) Proper Development of Dam l Dam should calve at BCS 5. 5 -6. 0 l Avoid over-condition or rapid weight gain in late gestation (fat in pelvic canal)
BCS 6
Environment Factors l Overcrowding l Poor Sanitation l Damp l Age or wet ground of Dam l Poor Quality Milk/milk replacers
Environment: Overcrowding/Sanitation Prevention Tips 1) Optimize Environment/Sanitation l Calving areas should be as clean and dry as possible l Calves should be dispersed as much as possible (intensive vs. extensive)
Intensive vs. Extensive Concentration Intensive Permits Ready Intervention Extensive Favors Hygiene
Environment: Overcrowding/Sanitation Prevention Tips 1) Optimize Environment/Sanitation (cont. ) l Separate calving pasture from winter feeding pastures (more uncommon for spring calvers) l Feeding strategy considerations
Feeding Strategy Considerations l. Bale feeders l. Spread bales l. Feed bunk movement l. Water sources l. Stockpiled forage
Environment: Overcrowding/Sanitation Prevention Tips 1) Optimize Environment/Sanitation (cont. ) l Calving areas should have adequate drainage l Provide protection from the wind
Environment: Overcrowding/Sanitation Prevention Tips 2) Control Exposure l Which calves are at risk?
Calves are not Equally at Risk! 1 to 3 week-old calves are also shedding the most scours pathogens Most calves are 1 to 2 weeks of age at time of death l Calves older than 3 weeks are at low risk of death l From David Smith et al, 2004
Calves are not Equally at Risk! Calves born early in the calving season are at low risk l Calves born late in the calving season are at high risk l From David Smith et al, 2004
Calves are not Equally at Risk! The risk of scours and the severity of disease in each affected calf increases as the calving season progresses l The age at disease onset decreases as the calving season progresses l From David Smith et al, 2004
Environment: Overcrowding/Sanitation Prevention Tips 2) Control Exposure (cont. ) l Pasture Rotation l Keep young calves away from older calves
Control Exposure: Keep Young Calves away from Older Calves
Pasture Rotation 1) Mid-late gestation pasture (minimum) l Can be sorted at preg check OR 2) Move heavies every 1 -3 weeks l New calves being born on clean pasture l Older calves staying behind in contamination l Herd reassembled for breeding l Youngest calf around 3 weeks old
Environment: Overcrowding/Sanitation Prevention Tips 2) Control Exposure (cont. ) l Calve l Be Heifers Early Wary of Outside Calves
Agent l Escherichia coli (1 -6 days) l Clostridium perfringens (1 -14 days) l Rota Virus (5 -21 days) l Corona Virus (5 -36 days) l Cryptosporidium (6 -21 days) l Salmonella (6 -36 days)
E. Coli l 2 types: Septicemia & Enterotoxogenic l Usually within 3 -5 days of life l Severe, watery diarrhea (secretory, ETEC) l Depression l Hypothermia l Distant Infections (joints, brain navel, septicemia)
Enterotoxogenic E-coli
Clostridium perfringens l< 2 weeks old l Low morbidity : High mortality l Healthy, fast growing calves l Heavy milking dams l Sudden Death l Diarrhea/Abdominal Pain l Necrosis of small intestine l Enlargement of intestinal lymph nodes
Rotavirus l Most Common l Often found in mixed infections l 5 days to 3 weeks of age l Affects small intestine l Voluminous (Malabsorptive) l Lactose washout with osmotic diarrhea l Dehydration l At least 7 days to repair intestinal damage
Coronavirus l More Severe than Rota l 5 days to 30 days of age l Large and small intestine l Dehydration l Anorexia l Infects intestinal cells more severely l Malabsorption/maldigestion l Respiratory Infections
Cryptosporidium l Zoonotic Potential l 7 days to 30 days of age l Protracted, non-responsive diarrhea l Intracellular but extracytoplasmic Drugs difficult to kill l Off Label l
Salmonella l> 10 days of age l Foul smelling diarrhea l Fibrin and mucosa may be present in stool l Distant infections
Treatment Challenges l Hypothermia l Hypoglycemia l Acidosis l Low Protein l Electrolyte Imbalances l Hypovolemia/Dehydration
Treatment l Cornerstone of Treatment is Fluid Therapy Calculate Dehydration % and Replacement Amount
Fluid Therapy
Fluid Therapy l Correct Dehydration l Correct Electrolyte Imbalances l Combat Shock l Support Internal Organ Function l Supplement Energy
Fluid Therapy Routes of Administration l Oral l Intravenous
Oral Fluids l Must have GI motility (body temp) l Must have GI perfusion (dehydration) l Must have absorptive function (damage) l Benefits-Inexpensive
Intravenous Fluids l Rapid Replacement of fluid deficits l Replacement of Electrolytes (bicarbonate) l Base Deficit Correction l Replacement of Ongoing Losses
Treatment, Other l Nutritional Support l Body Temperature Maintenance l Maintain Oral Fluids/Electrolytes l Antibiotics +/-
Scours Outbreak l Short Term Intervention Strategies l Treat affected calves l Calving site selection and management l l Calving season l l Move pregnant cows away from nursing cows Dystocia management l l Change location of calves Monitor calving closely Good husbandry and nutrition of dam
Scours Outbreak l Long Term Prevention Strategies l Care and Nutrition of Dam l Dystocia l l Calving site selection and management l l Plan ahead, get site ready Pasture Rotation l l Sire selection and heifer development Be as aggressive as you need for your operation Vaccination (last for a reason)
Scours Vaccination l Dam vaccinated/antibodies in colostrum l To be used as a tool in the arsenal l Usage determined by risk l Vaccination of younger stock l Must have two rounds prior to calving the first year l Vaccinations available for the calf l Will not work as sole prevention measure
A Too Common Scenario? l It’s March 3, a cold drizzle is coming down as you slide across the pasture in 4 WD. Vet and client are surveying a pasture of 40 cow/calf pairs. Calves range in age from 1 day to 2 months. The mud is ankle deep. Approximately 50% of the calves have fluid stools. Four calves have died in the last 2 days, and at present, 4 calves are weak and unable to stand. The client turns and asks, “What do you think we should we do? ”
Questions?
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