13 April 2024

Treating scour challenges after an extended housing period

A wet start to 2024 has delayed the turnout of spring-born calves and their dams to grass – heightening the risk of health issues developing.

As the indoor period extends, rain continues to fall and straw supplies diminish or exhaust, the risk of a scour outbreak occurring increases. In some cases, cows have been housed since late September / early October and sheds – despite the best efforts of farmers – are ‘stale’ and may now host a range of pathogens or scour-causing bugs.

Manager of the Teagasc Future Beef Programme, Martina Harrington provides some key tips for treating calves affected by scour, noting that having a sample tested to identify the causing agent leads to more effective treatment.

“Some of the common scours seen in sheds in a year such as this are rota-virus, cryptosporidiosis and coccidiosis. Although they are caused by calves picking up the bug in the shed, each disease requires differing treatment strategies and these should only be implemented once a diagnosis of the scour has been obtained.

“Crypto and rota virus typically occurs in calves at 7-13 days old, but can appear from one to four weeks. Calves with crypto look weak and have profuse, watery diarrhoea with strands of mucus, which may last for 5-12 days and results in dehydration. Oral administration of Halocur can reduce the burden of crypto, but it should only be given once a day for the first seven days on a full stomach.

“Treatment options are limited with rota virus, but routine fluid therapy is required to correct dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and acidosis brought on by fluid loss. Where this virus is an issue, an on-farm strategy encompassing dam vaccination, colostrum management and implementing excellent hygiene standards should be prioritised.

“Coccidiosis can occur in calves up to six months of age, but symptoms can be first seen from 3-4 weeks after birth. Symptoms are often bloody diarrhoea, sometimes with straining. Like crypto, treatment should only be carried out once you have confirmation from your vet or positive faecal samples. Toltrazuril and Diclazuril products treat coccidiosis. Although similar, they are not the same and neither have a residual effect after dosing, so it’s advisable to speak to your vet about the most appropriate treatment strategy for your farm, Martina explained.

Electrolytes

Martina also touched on the importance of offering calves an appropriate electrolyte orally, adding: “Acting early is critical and ensuring the calf remains hydrated through the use of electrolytes is recommended. If only a slight scour is present, 2 x 2L feeds per day are required. However, if the severity increases, the number electrolyte feeds should increase to 3-4 x 2L feeds per day.”

Martina also advised farmers to read the label of the electrolyte product carefully, adding that “not all electrolytes are the same”.

“As a result of scouring, the level of acid within the stomach and blood of the calf builds up, often leaving them lethargic or sluggish. When checking the label, ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate, propionate, citrate or acetate should be present to combat this. In the case of suckler calves, propionate, citrate or acetate are better than sodium bicarbonate, as they don’t interfere with milk digestion.”

Where re-hydrating the calf using electrolytes is not possible, calves may require administration of fluids via a drip and, when the need arises, this should be administered sooner rather than later for best results.

Feed the calf

In addition to supplying the calf with electrolytes, Martina also delved into the importance of continuing to feed the calves milk, adding:

“In recent times, some farmers have moved away from feeding scouring calves milk. However, it is vital that calves continue to suck the cows or are bottle fed milk to provide them with energy to support their immune system in battling off the infection and for maintenance of body temperature. Electrolyte solutions are not a whole feed and should be considered supplementary to milk feeding.

“Stomach tubing, especially in older calves, should be avoided, as the calf’s rumen is developing and the milk may accidently enter the wrong chamber of the stomach and cause further digestive upsets.”

Martina stressed the importance of farmers engaging with their vet on selecting the most appropriate treatment strategy for scour, who may prescribe anti-inflammatories or other medications to aid in the calf’s recovery. When possible and animals have been turned out to grass, she advised farmers to clean and disinfect sheds well and to allow the maximum time for the sheds to rest and dry out over the summer, to reduce the possibility of a scour outbreak occurring next spring.

To aid farmers through this challenging time, Martina has compiled a document outlining six tips to deal with current conditions. This document focuses on grazing, fertiliser spreading, silage production, fodder budgeting, health issues in calves and strategies for the breeding season in 2024. It provides practical advice for managing livestock in challenging conditions.

The document can be accessed here.

For more information on the Future Beef Programme, click here.