The Rural Voice, 1983-11, Page 34quarts per day is not excessive for a
newborn calf of, say, 80-100 lbs.
Also, take at least two days to switch
the calf back to whole milk or back
onto the cow. Suddenly overtaxing a
stressed gut with free choice milk fre-
quently leads to relapses. Be cautious
when buying electrolyte preparations
- not all are made equal. Products for
incoming feedlot calves or poultry are
not suitable for calves. These pro-
ducts have electrolytes in them, but
frequently lack in protein and energy.
The common system of diluting milk
down to 50 per cent with water
works, but only if the calf scours for
less than 24 hours. Beyond 24 hours,
this system will severely curtail intake
and will definitely lead to starvation.
As well, calves can not digest table
sugar so it should not be used in
homemade scour remedies.
Intestinal protectants such as mix-
tures of kaolin and pectin are useful
to soothe an irritated and perhaps
even ulcerated gut. These can be fed
with a large syringe or more effective-
ly and more easily can be mixed in
with the electrolyte mixture. Most
calves that suckle reasonable well will
down this "cocktail" with little
hesitation. Most products of this
nature call for a one to three ounce
dose three times daily.
The use of antibiotics in the treat-
ment of scouring calves is controver-
sial at best. They certainly are widely
used but are in most cases less impor-
tant than fluid and electrolyte
replacement. The controversy centres
on the fact that viruses are not sen-
sitive to any antibiotics and viruses
are involved in probably more than
50 per cent of all calf scours. As well,
in a bacterial scour the antibiotics are
usually given after the damage is done
and also resistance to many an-
tibiotics is widespread among E. coli
and Salmonella.
Simply, then, the use of antibiotics
is strongly recommended if the calf
shows any signs of septicemia, e.g.
swollen joints, signs of meningitis or
has evidence of local infections such
as pneumonia or navel abscess. An-
tibiotics can also be used if colostrum
intake was questionable such as the
dam having mastitis or a hard to
nurse udder or if she leaked milk
before calving. These are all factors
that justify the use of antibiotics
parenterally (i.e. by injection).
Use of antibiotics orally is even
more controversial. As mentioned
above, these drugs frequently arrive
too late in the gut and we have no
idea how well, if at all, they are ab-
sorbed from a damaged intestine. If
using oral antibiotics try to use them
for a maximum of three consecutive
days. It is unfortunate that the use of
antibiotics is so easy and so frequent-
ly resorted to, because it is of no
significant benefit in probably more
than 50 per cent of all scouring
calves.
Needless to say, some tender loving
care (T.L.C.) can improve your treat-
ment results. A dry and warm pen
that is free of drafts will make the calf
more comfortable and will make your
job of treating easier as well. In the
summer, beware of maggots infesting
the wet back end and navels on these
scouring calves. Several good insec-
ticide sprays are available to prevent
this. Lastly, use of extra vitamin
ADE, egg yolk, whiskey, etc. are pro-
bably all part of T.L.C. and as such I
will not condemn their use.
In cases of widespread diarrhea oc-
curring in a herd, the matter of con-
trol and prevention is even more im-
portant than treatment. Every year a
number of beef and dairy herds ex-
perience scours on a herd basis,
rather than an individual calf basis.
This situation can lead to a dramatic
loss in calves and a tremendous work-
load in treating these calves. Trying
to head off a scour problem involves
getting the cow ready to calve in good
body condition, but not fat. She
should then calve with a minimum of
difficulty and she is ready to start
milking well when the calf hits the
ground.
Calves that were slow to be born
are apt to be weak and don't get that
first suckle so they continue to be ex -
PG. 32 THE RURAL VOICE, NOVEMBER 1983
tra susceptible to infection. We can
now vaccinate the pregnant cow for a
variety of scour causing organisms in-
cluding E. coli and rota and cor-
onavirus. These vaccines have been
very beneficial in many herds. If we
made sure that the cow passes protec-
tion to the calf through her colostrum
by vaccinating her, the next logical
step is to make sure that the calf does
indeed get that first milk. Helping it
to nurse, steadying the cow and calf
together or else milking the cow and
bottle feeding the calf are all ways to
ensure an adequate colostrum intake.
This should occur within the first six
hours of life and a 70-90 lb. calf
should get about two quarts.
Since most calf scours have an in-
fectious cause, we must try to cut
down the calf's possible exposure.
Maintaining a closed herd as far as is
practically feasible, clean calving
pens and pastures that are periodical-
ly rotated are all helpful. Isolating
clinically sick calves will help to cut
down environmental contaminating
with bacteria, viruses, etc.
Lastly, the connecting link between
treatment and control is observation.
Observing these calves at least twice a
day is essential to head off scour pro-
blems at the pass. Remember that a
12 hour delay in treatment can be
fatal to the calf.
In summary, calf diarrhea is and
probably will continue to be a major
problem in raising calves. It can be a
frustrating problem where we don't
always win. By applying the prin-
ciples we know, a diligent effort
towards treatment and control along
with a little T.L.C., we can save many
calves and minimize the losses. ❑
Ben Miltenburg, D. V.M.
Wingham Veterinary Clinic
Chartered Accountants
P.O. Box 1690,
497 Main Street,
EXETER, Ontario NOM IS0
(519) 235-0101
orris
omuth