Calf Scours
Calf scours (neonatal diarrhea) is a life-threatening disease that is influenced by a variety of factors, including pathogens, environment and management practices.
Pathogens
Disease conditions are created when viruses, bacteria and/or parasites damage the lining of a calf’s intestinal tract. This damage compromises a calf’s ability to absorb nutrients and fluids, causing dehydration and stressing the calf’s immune system.
Environment
Viruses, bacteria and parasites that cause scours are shed in the feces of adult cows or sick calves. These disease-causing agents can live in the environment – depending on the surface and the pathogen – for months to years.
Management Practices
A concentrated calving area has a much greater chance of being a repository for scours-causing agents than a pasture with plenty of open space. Also, combining calves of different ages raises the disease challenge level. Older animals can transmit pathogens to younger ones without being sick themselves.