Ask a Specialist about Calf Scours
Question:Why should I change from my current scours vaccine?
Answer: GUARDIAN offers a convenient vaccination schedule. The first dose can coincide with pregnancy examination (12 weeks precalving) and the second dose is given far enough ahead of calving to minimize the risk of handling-related abortion.
Perhaps more important, GUARDIAN contains unique strains of rotavirus and coronavirus . This means protection against the scours viruses that are most prevalent. GUARDIAN also protects against three clostridial causes of scours. And GUARDIAN contains a subunit E. coli component that reduces the likelihood of injection site problems or systemic reactions such as abortion.
GUARDIAN is the only scours vaccine approved for subcutaneous administration, which is in compliance with Beef Quality Assurance guidelines.
Question:How can I justify the cost of vaccination?
Answer: Vaccination, or any other management intervention, can only be justified by the value it provides. If a particular vaccine or management practice is not providing adequate benefit, then it is only costing money. On the other hand, a management practice that is economically beneficial – even if it may be more expensive up front – is a profitable practice.
If a scours vaccine that has been used in the past is not preventing newborn sickness and death, it is a losing proposition. GUARDIAN stimulates production of colostral antibodies to infectious agents that are not in ScourGuard® 4KC.
Question:How do I evaluate the cost of scours?
Answer: Scours is surprisingly costly. Factor in medicine, labor, growth and performance set-back, increased susceptibility to other agents, and mortality. Newborn calf diarrhea may cause more financial loss to cow/calf producers than any other infectious disease.
It is generally accepted that calves treated for scours within the first month of life weigh substantially less than their healthy counterparts at weaning. And of course, calves that don’t survive are an even greater financial burden.
Question:Where is the recommended injection site for GUARDIAN? Can it be given by other routes?
Answer: Answer: Because Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is committed to BQA guidelines and animal safety, GUARDIAN was developed for administration by the subcutaneous (SC) route. Its safety and efficacy were licensed only by that route.
Answer: No. GUARDIAN protects against a wider and newer range of disease agents than other scours vaccines, so a single booster would mean forfeiting the increased protection possible with two doses of GUARDIAN in the first year it is used. After that, a single booster dose is recommended. Always follow label directions to achieve maximum results.
Answer: Excellent protection has been achieved when GUARDIAN is given according to its label recommendations. GUARDIAN is not licensed for any other regimen, although individual cases can be discussed with your veterinarian.
Question:What is the safety profile for GUARDIAN vaccine?
Answer: Field safety trials included 601 pregnant animals at three different geographical locations (Wisconsin, Missouri, California). No systemic or clinical signs related to the test product were seen in vaccinated animals. A total of 1,202 injections were given (2 doses) and resulted in one abscess forming at one injection site, for an overall reaction rate of 0.08%.
Answer: GUARDIAN is indicated for administration at 12 weeks and 6 to 9 weeks before calving in the first year it is given. In subsequent years, only one dose is indicated, and it is labeled to be given no more than 7 weeks before calving. This allows vaccination to be coordinated with management practices such as dry-off.
Vaccination recommendations may vary according to the dry-off schedule for the individual dairy and should be discussed with your attending veterinarian.
Question: What percent of rotavirus is represented by the G6 and G10 serotypes in GUARDIAN?
Answer: One estimate reported that prevalence of G6 was about 66% of rotavirus isolates, G10 was 7%, and the remainder were untypable.
Question:What percent of Coronavirus is covered by the Types 1 and 3 in GUARDIAN?
Answer: It has been estimated that up to 80% of coronavirus isolates are Type 3. Typing of coronavirus is relatively new, so numerous surveys are not available for reference.
Question: Scour Bos® contains 4 strains of whole cell K99 E. coli. How is that different from GUARDIAN?
Answer: GUARDIAN contains subunit E. coli. That means E. coli cells and associated endotoxins are removed from GUARDIAN. It contains only the pilus antigens that stimulate K99 E. coli immunity. Therefore, GUARDIAN provides a very precise and safe immune response.
Question: Does any scours vaccine cross-protect against Clostridium perfringens Type A?
Answer: Any scours vaccine that does not have a specific alpha toxin of Cl perfringens Types C and D in GUARDIAN cross-protects against Type B, an advantage not offered by other products.
Question: What research organizations were involved in the GUARDIAN clinical investigation?
Answer: Research and clinical trials that led to USDA licensing of GUARDIAN were conducted at the Intervet/Schering-Plough Research and Development facilities and private contact research sites, as well as through veterinarians in various states.
Question: What are the most common causes of calf scour?
Answer: Overall, rotavirus is the most frequently isolated infectious agent in cases of calf scours. However, in calves less than four days of age E. coli is the most frequently isolated agent. And coronavirus, Cl perfringens, Salmonella and cryptosporidia also play important roles.
The gut damage caused by initial scours agent makes the calf more susceptible to other, secondary agents. The result is that generally more than one organism is involved.
Answer: A scours vaccination program is only as good as the transfer of immunity from cow to calf through colostrum. If a calf fails to receive colostrum within the first 12 to 24 hours of life, the benefit of vaccinating the cow is reduced. So, attention to providing newborn calves with colostrum early in life helps ensure this transfer of immunity and is essential in realizing the benefit of vaccination.
In addition, hygiene and stocking density are important, since colostral immunity will be insufficient in the face of an overwhelming challenge by infectious organisms tin the environment. To gain the most benefit from vaccination:
- Move newborn calves and their mothers from the calving areas so they will be less exposed to a concentration of scours-causing organisms.
- Rotate pairs to fresh pastures in the first few months of life to avoid exposure to a build-up of scours-causing organisms.
- Separate heifers from cows and pay special attention to heifers’ calves to be sure they have a chance to nurse colostrum, since heifers’ mothering instincts are not fully developed.