Calf scours: causes and treatments

Abstract

There are numerous causes of disease and death in newborn calves. In many locations, the leading causes of beef calf deaths are related to difficult birth (dystocia). After that, however, the most common calfhood problems are infectious diseases. Of these, scours, or diarrhea, is the most important single cause of calf sickness and death in the United States that occurs within the first several days of birth. The effects of scours in an individual herd can be overwhelming. Almost no herd goes through a calving season without some scours. In severe outbreaks, illness can occur in 70 percent of calves born, and death can occur in 50 percent.