Livestock Management Control Calf Crop Complications
Emphasis on pre-calving cow health helps reduce neonatal calf diarrhea problems. By Nicole Lane Erceg
over mating choices, countless days of ranch work and late nights checking cows for signs of labor, at long last a new baby is born. The last thing any rancher wants to see in the fi rst moments and days of this new calf’s hard-earned life is sign of disease or sickness. Unfortunately, many producers know that at least a portion of their calf crop is bound to battle neonatal calf diarrhea, better known as calf scours. Calf scours results from infections from a variety of
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pathogens including viruses like bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), rotavirus or coronavirus; bacteria like Esch- erichia coli, salmonella and Clostridium perfringens; or the parasite Cryptosporidium. Although calf scours is created by a nasty concoction
of microorganisms, the recipe for successful prevention is quite simple. Dr. Timothy Parks, DVM, cattle tech- nical services veterinarian for Merck Animal Health, recommends focusing on creating a healthy immune system for the cow to pass on immunity to the calf. Parks says the key to calf health and strong im-
munity is in the colostrum. Calves are born without the protective immunity of antibodies to common disease organisms within their environment, so they depend on the “fi rst milk” to transfer life-saving anti- bodies from the dam. While most beef cows produce adequate colostrum on their own, it doesn’t contain the correct antibodies needed to prevent calf scours. Protecting calves from these harmful pathogens can be accomplished through a combination of a good scours vaccination program within the cow herd and proper pre-calving cow health management.
Although calf scours is created by a nasty concoction of microorganisms, the recipe for successful prevention is quite simple.
Building an immune system for two A healthy cow’s immune system begins with ade-
quate nutrition. This is increasingly important in the last 50 days of gestation because 80 percent of fetal growth
54 The Cattleman January 2017
occurs during this time. Adequate energy and protein are vital to protecting the cow’s immune system and meeting the energy requirements of a growing fetus. “The whole key to a successful start for the calf
is that the cow’s immune system is strong enough to mount an immune response so good colostrum can be formed,” says Parks. A strong immune system for the cow helps support a
strong immune system for the calf and Parks says cow nutrition is the foundation. Without proper nutrition,
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onths of work lead up to the moment a calf fi nally hits the ground. After hours agonizing
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