Management of Young Calves for the Small Scale Hobbiest Part 3: Calf Scours Allen Young, Extension Dairy Specialist

Scours, commonly called diarrhea, is a common problem of young calves. It is defined as a case of diarrhea which requires any intervention for more than 24 hours. Target rates are <25 % within the first 60 days of age and less than 2 % after that. Scours are commonly caused by bacteria called E. Coli and Salmonella (Heinrichs). It can also be caused by viruses. The former respond to antibiotics and the later do not. The disease appears similar on observation. The biggest problem with scours is that the calves lose body water through the feces and dehydrate rapidly causing them to be weak and possibly dying. Signs of dehydration can be sunken eyes (Quigley, 1998) and skin that “tents. ” Tenting means that if you grasp a fold of skin between your fingers and then let go, it will “tent ” or stay elevated for an extende