Scours in beef calves: causes and treatments

Published April 2009. Reviewed July 2013. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalogScours is the common name for diarrhea in calves. Diarrhea is a disease\ud of the digestive system characterized by watery feces and increased\ud frequency of bowel movements.\ud The high water content in the feces results in water loss from the body\ud (dehydration). Along with water, the body loses electrolytes, which are\ud needed to maintain all bodily functions. The loss of electrolytes causes\ud a condition called metabolic acidosis, which will kill the calf if it is\ud not corrected promptly (in less than 2 days)