Calf diarrhoea- prevention is better than cure

Summary: Diarrhoea or scours is the most common disease in calves under one month of age. Calves with diarrhoea are commonly infected with rotavirus and cryptosporidia, which cannot be treated with antibiotics. A comprehensive herd health plan is necessary to prevent calf diarrhoea. Optimized colostrum management supports calf gut health and immune function. Biosecurity and sanitation procedures are of the utmost importance. The "HoloRuminant" EU-funded project is investigating the role of microbiomes in developing solutions to reduce early-life diseases such as diarrhoea.this piece was written and published as a part of the public outreach event BEEF 2022 held at Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co, Meath, Ireland. For more information on this event visit: https://www.teagasc.ie/corporate-events/beef-open-day