Page 6 - CalfCare - Management of the Scouring Calf
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6
Coccidiosis Contd....
Coccidia can cause severe bloody diarrhoea which
can be accompanied by straining and rectal
prolapse. Even if calves show no signs of scour, the
infection can have an impact on growth rate.
The risk factors are similar to those that trigger
other causes of scour in younger calves: group
housing with high stocking density, poor ventilation
and wet bedding. There is no evidence that birds
transmit coccidiosis to calves.
Calves on heavily contaminated pasture with a high
stocking density will be at great risk, especially if
conditions are warm and humid, leading to an
increase in infectious pressure. Poor colostrum intake and poor nutritional status decrease the resistanceof the calf.
If you suspect coccidiosis in your calves your vet can send faecal samples from several calves in the group to
the lab to support the diagnosis. It is important to take several samples, since scouring calves do not excrete
oocysts all the time. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the above mentioned risk factors should be assessed and
improved where possible (for example: reduce stocking density, provide dry bedding, move to different
paddock). All of the calves in the group should be medicated since they are all infected, even if they are not
showing any signs. Groups that are known to be at risk should be treated preventively. However, the treatment
schedule should not be so tight that the calves are not able to build up their own immunity against coccidia.
Points to Remember Antibiotics
should only be
Continued given if the scouring
milk feeding calf has a high
speeds up the Feeding temperature and /
recovery of the electrolyte fluids is or looks very sick
the most important
scouring calf
treatment for the
scouring calf If you have an
ongoing serious problem
with calf scours look into
If any calves in a your colostrum, nutrition
group are diagnosed and hygiene management
with coccidiosis, the and seek a veterinary
whole group should diagnosis
be treated
TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP: Ingrid Lorenz – (Chair) University College Dublin, Charles Chavasse – Pfizer, Bernadette Earley - Teagasc, John Fagan – DAFM, Richard Fallon, Liam Gannon – Volac,
John Gilmore – Vet Practitioner, Ian Hogan – DAFM, Emer Kennedy - Teagasc, John Mee – Teagasc, Simon More - University College Dublin.
TECHINCAL WORKING GROUP RAPPORTEUR: Fionnuala Malone, Animal Health Ireland
The contents of this leaflet are based on the following peer-reviewed review articles compiled by the AHI TWG on Calf Health: Ingrid Lorenz, John F. Mee, Bernadette Earley, Simon J. More (2011):
Calf health from birth to weaning. I. General aspects of disease prevention. Irish Veterinary Journal. 64:10. http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/64/1/10.
Ingrid Lorenz, John Fagan, Simon J. More (2011): Calf health from birth to weaning. II. Management of diarrhoea in pre-weaned calves. Irish Veterinary Journal. 64:9.
http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/64/1/9
Animal Health Ireland, Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim 071 9671928 www.animalhealthireland.ie email: admin@animalhealthireland.ie
IMPORTANT NOTICE — DISCLAIMER
While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this leaflet at the time of printing, no representation or guarantee is given, whether by AHI, its employees,
subcontractors, agents, distributors or any other person, that the contents of this information leaflet are comprehensive, up to date, or free from error or omissions, nor that the advice provided is
appropriate in every particular circumstance.
The contents of this information leaflet are not intended to be a substitute for appropriate direct advice from a veterinarian. Appropriate veterinary advice should be taken before taking or refraining from
taking action in relation to the animal disease dealt within this information leaflet. If reusing material in this leaflet, please attribute AHI as the source of the information.
Calf leaflet Series Vol 3, November 2011
Coccidiosis Contd....
Coccidia can cause severe bloody diarrhoea which
can be accompanied by straining and rectal
prolapse. Even if calves show no signs of scour, the
infection can have an impact on growth rate.
The risk factors are similar to those that trigger
other causes of scour in younger calves: group
housing with high stocking density, poor ventilation
and wet bedding. There is no evidence that birds
transmit coccidiosis to calves.
Calves on heavily contaminated pasture with a high
stocking density will be at great risk, especially if
conditions are warm and humid, leading to an
increase in infectious pressure. Poor colostrum intake and poor nutritional status decrease the resistanceof the calf.
If you suspect coccidiosis in your calves your vet can send faecal samples from several calves in the group to
the lab to support the diagnosis. It is important to take several samples, since scouring calves do not excrete
oocysts all the time. If the diagnosis is confirmed, the above mentioned risk factors should be assessed and
improved where possible (for example: reduce stocking density, provide dry bedding, move to different
paddock). All of the calves in the group should be medicated since they are all infected, even if they are not
showing any signs. Groups that are known to be at risk should be treated preventively. However, the treatment
schedule should not be so tight that the calves are not able to build up their own immunity against coccidia.
Points to Remember Antibiotics
should only be
Continued given if the scouring
milk feeding calf has a high
speeds up the Feeding temperature and /
recovery of the electrolyte fluids is or looks very sick
the most important
scouring calf
treatment for the
scouring calf If you have an
ongoing serious problem
with calf scours look into
If any calves in a your colostrum, nutrition
group are diagnosed and hygiene management
with coccidiosis, the and seek a veterinary
whole group should diagnosis
be treated
TECHNICAL WORKING GROUP: Ingrid Lorenz – (Chair) University College Dublin, Charles Chavasse – Pfizer, Bernadette Earley - Teagasc, John Fagan – DAFM, Richard Fallon, Liam Gannon – Volac,
John Gilmore – Vet Practitioner, Ian Hogan – DAFM, Emer Kennedy - Teagasc, John Mee – Teagasc, Simon More - University College Dublin.
TECHINCAL WORKING GROUP RAPPORTEUR: Fionnuala Malone, Animal Health Ireland
The contents of this leaflet are based on the following peer-reviewed review articles compiled by the AHI TWG on Calf Health: Ingrid Lorenz, John F. Mee, Bernadette Earley, Simon J. More (2011):
Calf health from birth to weaning. I. General aspects of disease prevention. Irish Veterinary Journal. 64:10. http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/64/1/10.
Ingrid Lorenz, John Fagan, Simon J. More (2011): Calf health from birth to weaning. II. Management of diarrhoea in pre-weaned calves. Irish Veterinary Journal. 64:9.
http://www.irishvetjournal.org/content/64/1/9
Animal Health Ireland, Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim 071 9671928 www.animalhealthireland.ie email: admin@animalhealthireland.ie
IMPORTANT NOTICE — DISCLAIMER
While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents of this leaflet at the time of printing, no representation or guarantee is given, whether by AHI, its employees,
subcontractors, agents, distributors or any other person, that the contents of this information leaflet are comprehensive, up to date, or free from error or omissions, nor that the advice provided is
appropriate in every particular circumstance.
The contents of this information leaflet are not intended to be a substitute for appropriate direct advice from a veterinarian. Appropriate veterinary advice should be taken before taking or refraining from
taking action in relation to the animal disease dealt within this information leaflet. If reusing material in this leaflet, please attribute AHI as the source of the information.
Calf leaflet Series Vol 3, November 2011
