YOUNGSTOCK AND CALVES 1980 DIARRHEA OF NEWBORN CALVES MIKSCH, D. Description Diarrhea (scours) is not one specific disease.

Rather, it is the chief symptom produced by a variety of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, environmental stresses, and feeding errors. No breed of cattle is inherently immune. Beef and dairy calves are equally susceptible. About anything that can be said regarding calf scours is relative to something else or has its exceptions. The incidence and severity of scours are influenced greatly by environmental conditions, e.g., temperature, humidity, draftiness, concentration of animals. Calves are more susceptible to serious scours at birth than at any other time. The extreme susceptibility of newborn animals to digestive upsets is due in part to a sterile and nonfunctional state before birth. A calf's digestive tract matures rapidly following birth, but it may be exposed to harmful agents immediately. Every day a calf lives without a diarrhea, there is less chance it will develop serious scours. Animals derive immunity to infectious disease from blood proteins referred to as antibodies or gamma globulins. Some animals, such as people and rabbits, are born with relatively high antibody levels that pass directly into the bloodstream from the mother's blood. Calves, lambs, and pigs are born with little such protection. Cloven-footed animals have a type of placenta through which antibodies cannot pass. Prior to giving birth, the cow, ewe, and sow store large quantities of antibodies in the udder. These, together with high levels of protein, vitamins, and fat, make up colostrum, the first milk. During the first few hours of life, their offspring can absorb antibodies directly into the bloodstream from the gut without digesting them. This provides instant protection for a calf, lamb, or pig against diseases to which the dam is immune. Calves born in a confined area are more likely to have severe scours than calves born in the pasture. Calves born to first-calf heifers tend to have worse scours than calves born to older cows: (1) the first-calf heifer does not produce as much colostrum as an older cow, (2) her colostrum may not contain antibodies to as many organisms, (3) she may not get up and get her calf to suckle as quickly following delivery. Scours tend to be more severe in newly established herds than inclosed herds. In recently assembled herds, calves are more apt to be exposed to organisms to which the dam has not produced colostral antibodies.

Causes Some infectious agent is usually involved in serious scours, either as a primary cause or as a secondary opportunist. Often more than one such agent is involved. Two diarrhea-producing groups of bacteria are Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. E. coli is normally present in the lower intestine of all warm blooded animals. Its implications in disease have never been fully assessed. It increases the severity of intestinal inflammation caused by other organisms and sometimes becomes more invasive itself during a calving season. The most severe effects are on calves under about ten days old. The diarrhea associated with E. coli is commonly referred to as "white scours," or more specifically as colibacillosis. Salmonellosis more often infects calves over two weeks old but has been confirmed in calves as young as three days of age. Common sources of Salmonella infections are carrier cows (usually showing no symptoms) and purchased baby calves. A much less common source is contaminated milk replacer or starter ration. Colibacillosis and salmonellosis are not clinically distinguishable. There are many strains of these organisms. Most are relatively harmless, but some become deadly upon passing through a series of susceptible calves. Some specific and some not-so-specific viruses have been incriminated in outbreaks of calf diarrhea. Two that have been extensively investigated in Nebraska severely affect calves within the first few days after birth. They erode the microfine surfaces of the intestine, thereby preventing absorption of nutrients. The virus of bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) can cause calf scours. Calves infected with BVD soon after birth may recover without signs, may die suddenly, or may become chronically infected. Diarrhea, colic, and/or death due to enterotoxemia ( Clostridium perfringens infection) is an occasional problem. Sudden death may be the only sign; some calves may have colic, while diarrhea is a less common sign in enterotoxemia. Dietary causes of calf scours include malnutrition from feeding inadequately formulated milk replacers or insufficient milk, abrupt dietary changes, and excesses of protein or fat.

Symptoms Regardless of the initiator, most diarrheas occur as a result of an alteration in movement of fluids and nutrients through the intestinal wall. The alteration may be an increase in secretion, a decrease in absorption, or both. The result is an accumulation of fluids and nutrients in the gut. This, in turn, provides an excellent place for bacteria to multiply, whether the bacteria started the process or just seized the opportunity to take over. ln any case, water, electrolytes, sugars, and amino acids needed by the calf are passed as wet feces. Total fluid loss can be enormous. A calf can easily lose 10% of its total body weight in one day. The longer the diarrhea continues and the more rapid the fluid loss, the less chance the calf has of surviving. By the time 20% of body fluid is lost, the calf is dead (Fig. 1). The effect Small Large Version of diarrhea on calves Version

With diarrhea, body tissues and fluids produce excess acid. Blood flow and blood pressure are decreased. Kidney function is reduced, and the body loses its ability to excrete the acid. Electrolyte shifts result in an imbalance of body salts. The accumulated acids and salts are extremely toxic to the heart. Dehydration is the most noticeable consequence. Only calves that die very early in the course of a disease and those so mildly affected that they compensate for fluid losses fail to dehydrate. Eyes become sunken, hair roughened, skin inelastic and doughy, and legs cool to the touch. The calf eventually loses interest in feeding, gets up slowly, and finally is unable to rise at all. Treatment Treatment of calf scours should be aimed first at replacing lost fluids, second at restoring a normal acid-base balance, and third at furnishing nutrients to the body tissues. Most occurrences of diarrhea are self-limiting. The primary objective then is to maintain all physiological functions of the calf while the disease runs its course. Antibiotics may be effective in controlling bacterial infections if carefully chosen. In herd problems rectal swabs should be submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for culturing and sensitivity testing. Any calves that die should be autopsied and tissues submitted to the laboratory. Broad- spectrum antibiotics and antibiotic combinations should not be used indiscriminately. Antibacterials are not effective against viral infections and may wipe our beneficial microflora. This predisposes to resistant bacterial infections, fungal infections, and malnutrition. Most effective antibiotics for stubborn bacterial intestinal infections are available by prescription only. Your veterinarian is your best advisor.

Antispasmodic drugs have been added to some scour remedies to ease the griping bowel. It may be a mistake to use these for most diarrheas. Bowel action is already slowed, and causing further stasis can lead to increased absorption of toxins into the blood stream. Milk or milk replacer should be discontinued from the onset of symptoms until at least 24 hours after diarrhea ceases. Coliform bacteria thrive on milk. Replacement fluid therapy should begin immediately upon recognizing a scour problem. All fluids should be given at near body temperature. If the calf will nurse, it should be given fluids with a nipple bottle. Several well-balanced electrolyte replacements are commercially available. However, a low cost, high quality oral fluid formula can be made from items off the grocery store shelf (Fig. 2). Fruit pectin contains dextrose for energy and pectin to soothe the inflamed gut. Lite Salt[R] supplies the electrolytes--sodium, potassium, and chloride. Baking soda furnishes more sodium, plus bicarbonate ions, Two quarts (for a calf 80 lb. or heavier) should be fed two or three times daily depending on degree of scours. Provide fresh water at all times. Continue treatment for 24 hours after diarrhea ceases. If the calf has been nursing a cow, milk the cow out just before returning the calf. Two important aspects of treating scours are keen observation and loving care. As soon as diarrhea is noticed, put the calf in a warm, dry place. A heated building or a heat lamp is indicated. Keep the calf dry and comfortable throughout the treatment period. If the calf refuses to suckle or develops cold legs or sunken eyes, it should have more intensive veterinary treatment immediately. Prevention Good husbandry can prevent many losses of new born calves to diarrhea. Prevention begins with proper feeding of the cow during pregnancy. Her diet influences the physiological maturity of her calf at birth as well as the composition of her colostrum. The importance of colostrum for a calf immediately after birth cannot be over-emphasized. A calf rapidly produces enzymes that digest colostral antibodies. The intestine, at the same time, loses its ability to absorb anti- bodies whole. Ideally, a calf should consume colostrum within fifteen minutes after birth. In any case it should consume at least two quarts within the first six hours. Colostrum may be saved from mature cows and frozen for use when needed. Calves intended to be raised on a milk replacer should get whole milk or surplus colostrum for at least the first ten days. The quality of a milk replacer is also important. It should contain primarily milk products, be at least 20% protein and 15% fat, and have no more than 0.5% fiber.

A clean site for being born gives the calf a head start on infections. Pasture is the better place but many times it is necessary to calve in confinement. Maternity stalls should be cleaned and sanitized between occupants. Avoid sawdust bedding; it may harbor diseaseproducing organisms. Soak the calf's navel in iodine as soon as practical. Except in cow-calf enterprises, calves should be isolated from one another. If a calf must be purchased to put on a cow that lost her own calf, isolate that cow and calf from the rest of the herd. Calf hutches are a very practical way to effectively isolate dairy calves from one another. The use is reducing losses of young calves for an increasing number of dairymen. Bacterins or vaccines are being used successfully to aid in control of each of the diseases described. Some are administered to cows before calving to increase antibody output in the colostrum. Others are administered to new- born calves to stimulate their own immune systems. Some are injected, some are sprayed in the nostrils, and some are given by mouth. Biologics and injection techniques are being investigated with hopes of vaccinating calves before birth. Immunizing agents may complement a good management program, but they cannot substitute for proper husbandry. All effective immunization schedules are developed for specific herd situations. By working closely with your veterinarian you may discover a proper place for vaccination in your herd. Diarrhea of newborn calves can best be controlled by recognizing that: (1) It has varied and sometimes complicated origins. (2) Microbial and environmental elements are often (3) The first line of defense is colostrum. (4) The primary objective of treatment is maintaining normal physiology. (5) Antibiotics and vaccines should be used as prescribed after a diagnosis by your veterinarian. i The National Dairy Database (1992) \NDB\YOUNGSTO\TEXT\YF102100.TXT %f TITLE;DIARRHEA OF %f COLLECTION;YOUNGSTOCK %f %f DATE_INCLUDED;June 1992 NEWBORN AND CALVES VEAL ORIGIN;Kentucky