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Prevent Scours Before Calving Season & Cattle Industry News
Season 5 Episode 266
It’s The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they hear how feeding Farmatan to bred cows now can help prevent scours this upcoming calving season. Plus news, markets, updates, bred cow prices and lots more on this all-new episode of The Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.
How To Prevent Calf Scours: Feed Farmatan Feed Farmatan To Prevent Scours This Upcoming Calving SeasonCalving season is getting ready to start for many producers and for some others it is still a ways away yet. Regardless, we need to get a jump on scours and make sure each and every calf that hits the ground has the best chance of survival. A simple solution… FARMATAN from Imogene Ingredients.
WHAT CAUSES SCOURS IN BEEF CATTLE/CALVESClostridia-Enterotoxemia
The most common form of Clostridium in cattle is caused by Clostridia perfringens. The gram-positive bacteria are a challenge due to its ability to form spores and lay dormant for long-periods of time. The bacteria reproduce by releasing spores into its environment (soil, feed, manure). The spores can even lay dormant in the animal’s intestine until opportunity presents itself. Infection takes place either through ingestion of spores or through an open wound. The most severe cases happen within the first month of a calf’s life, and can result in sudden death.
Clinical Signs
- Diarrhea - Bloody, Mucus Present, Bubbly
- Dehydrated
- Bloat
- Blindness
Prevention/Treatment: Prevention can be difficult due to the Clostridia spores being extremely durable and present almost everywhere. Complete cleanout and disinfection between calves is helpful, but not always effective. A good vaccination program will reduce clinical disease. The best method is to develop good gut health and the immune system of the calf. Farmatan has been shown to strengthen the intestinal wall, helping to prevent infection from taking hold.
Coccidiosis
Cattle are host to numerous species of Coccidia, a single-celled protozoal parasite. Infection and clinical symptoms can happen any time during a calf’s life, with the most severe reaction usually occurring between 3-6 weeks of age. The life-cycle of coccidia requires time to infect the intestine causing destruction of the mucosal and epithelial lining. The oocytes mature outside the host in warm, moist environments before being consumed, causing infection of a new host.
Clinical Signs
- Diarrhea - Watery, Bloody
- Depression
- Weight Loss
Prevention/Treatment: Prevention of Coccidiosis is possible by keeping young calves separate from older animals, providing clean water and feed, and dry conditions. Isolation of infected animals is key to preventing transmission. Keeping the pen dry is the most important step a farmer/rancher can take in preventing Coccidiosis. Treatment can have a good impact on reducing secondary disease, and speeding up recovery time. Farmatan has been shown to disrupt the reproductive cycle of Coccidia; and may help strengthen the intestinal wall to prevent infection, in both the cow and calf.
Coronavirus
Bovine Coronavirus is a ubiquitous, envelope-viral disease, causing respiratory and enteric infection. There are many serotypes for this virus, making it difficult to test for, and create a vaccine. Coronavirus can present as either diarrhea and/or respiratory illness; transmitted through nasal discharge and/or feces. Animal reservoirs continue to spread the disease, and make eradication almost impossible. Clinical disease will likely occur between days 10-14, and present for up to 4 days.
Clinical Signs
- Diarrhe
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago