Scour prevention

While it’s early in the calving season, a few tips could help reduce time and labour required tending to sick calves.

Number one is colostrum. Adequate colostrum is key to setting the calf up to be able to fend off any disease challenges in the next few weeks, including scour and pneumonia. Aim to get 3l into calves within two hours of birth. The sooner the better. Colostrum from its mother is best and is a must if vaccinating for scour. If a calf has had any assistance or pull, it’s best to feed it in case it is delayed getting to its feet. Lots of bedding is also essential, preferably straw to give that nesting effect. Calves need a warm dry bed. Shed temperature needs to be between 10°C and 15°C for newborn calves, with no low-level draughts.

Scour vaccination has a role to play on some farms, and hygiene is very important around calving time. A good tip is to place a footbath outside the calving shed so you aren’t bringing disease into susceptible newborn calves.

Keep two stomach tubes, one for colostrum for newborn calves and one for sick calves.

Scour treatment

Scouring suckler calves and their dams should be separated from other calves and their mothers to prevent disease spread.

While many will jump to use antibiotics, the first port of call should be to give an oral rehydration solution. The single most important treatment is to replace the salts and fluids that are lost with scour.

Healthy calves need up to four litres of fluid per day and scouring calves need an additional four litres to replace lost fluids. Give one or two extra feeds (2l each) of a good-quality oral rehydration solution as soon as the calf starts scouring and while it is scouring. These should be given during the day as well. Feeding a sick calf before and after work isn’t enough.

If problems are persisting and losses are occurring, sometimes the only option is to calve outdoors or at least get cows and calves out as soon as possible. Calf jackets can work wonders for sick calves in terms of bringing them back around by raising their temperature.

You can make P a simple electrolyte mix at home with two litres of warm water, 8g (half a tablespoon) of low salt, 12g (one tablespoon) of bread soda and 40g (two to three tablespoons) of glucose.

BEEP

Some farmers have been asking when the new BEEP scheme will be open and what the requirements will be. While the details of the new scheme haven’t been released yet, the advice is to weigh calves/weanlings before you sell them. Last year’s scheme stipulated that cows and calves must have been weighed on the same day and the 2020 scheme is likely to be similar. Where autumn calves are being sold early, weigh them just in case and record the weights in the ICBF database. While 31 October 2020 may seem a long way away, you should check that you are on target for BDGP deadlines. There is a 140% fine for failing to meet the 50% four- or five-star requirement on 31 October 2020.