Calf diarrhoea results in additional expenses and unnecessary losses in the form of mortalities, the cost of medication, labor, substandard growth and a decrease in milk production during a heifer’s first lactation.
“Anyone with calf-rearing experience will agree with this,” says Dr. Louis Hoek, a veterinarian at CapeCross Veterinary Services in Tsitsikamma. Dr. Hoek notes that calf diarrhoea is also one of the most frustrating conditions to treat, especially since it takes up a considerable amount of time and requires a great deal of patience and dedication.
“It is generally believed that the colour of the diarrhoea will lead you to the cause of calf diarrhoea. In my opinion, however, a diagnosis cannot be based solely on this aspect. The colour and composition of the manure is a function of the rate at which it travels through the intestinal tract; it is not a direct consequence of the organism. Although a producer may at times guess the cause, I recommend dealing with the problem properly once a specific diagnosis has been made,” he says.
Main causes
According to Dr. Hoek, calf diarrhoea can be attributed to several significant causes.
In calves younger than three weeks:
• Rotavirus: It is the most common cause of diarrhoea. The manure can at times contain blood. If calves are treated properly, there ought to be no mortalities.
• Cryptosporidium: This is currently a huge problem in South Africa and generally presents itself along with a virus. It can spread very quickly, but calves that are treated properly can survive.
• Coronavirus: It is similar to the rotavirus but is not as common.
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