Scour accounts for over half of all mortality rates in newborn calves

ALMOST 70,000 calves die between birth and six weeks of age and a further 42,500 are stillborn, according to official figures from the Department of Agriculture.

The mortality figures are revealed in the department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system report for 2008.

Veterinary specialist Maureen Prendergast said while calf deaths up to six weeks dropped by 7% from just under 75,000 in 2007 to 69,500 in 2008, they still represent a major drain on farm income.

“Scour accounts for well over half of all calf deaths. Extreme cases of the disease can result in the death of up to 30% of calves in a herd.

“However, on the majority of farms, calf deaths represent only a small proportion of the costs of a scour outbreak. The biggest costs are treatment, additional labour and reduced animal performance,” she said.

Ms Prendergast, who is veterinary adviser with Intervet Schering-Plough, explained that scour is the symptom of a disease caused by bacteria and viruses. Bacterial infection can hit the calf within a couple of hours after birth. The high risk period for viral infection is five to 10 days after birth.

She stressed that vaccination of cows prior to calving, combined with rigid hygiene and management, is the only effective method to prevent calf scour.

“Vaccinating the cow anytime between three and 12 weeks prior to calving is proven to provide the antibodies in the cow’s colostrum, which will protect the new-born calf.

“Farmers should consult their vet to discuss the best vaccination strategy for their herds,” she said.