Post Weaning Diarrhea in Calves
Peri-weaning (or post-weaning) diarrhea is becoming a significant and increasing disease of calves on many farms.
What is peri-weaning diarrhea?
Peri-weaning
diarrhoea is an apparently new syndrome in calves around the time of
weaning (usually, but not always, after weaning). The cause of the
disease is unknown, infectious agents, managemental, environmental and
nutritional factors have all been implicated.
 |
| Calf diarrhea |
The
diarrhea is usually first seen fairly soon after group housing,
particularly if the animals were previously kept in outdoor hutches.
However, in some outbreaks diarrhea can begin up to two weeks before
weaning.
Clinical Signs
- Profuse watery grey diarrhea.
- Most calves affected, but death usually rare
- The calves tend to be bright and continue eating
- Dehydration tends to be moderate
- Pot-bellied appearance common in ‘recovered’ calves
- Reduced growth rate, and uneven batches of calves has significant economic effect.
- Significant faecal staining of the coat and appearance of ‘ill thrift’.
Diagnosis
On the clinical signs described above.
Usually a diagnosis of ‘exclusion', i.e. other diseases ruled out by investigation
Treatment
- Treatment, except for electrolytes to treat dehydration, is often ineffective, with the duration of the disease seeming to depend on the age at which it developed (younger animals tend to have more persistent diarrhea)
- Many antibiotics have been tried but none are routinely effective.
Prevention
The
cause is unknown so no specific prevention programme has been
developed. However several management and nutritional factors have been
implicated, and preventing these has reduced the incidence of
peri-weaning diarrhoea on many farms: Management: Avoid abrupt weaning
and ensure calves get colostrum for at least the first week after birth.
Nutritional: Avoid the use of calf pellets that rapidly ferment in the
rumen, use slower fermenting coarse mixes. Also avoid products
containing heat treated soya.
Tags:
Dairy Farming