Calf scour - bringing protection to the next level

摘要

In 2015, according to Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system data, 51,759 calves were reported to have died within the first six weeks of life. This accounts for 46.4 of total calf deaths less than 12 months of age and 25.8 of total cattledeaths in 2015.The all-island disease surveillance report 2014 identified gastrointestinal infections, or scour, as the most common cause of death in neonatal calves (calves less than one month of age) submitted for post-mortem examination in Ireland. This accounted for 36 of cases in Ireland and 38 in Northern Ireland. The southern Ireland figure had increased on the previous year's report from 27.6 to 38, whereas the Northern Ireland figure had decreased marginally from 38 to 36. These data highlight that scour control must be a key focus for young calves.