Calf problems

while checking calves this evening I noticed a 4 day old calf with what appeared to be blood in the manure on his butt. I would check closer but he may be the most wound up calf I have. I noticed it when I was watching him chase a starling around the pasture. I will watch him close but how nervous should I be.

I would watch the calf.  I am having more scours than I have ever had before.  I have been catching the earlier enough, they have appeard weak a few I have been able to grab, put some bolus down the throat, shot of penicillin, b12 has helped out.  A few I have had to bring in and put in a "heat box", and put some medicated milk replacer down them along w/ the bolus and penicillin.  After about 3 days in the calf heat box and with the bolus, penicillin, b12, and tubing the calf they have stood up and have been able to nurse on their own again.  The scours dehydrates them to the point they get weak and do not feel like moving @ all.  But with the above remedies, I have had good results. 

What vaccine/regime is everyone using for scours? 

Thanks! I am going to monitor it. I figure when or if the problem becomes bad enough I can catch him I will give him a sulpha bonus and b12.

If the problem becomes more widespread does anyone know of a feed additive or mineral that I can give to the cows that will help. I had this problem a few years ago and an old timer mentioned putting out a sulphur block in the mineral feeder. I did and it cleared up. Was this just coincidence or have other people tried this with positive results?

  At 4 days old I doubt that it is too much to worry about. Was the stool movement solid or running? If it was running then possibly something to worry about, but it would be abnormal for a calf of that age to develop a dysentery problem. More than likely just a small tender blood vessel broke because the calf was pushing hard to have the bowel movement. That is not unusual if fact somewhat common.

Blood in the stool in young calves is usually coccidia. It can be a problem and can spread. I've had it twice this year same calf both times. I called my vet and she told me to use sulfa boluses. It took two applications but didn't spread.

hardenblu2 said:

Blood in the stool in young calves is usually coccidia. It can be a problem and can spread. I've had it twice this year same calf both times. I called my vet and she told me to use sulfa boluses. It took two applications but didn't spread.

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Calf @ 4 days of age will not be able to show clinical signs of coccidiosis. The life cycle of the parasite does not fit the situation.

Thanks for all the info. I have been monitoring the calf, and it seems to have cleared up some. He had very little on his rear yesterday evening. It was also solid in consistency which leads me to believe that I was just being a little crazy or at least jumping the gun a little. I am extra jumpy this year. This is the best calf crop at this stage my family has ever had. Every calf is awesome! I just keep waiting for it to be a dream and the bad part where it all goes terribly wrong is just around the corner. LOL

Bio-Mos in mineral tubs helps a lot with scours. We've used them 4 years in a row and they have cut down on our scours problems immensely. We've also done the 21 day Corid treatment in the ration. Again, it helped a lot in controlling scours. Hubbard has a 60 lb Brigade stress tub that is the perfect size to put in a calf shelter and get those calves licking on it to help. Then once the tub is empty, filling it with a medicated creep feed works well for getting them started.

We've noticed that it takes a lot of little steps to help prevent and treat any type of scours. Talk to your local feed dealer and see what they suggest. Good Luck!