Volume 8, No. 5
ANTIBIOTICS ARE NOT THE ANSWER TO CALF SCOURS
By Russ Schnepper, D. V. M.
Antibiotics alone have never been the answer to calf scours. Fluids have always been the most important, regardless of the causative agent. The calf dies from dehydration, so we must keep fluids going in the front end faster than they come out the back end. Scours are more effectively prevented than treated. Immunoboost, Gammulin, Probiotics, Decoquinate, and Prebiotics (Innulin, etc.) are more effective than most antibiotics.
The following is a quote from Peter Constable, BVSc, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM Professor & Head, Food Animal Medicine & Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois.
"I reviewed published papers regarding antibiotic administration to calves with diarrhea (since 1941). Using
evidence-based principles, the following conclusions can be made:
1. Neonatal calves with diarrhea, regardless of cause, have small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with Escherichia coli.
2. 30% of severely ill calves with diarrhea are bacteremic, primarily due to E. coli
3. Antimicrobial administration in calves with diarrhea should be directed at 2 sites of infection, small intestine
and blood.
4. Extra-label administration of parenteral broad spectrum ßß-lactam antibiotics (ceftiofur, amoxicillin,
ampicillin) or potentiated sulfonamides is recommended for the treatment of systemically ill calves with diarrhea.
Systemically ill means fever or decreased suckle.
5. There do not appear to be any papers documenting that oral tetracycline, oxytetracycline, neomycin, and
sulfonamides (not potentiated) are effective in treating calf diarrhea. Using AMDUCA principles, only oral
amoxicillin appears to have documented efficacy in treating calf diarrhea
6. Antibiotic efficacy is best evaluated by the clinical response to treatment, rather than the results of in vitro
antibiotic susceptibility testing performed on fecal E. coli isolates. In other words, there is no point running
susceptibility testing on feces. This is because fecal E coli population is not representative of small intestinal E
coli population, which is one of the 2 sites of infection."
I also feel that culturing fecal samples is useless. We have a saying, "if you culture crapp you get crapp for results". However, fecal samples can be used for Rota/Corona virus diagnosis.
Please do not run antibiotics in the milk at the same time as using probiotics. Gammulin and probiotics, and/or prebiotics are compatible, according to American Protein Corporation.
Sanitation, all-in-all-out facilities, good nutrition and tender loving care are most important. Keep the calf clean, dry and comfortable. The manager is still the most important factor.
Beef cows make out better calving in the pasture than the yards and barns. "The solution to pollution is dilution."
Immunoboost has been working well in the beef calves. But it will not handle an extremely heavy load of
Cryptosporidiosis. Crypto is the main reason for calving the cows out in a clean pasture.
Immunoboost continues to be our most consistent viral & bacterial scour preventative.
Schnepper International, Inc.
3162 County B, Platteville, WI 53818
608-348-6141, Fax: 608-348-6146
www.calfdoctor.com email: rschnep@mhtc.net