Escherichia coli, or E. coli

Escherichia coli is recognized as the single most important bacterial cause of calf scours. 1 Newborn dairy and beef animals are vulnerable to calf scours because they are subject to many stresses during the first few hours of life when their immune systems aren’t fully developed.

In addition to E. coli, calf scours can also be caused by coronavirus, rotavirus or Clostridium perfringens Type C.

Help prevent calf scours by vaccinating the pregnant beef cow or dry dairy cow with Scour Bos® 9. Scour Bos 9 contains nine antigens associated with clinical disease in calves:

• Three strains of rotavirus, including G10, G6 and G8
• One strain of coronavirus
• Four isolates of K99 E. coli
• Clostridium perfringens Type C

Vaccinating beef and dairy cows with Scour Bos 9 helps the dam pass protection on to the calf through her antibody-bolstered colostrum. If a veterinarian determines that only E. coli is causing the scours outbreak, prevent it by vaccinating pregnant cows with Bovine Pili Shield™.

Or, if the dam hasn’t been vaccinated, or quantity or quality of colostrum is low, producers can help prevent calf scours caused by K99 E. coli and Clostridium perfringens Type C by giving Bovine Ecolizer® or Bovine Ecolizer+C20 directly to the calf as close to birth as possible.

Learn more about calf scours in beef cattle.

Learn more about calf scours in dairy cattle.

1. The Merck Veterinary Manual. www.merckvetmanual.com.