Unfortunately, far too many farms are still losing too many calves to scours. Indeed, a 2017 study highlighted that in calves under two months of age, scour is the main cause of death.
What’s more, according to MSD Animal Health’s latest national youngstock survey (spring 2020), 81% of more than 300 farmers surveyed said they had experienced scour in their calves during the last 12 months and 50% of farms had suffered mortalities. On dairy farms, calf deaths due to scour had been seen by more than 65% of units.
Calf scour is one of the biggest health issues in youngstock causing serious financial losses. 70% of farmers have seen scour in calves under six months of age during the previous 12 months and more than 40% of producers have lost animals to the disease over the same period.
