Neonatal calf scours is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young calves worldwide, causing severe dehydration, acidosis, and pain, but is largely preventable through colostrum management and hygiene.
Neonatal scours causes substantial suffering in affected calves: profuse watery diarrhoea, progressive dehydration, abdominal pain, weakness, and in severe cases loss of the ability to stand. Calves in acidotic coma may appear dead and require aggressive IV bicarbonate therapy. The disease disproportionately affects calves in the first two weeks of life — a period of complete dependence. Because most severe cases are preventable through adequate colostrum management, the continued high prevalence of neonatal scours represents a preventable welfare failure. Staff training in colostrum harvest, storage, and administration, combined with hygiene protocols during calving, can dramatically reduce incidence. Prompt recognition and treatment of affected calves before dehydration becomes severe is critical for welfare and survival.