Calf scours (neonatal diarrhoea) is the most common cause of calf mortality in the first month of life, causing severe dehydration and suffering that is largely preventable with appropriate management.
Calf scours causes profound suffering through dehydration, weakness, and acidosis that progresses rapidly in neonates. Calves with severe scours are recumbent, unable to nurse, and deteriorate to death within days without fluid therapy. The condition is largely preventable through adequate colostrum management, hygiene, and vaccination - making deaths from scours a measure of preventable welfare failure at the farm level. Prompt recognition and oral fluid therapy when scours is identified prevents the severe dehydration that causes the most intense suffering. Farmer training in scours recognition and first-line treatment is a direct welfare intervention.