Calf scour is the leading cause of calf mortality in the first weeks of life, requiring rapid recognition and fluid therapy for welfare-positive outcomes.
Calf scour causes severe welfare harm through dehydration, metabolic acidosis, and weakness that rapidly progresses to death. The condition is painful and distressing. Rapid recognition and prompt fluid therapy dramatically reduces welfare harm duration and mortality. Calves should be assessed twice daily with prompt action taken when scour is detected - delay converts a treatable condition into a fatal one.