Literally, the first hour of birth sets the stage for a calf’s life. After those 60 minutes, a calf climbs aboard one of three tracks.

I occasionally get calls from customers and other producers about product features or lab samples where the results come back without a clear solution to the challenge. Some wonder why they even saw a scours outbreak and sick calves because they were doing a great job managing the calf environment and being diligent with their prevention program. It’s understandably frustrating for them, and they want answers.

Described as a “cunning chameleon,” Mycoplasma bovis has vague symptoms with an insidious onset. It is difficult to diagnose, and treat, and producers may not even realize it is on their operation.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus, or BVDV, is one of the most frequent diseases dealt with in cattle, in all sectors of the industry.

When trying to understand the impact scours can have, producers often overlook many variables, including what happens to a calf that got sick but recovered.

In early 2015, a disease outbreak affected people in Wisconsin and several other states. Of those sickened, nearly half were young children and most reported direct contact with cattle, primarily dairy calves.

Neonatal diarrhea, or calf scours, is one of the costliest diseases in the cattle business and is responsible for more mortalities in calves under 1 month old than any other disease.

Due to improvements in reproductive efficiencies, dairies can now be more selective in raising future herd replacements. This elevates the importance of reducing preventable diseases such as scours or diarrhea in newborn calves.