Working Ranch Magazine January/February 2025

Feed The MICROFLORA

of Dairy Medicine and Surgery at the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, works daily with cow-calf operators. He says, “Scours is severe diar rhea caused by infectious bacteria, viruses, and noninfec tious sources, such as protozoans. Nutrition, overeating, environmental stress, unsanitary conditions, cool, wet weather, and overcrowding are additional contributors.” Clinical signs of scours include a loose, watery stool that may be yellow or white and might contain mucus and blood. Other signs are lethargy, weakness, and dehydration. Additional characteristics to look for are sunken eyes, dry mouth, weight loss, decreased body condition, or failure to gain weight. Calves with scours may have a fever if there is an infection. Animals may not run a fever if the cause is environmental or nutritional involvement. Traditionally, ranchers have not called the veterinar ian unless the calf has an elevated temperature; vet erinarians now treat animals with normal temps for diarrhea and dehydration. “Keeping calves hydrated with electrolytes is criti cal for recovery,” Roof explains. “We associate fever with bacterial and viral causes. Animals may receive antibiotics when they don’t have a fever to prevent a secondary infection because their immune systems are compromised.” Scour prevention strategies include lowering stress and maintaining clean calving areas. The dam’s

40 I JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.