CALF DIARRHEA AS A HERD PROBLEM - EFFECTS OF HUSBANDRY AND MANAGEMENT AND FREQUENT ERRORS IN TREATMENT

According to present-day knowledge it can be assumed that most of the diarrhoeal diseases in young calves afflicting simultaneously large numbers of animals within a herd (''neonatal diarrhoea'') are caused by infectious agents. Usually, mixed infections are observed involving various widespread causal agents in varied combinations (enterotoxigenic and enteropathogenic E. coli, viruses pathogenic to the intestine, Cryptosporidia spp.). Under certain conditions of husbandry calf diarrhoea may develop into a serious herd problem. Of major importance are housing and hygienic practices, as well as the influence of nutrition and feeding methods on the immune response. Recent findings concerning the pathogenesis and the pathophysiology of calf diarrhoea give rise to the reconsideration of certain strategies of treatment propagated in the past. For instance, there is no general indication for oral antibiotics, due to their possible negative effects on the intestinal function. An antibiotic treatment seems indicated only if bacteria actually prove to be the sole cause of the disease or in case of intercurrent infections. The application of antibiotics, styptics or other therapeutically doubtful preparations, however, can by no means replace adequate oral or parenteral fluid and electrolyte substitution. Since secretory processes are the primary cause of neonatal diarrhoea, it is not possible to influence the disease significantly by withholding of food. Therefore, a discontinuation of milk feeding is neither sensible nor useful and may result in malnutrition combined with hypoglycaemia and immunosuppression. In addition, the increased electrolyte losses accompanying secretory diarrhoea have to be taken into consideration with regard to the composition of oral rehydration solutions.