Emerging and recurring infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites lead to significant health problems and mortality in various livestock including cattle, horses, swine, sheep, and goats. Continuing research and new technologies have resulted in new or improved treatment and therapies, but for small herd producers, the best medicine may be, as the old adage goes, prevention. Prevention coupled with several time-tested best management practice (BMP) routines for newborn animals can lead to healthier animals. BMPs, in this case, generally involves vaccination, colostrum, nutrition, supplementation of nutrition, control of body temperature, hydration, and clean habitation.

The Situation
The USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) reports the overall mortality rate for calves is 8.3 percent with pre-weaning mortality of 10.8 percent. Nearly 20 percent of lambs die before weaning and 80 percent of those losses occur during the first ten days of life, according to Professor Susan Schoenian, University of Maryland.

Baby goats fare worse: A NAHMS study several years ago found that 13.8 percent of kids in the survey died or were euthanized over a period of one year. Overall herd productivity is decreased when calves, kids, and lambs have survived serious sickness as newborns but continue to experience chronic illness as they become adults. Early health management of newborn livestock is an important component of total herd health, NAHMS says. In raising sheep, Prof. Schoenian claims good newborn care can increase the number of lambs raised by ewes in the herd. “A realistic goal would be to limit lamb mortality to 4 to 5 percent,” she says.

Cattle producers face many challenges raising a healthy, productive herd. According to the National Animal Health Monitoring System, the productivity of a herd can be negatively affected by animals that have experienced impaired growth and chronic illness as baby calves. Producers should have a treatment strategy and a plan in place, developed with their veterinarian. As suppliers and recommenders of available products, dealers also have a key role in their customers’ efforts to keep their animals healthy and productive.
Many calf health problems can be avoided by vaccinating the dam prior to calving. Through colostrum intake, young calves can benefit from passive protection against pathogens such as E. Coli, Salmonella and Rota-Coronavirus that cause calf scours/diarrhea.
Durvet and its partners also provide a broad range of vaccines from leading manufacturers to help producers form a front line of immunity against other common diseases – such as the Bovine Respiratory Disease complex which includes these conditions:

• BRSV - Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus
• BVD - Bovine Virus Diarrhea
• IBR - Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis
• PI3 - Parainfluenza Type 3
• Haemophilus somnus
• Pasteurella - Haemolytica and Multocida

Recipes For Wellness
Pre-calving vaccination provides the first line of defense against E. Coli, Salmonella, Rota-Coronavirus, but even the most comprehensive vaccine schedules cannot fully guarantee protection against any number of viral and/or bacterial infections. Preventing and treating cattle illnesses is an ever-present challenge and producers are always on the lookout for additional products and therapies.
Durvet’s expanding portfolio of products – including its all-natural Healthy Calf Care Program introduced last year – give cattle producers specific treatments that can be used individually or in combination to fit a situation on a calf-by-calf basis. All four products are formulated to address specific issues such as colostrum deficiency and the onset of scours. These easy-to-administer pastes are recommended for use in dairy and beef cattle:

• DuraMate Calf: Boosts immune systems with a formulation of probiotics, enzymes, and vitamins as well as fat-soluble vitamins, five essential enzymes, and bovine specific probiotics.
• DuraLift Paste: Supports treatment for calves with no (or low levels of) colostrum; it contains a high level of bovine colostrum, egg-based proteins and host-specific direct fed microbials (DFMs).
• DuraLyte Calf: Slows the onslaught of diarrhea and dehydration; it contains microorganisms, electrolytes, and activated clay for digestive support.
• DuraZyme for Calves: Offers maximum strength performance for high-stress situations with egg-based proteins, probiotics, and enzymes designed to be given at the first sign of scours or dehydration.