“Do you have good luck when it comes to raising calves?” That’s a question you have likely been asked, but when it comes to preventing scours and ensuring calf health, it takes more than luck!

The immune system is the body’s military. It is tasked with being able to recognize pathogenic invaders that have entered the body and eliminate them as quickly as possible.

Ranchers have so much invested in the genetics and in the long process of getting that live calf on the ground that we want to do everything we can to protect that investment. Let’s look at how to give our young calves the best possible start.

Every cow and calf in your herd is a representation of hard work and calculated management decisions. Each new generation has the ability to serve as a building block for future performance and profitability.

When we look at calf health statistics for the U.S. dairy industry, it’s clear we have room for improvement. Data from the USDA’s National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) has calculated the national morbidity rate for female dairy calves at 34% and mortality at 5%, with digestive disease or scours as the leading cause of both sickness and death.