Livestock farmers in Kiambu have been urged to regulate the amount of colostrum that they allow the calves to have to help reduce case of calf scours.
Kiambu Sub-County veterinary officer Dr Samuel Njuguna said that many cases of calf scours were caused by excessive colostrum intake by the new born calf.
Dr Njuguna who spoke from his office today said that calf scours is not a disease but rather a clinical sign of discomfort which can be addressed by the farmer. He said when a calf scours, the intestine fails to absorb fluids and secretion increases, causing it to be uncomfortable.
He advised livestock keepers to ensure their calves were mothered well and consumed at least 1 or 2 quarters of colostrum in the few hours after birth to ensure a high level of antibodies absorption.
“Livestock keepers need to know that the age of the calf when scours begin is something that should be taken into consideration if the calf is to survive. When the calf scours at a younger age, the possibility of it surviving was minimal,” said Dr Njuguna.
The veterinarian added that nutritional scours occurs when there is a disruption in the normal habit of a calf. He noted that when a calf’s’ mother goes hunting for new grass; it disrupts the normal nursing pattern of a calf. He said that this change may affect the calf’s health leading to scours.
He noted that cases where the hungry calf does not nurse, the cow’s udder ends up containing more milk than the calf may be able to feed leading to nutritional scour. He said calf scours can lead to death and more financial losses and further advised that treatment should be done by consulting a veterinarian who will look at the condition of the calf and then inject it with antibiotics.
Dr. Njuguna further advised them to avoid overfeeding calves, so that the excess milk does not interfere with their digestion. James Kamau, a livestock keeper who lives in Kirigiti, said that he had lost three calves through scour. He said that he will henceforth take preventive measures to avoid losses by seeking the advice of veterinarians whenever his animals gave birth.