Making use of NSAIDs for early calf scour treatment
9th December 2020
With a growing need to reduce antimicrobial usage, regular temperature monitoring and early use of a NSAID can offer a first-line defence against calf scour[1].
Calf scour has been estimated to cost £57.94 per calf through reduced growth rates, calf mortality and treatment costs[2] – as well as having long-term impacts on the productivity of affected calves. A 2018 survey suggested 82 per cent of farmers experienced scour in their herds, and 48 per cent experienced deaths as a result[3].
As pressure to reduce reliance on antibiotics continues to ramp up, the future of farming will see increased use of vaccines and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) as well as a focus on best practice in calf management. The causes for calf scours are numerous and prevention is always preferable, through ensuring good calf house hygiene, timely intake of quality colostrum and vaccination. In the instance that clinical signs are seen, treatment with fluid therapy and an NSAID such as Loxicom LA can improve appetite and performance.[4]
Use of analgesics such as NSAIDs are a requirement of the Red Tractor Scheme for calf disbudding and castration. Increasingly, for diseases such as calf pneumonia, farmers are recommended by vets to administer NSAIDs alongside antibiotic treatment if necessary –there would be some benefit in the treatment of calf scour too, so is it recommended that farmers discuss this with their vet.
Loxicom 20mg/ml LA injection is licensed for use in diarrhoea in combination with oral re-hydration therapy to reduce clinical signs in calves of over one week of age.
The benefit of using an NSAID in cases of scour is that it is proven to reduce inflammation and temperature, encouraging animals to get back up to full potential and improve daily live weight gains. Loxicom requires only a low dose of 2.5ml/100kg bodyweight and is a highly syringeable, subcutaneous injection, being relatively low stress for the animal.
Good advice is to check calves’ temperatures daily[5] – when a rise in temperature is seen (usually over 39.4ºC), an NSAID can be administered before the animal exhibits clinical signs, rather than giving antibiotics once diarrhoea develops.
[1] Todd C G et al (2007). An evaluation of meloxicam (Metacam) as an adjunctive therapy for calves with neonatal diarrhea complex, J Anim Sci 85(Suppl 1): 369.
[2] ADAS Report: Economic impact of health and welfare issues in beef cattle and sheep in England (p. 35/36).
[3] MSD Animal Health, National Youngstock Survey, May 2018.
[4] Todd C G et al (2007).
[5] Lowe G L et al (2019) Physiological and behavioural responses as indicators for early disease detection in dairy calves, J Dairy SciJun;102(6).
