Broad-Spectrum Vaccination, Comprehensive Management Key to Scours Prevention
Mark Olson, DVM
Oberlin, Kansas and Hoxie, Kansas
Mark R. Olson, DVM, has been winning the battle against calf scours in Kansas beef herds for the better part of 30 years. But it hasn’t been easy. Producers in Olson’s area deal with scours caused by both viral and bacterial agents, including rotavirus, coronavirus, E. coli, and clostridia.
That’s why Olson uses a broad-spectrum scours vaccine in his clients’ herds. “It’s good insurance to immunize pregnant cows and first-calf heifers with products that cover all the diseases we have out here in the soil and in the environment,” he says.
With more antigens in a single dose than any other scours vaccine, Scour Bos® 9 has become a key component of Olson’s prevention program. “Scour Bos protects against a wide range of scours-causing agents my clients have to deal with,” says Olson. Scour Bos contains four E. coli isolates, three rotavirus isolates, coronavirus and Clostridium perfringens Type C for broad-spectrum protection.
Olson’s clients also benefit from the flexibility that comes with a 16-week initial vaccination window for Scour Bos.
“Scour Bos allows me to vaccinate during pregnancy checks in the fall for spring-calving herds or in springtime when we’re dealing with fall-calving herds,” says Olson.
In many cases producers are only able to run cows through the chute once. And they don’t want to handle cattle close to calving, he adds. “I can give the Scour Bos vaccination when it’s convenient for the producer—sometimes two to three months ahead of actual calving. I really like that—it’s a major advantage.”
“I recommend vaccines based on safety to the animal, efficacy of the product and duration of immunity. Scour Bos 9 delivers on all these fronts,” says Olson.
Olson reminds his clients that vaccination is only one part of a comprehensive scours prevention program. “Anytime you’re setting up a scours program, there is much more to look at than just a vaccine,” he says. “Good nutrition is a must for vaccination programs to be successful. Over the years, we’ve learned that poorly nourished cattle simply aren’t capable of responding to vaccines of any kind. We can have great vaccines, but they won’t work if cows aren’t nutritionally sound.”
He also recommends keeping the calving environment clean and avoiding overcrowded conditions to help prevent scours.
“The most important thing producers can do to prevent scours is to talk with their veterinarian, review specific risk factors on the farm and then create a customized management program,” says Olson. “For my clients, Scour Bos is a consistently reliable part of the protocol.”
