Preventive Product Now Available for Three Primary Scours-Causing Pathogens

 

A first of its it kind, USDA-approved, scours preventative is now available for newborn calves. It is effective for all three primary scours-causing pathogens in newborn calves – rotavirus, coronavirus and K99 plus E. coli.

 

“This is a game changer,” said Bobbi Jo Brockmann, vice president of sales and marketing with ImmuCell. “This new product, First Defense Tri-Shield, breaks the mold when it comes to scours protection, providing an alternative to the traditional calf- or dam-level vaccinations.”

 

This new product is administered orally in a single-dose gel tube and eliminates the need for calf- or dam-level scours vaccinations. The does is administered shortly after calving, with the goal of giving the single dose gel within 12 hours of birth.

 

Scours is the primary cause of death in newborn calves, she noted. Calves that survive scours are highly susceptible to respiratory and other secondary diseases along with stunted growth and production losses. Scours is a serious economic drain for both the dairy and beef industry.

 

“No scours vaccine means the calf can save its energy for what’s important – growth – instead of diverting energy away to count a vaccine immune response. Eliminating dam vaccination(s) means less stress on the cow, increases the response rate to critical vaccines and clears room in the vaccination schedule,” Brockmann said. “First Defense Tri-Shield offers the industry an opportunity to go beyond vaccination, providing a better way to protect calves from scours.”