A calf that nurses several hours after birth may get only a fraction of the protection it needs. Calves born outside on a cold night need their colostrum almost immediately. Immunity conferred by use of Scourguard will be utterly overwhelmed in the face of exposure of this magnitude. Thus it is vital that every calf get a sufficient amount of colostrum to prevent the outbreak from getting started. Bacterial scours, often caused by various types of E. coli, he says, are much harder to prevent by vaccination.
Sanitation is the best means of prevention.
Treating a problem Any calf scouring under 2 weeks of age should be a high priority for quick doctoring. They have the most trouble fighting off infection and are hardest to save if neglected until the situation is critical. If it's strong, hard to catch and continues to nurse, it may bounce back on its own. Many times a calf will go off feed before it shows signs of diarrhea. If you start doctoring it early, it will scour less severely and for less time.