Cooperative Extension Service Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY 40601-8750 (502) 695-9035 (502) 695-9309 (Fax) franklin.ca.uky.edu

June/July 2015

Cryptosporidia are the most common causes of

neonatal calf diarrhea. Controlling rotavirus,

coronavirus, Clostridium perfringens, and E. coli K99

with vaccines can significantly reduce sickness and

death loss due to calf scours. Although most beef cows

in good body condition produce high quality

colostrum, it may not contain the “correct” antibodies

to fight the specific bugs that cause diarrhea. Scours

vaccines are formulated to be given to pregnant cows

and heifers late in gestation so they will make the

correct antibodies while colostrum is being formed.

The three most popular vaccines available are

ScourBos®9 and 4 (Elanco), ScourGuard®4KC

(Zoetis) and Guardian® (Merck). As can be seen from

Table 1, a first or primary dose followed by a booster

dose is required the first year a scours vaccine is used

(“Year One”). After the first year, just one annual

revaccination is required (“Year Two and Beyond”)

every year throughout the cow’s life. Which product is

chosen often depends on when cattle will be worked;

Scour Bos® is administered earlier during pregnancy,

ScourGuard® is used late in gestation and Guardian®

is in-between these two options.

Continued, Page 4

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth

a Pound of Cure: What You Do

Now Makes a Big Difference on

Calves to be Born This Spring

Contributed by: Michelle Arnold, DVM (Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, UKVDL), University of Kentucky

A scours outbreak in calves on a cow/calf

operation can be an economic disaster. Once the

outbreak begins, it generally spreads quickly

throughout all of the youngest calves. Bacteria,

viruses and parasites can attack the lining of the

calf's intestine, resulting in diarrhea and

dehydration. Without a healthy gut lining,

essential nutrients are not absorbed from milk

which leads to weakness, weight loss, and often

to death. Those calves that survive diarrhea may

perform poorly for the remainder of their lives

when compared to healthy calves. Scours

vaccines are expensive yet very effective in

preventing the most common causes of calf

diarrhea if combined with proper nutritional

management of the cow during her pregnancy

and a clean calving environment.

Although there is not much one can do

about rain, mud, and manure, the goal is to keep

cow’s teats clean and dry to prevent the diarrhea-

causing bugs from entering the calf’s mouth.

Fortunately, the scours vaccine prepares the calf

to deal with many of these bugs in the event they

do make it inside the calf’s digestive system.

“Neonatal” calf diarrhea is defined as

scours occurring within the first 3 weeks of a

calf’s life. Rotavirus, coronavirus, bacteria (E.

coli K99; Clostridium perfringens Type

C, Salmonella spp.) and the parasite

Winter Tips and Reminders

Tips for the Winter Season - The winter is a time of adaptation for farmers in Kentucky. We have to change the way we manage our livestock in order to sustain the animals as well as preserve our pas-tures for the coming spring. As forage becomes less availa-ble throughout the months of December, January, and February supplemental feed is the main alternative for most farmers. Some pastures become unavailable for grazing and careful thought should be put into how to efficiently maintain livestock. Here are just a few things to keep in mind as you prepare for the winter.

Check hay quality before feeding

Move cattle often to avoid compaction and destruction of pasture area

Move cattle according to weather conditions to avoid heavy traffic on pastures

If possible feed cattle on an all-weather surface or feeding pads

Consider feeding hay in feeders that don’t allow much waste

Plan for any changes to your grazing system that will be made in the spring

If you are planning on frost seeding clover; the best time to seed is February-early March

Apply fertilizer according to soil tests.

Apply Nitrogen in February to promote early grass growth if needed.

Reminders for Winter Watering - Keeping watering systems from freezing during the winter months has been a challenge for as long as domesticated cattle have been raised in cold climates. Mature beef cattle can consume as much as 30+ gallons of water in a day, the amount will fluctuate depending on the weather, how much the cow is eating, distance to water, or if the cow is lactating. Hydration keeps the digestive tract functioning.

Below are ways to keep water available during the winter.

Check waterers daily for any freezing that may occur.

Be aware of location (if system is not in a building). Watering systems that aren’t exposed to any sunlight will stay frozen much longer than those in a sunny area. Also pay attention to eleva-tion as a lower elevation will stay at a lower temperature in the early part of the day.

Check your watering system for contamination on a regular basis. Food particles often contami-nate water as well as fecal material/urine.

Utilize insulation: indoor watering sheds, insulated buckets/troughs, and insulated water tanks. Take advantage of buildings and terrain that are already available to you.

Avoid ball waterers if you have recently weaned calves in your herd. A calf is unable to push down the ball if it freezes and will not be able to access the water.

Keep water pipes from freezing. Make sure any exposed pipe that is capable of freezing is insu-lated.

Burying water lines is the most common way farmers utilize insulation, although some use hay or fabric and surround the pipe with these materials.

Geothermal heating of troughs can be an alternative to conventional insulation, though this can take time to set up.

If any heating elements are being used, check to see if they are keeping water at

the desired temperature. While doing this make sure there is no electrical current in

the water from a malfunctioning heating unit.

Maximizing Success with Frost Seedings of Clover Contributed by: Dr. Jimmy Henning, Adapted from Grazing News

Literally thousands of acres of Kentucky pasture and hay fields are overseeded with clover,

much of it frost-seeded in late winter. Yet this is one of the few times where crops are seeded

where we halfway expect not to get a stand. You would not accept this for corn or soybeans.

Here are a few tips to ensure you have the best chance of getting clover established from a

frost-seeding.

1) Address soil fertility needs. Get a current soil test, and apply the needed nutrients. Clovers need soil that is

pH 6.5 to 7 and medium or better in P and K. Do not apply additional N except for that supplied from

diammonium phosphate (DAP) if used to supply the needed P. But get the soil test; anything else is just a

guess.

2) Select a good variety. Choose an improved variety with known performance and genetics. Choosing a

better red clover variety can mean as much as three tons of additional hay and longer stand life. Spread

enough seed. UK recommends 6 to 8 pounds of red and 1 to 2 pounds of white/ladino clover per acre. Apply

higher rates if using only one clover type. Applying the minimum (6 lb. red and 1 lb. white) will put over 50

seeds per square foot on the field (37 red, 18 white).

3) Make sure seed lands on bare soil. Excess grass or

thatch must be grazed and/or disturbed until there is

bare ground showing prior to overseeding. The

biggest cause of seeding failure with frost seedings

is too much ground cover. Judicious cattle traffic or

dragging with a chain harrow can accomplish this.

4) Get good seed-soil contact. With frost seeding,

we depend on the rain and snow or freeze-thaw

action of the soil surface to work the clover seed into

the top ¼ inch of soil. A corrugated roller can also

be used soon after seeding to ensure good soil

contact.

5) Control competition next spring. Do not apply

additional N on overseeded fields next spring, and

be prepared to do some timely mowing if grass or

spring weeds get up above the clover. Clover is an

aggressive seeding but will establish faster and

thicker if grass and weed competition is controlled.

Clover can be reliably established into

existing grass pastures with a little attention

to detail. Soil fertility, variety, seeding rate,

seed placement and competition control are

the major keys to success.

Bare soil should be showing for successful clover overseeding

The heavy ground cover here will prevent clover establishment

Table 1: Administration of the various scours vaccines based on calving season beginning March 1st

11/11 11/18 11/25 12/2 12/9 12/16 12/23 12/30 1/4 1/11 1/18 1/25 2/1 2/8 2/15 2/22 1-Mar

Vaccine Label Directions 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Calving

Begins

Scour Bos® 92 ml IM 8-16 weeks prior to calving. Revaccinate with

Scour Bos 4 four weeks prior to calving

Scour

Bos® 4

Guardian®2 ml SQ 12 weeks precalving. Booster 3-6 weeks after

primary dose

ScourGuard® 4KC2 ml IM 3 weeks apart, with 2nd dose given 3-6 weeks

before calving

Scour Bos® 9 2 ml IM of Scour Bos 9 at 8-10 weeks prior to calving

Guardian® 2 ml SQ at 5-7 weeks precalving

ScourGuard® 4KC 2 ml IM at 3-6 weeks before calving

Ye

ar

On

eY

ea

r T

wo

an

d

Be

yo

nd

Weeks Prior to Calving

Range to Administer Primary Dose

Range to administer Booster Dose

Range to administer Annual Revaccination

Ounce of Prevention, Continued

Obviously not all calves will be born the first

week of calving season but plan to give the scours

vaccine based on when the first calves of the

season are expected. If the calving season is long

(greater than 90 days), consider vaccinating the

later-calving cows closer to their due date or give

another round of the vaccine to those who have

not calved within 60 days of the first dose.

It takes some planning to vaccinate

correctly; timing is critically important with the

different products:

1. Pregnant Heifers (or Cows) receiving their

first dose of Scours Vaccine-

If using:

Scour Bos®9 –Administer first dose 8-16

weeks prior to calving

Booster dose using Scour Bos® 4-

Administer 4 weeks prior to calving

Guardian®- Administer the first dose 12

weeks before calving and the second dose 3-

6 weeks later

ScourGuard® 4KC-Adminster first dose 6-9

weeks before calving and give the second

dose 3 weeks later.

2. Cows (Annual revaccination)-

If using:

Scour Bos®9 –Administer 8-10 weeks prior

to calving season

Guardian®-Administer 5-7 weeks before

calving season

ScourGuard® 4KC-Administer 3-6 weeks prior

to calving season

If the cow herd is not vaccinated and calf

scours develop, there are vaccines available to

administer to newborn calves. These vaccines are

given by mouth as quickly as possible after birth,

preferably prior to nursing and definitely within the

first 12 hours of life. These will provide some

immediate protection in the gut but are not as

effective as vaccinating the pregnant cows. As can be

seen in Table 2, none of the products formulated for

calves protects against all 4 major pathogens (E.coli

K99, rotavirus, coronavirus and Clostridium

perfringens Type C).

Preventing calf scours involves far more than

simply administering a vaccine. Excellent cow

nutrition during and after gestation, an easy calving

process, and environmental management factors all

contribute to a successful start. The cows’ diet must

provide adequate energy, protein and trace minerals to

meet her needs during gestation and lactation,

especially during bad winter weather. Remember up

to 80% of fetal growth occurs in the last 50 days of

gestation and cows are also producing colostrum

during the final 4-6 weeks of pregnancy. A

nutritionally-deprived cow will produce poor quality

and quantity of colostrum, have less energy to deliver

her calf quickly, and will not produce milk to her

genetic potential.

Continued, Page 5

Ounce of Prevention, Continued

Calves born to energy deficient cows will have reduced amounts of brown fat needed to stand and nurse. Poor

sanitation, cold, wet weather and overcrowding in calving areas all contribute to a higher risk of disease.

Assist with calving early as necessary, especially with heifers. Make sure calves start nursing as soon as

possible after calving, keeping in mind that calves should stand within 30 minutes of delivery and nurse

within 30 minutes of standing. If in doubt, use a good quality colostrum replacer and feed the calf at least 2

quarts during the first 6 hours of life. Once the calf has received colostrum, it is still important to prevent the

“bad bugs” (pathogens) in the environment from overwhelming the calf’s immune system. Calf scour

pathogens will build up exponentially in the environment as the calving season progresses. Calving in the

same area that older calves are in greatly increases the risk to the newborn calf, especially in wet or muddy

conditions as are often seen in the spring in KY. If possible, pregnant cows close to calving should be rotated

onto clean pastures while cow-calf pairs remain on the old pasture. If calving in a barn or shed, the calving

area should be kept as clean and dry as possible with frequent changes of bedding to remove the build-up of

organisms. Make every effort to get the cow and newborn calf out of the barn quickly to lessen the chances of

infection. Even the best calving management practices will have no effect if the first thing a calf ingests is

manure from the calving area. Consult with your veterinarian on the best choice of vaccines for your

operation.

The UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory has an excellent test to

diagnose the cause of calf diarrhea. A small sample of scours (in a leakproof

container) from a calf that has not been treated for diarrhea with antibiotics is

needed to run the test. This “Calf Diarrhea Panel” is a PCR assay that detects

the nucleic acids in bovine coronavirus, rotavirus, E. coli K99, Salmonella

and Cryptosporidium. The test is run on Tuesdays and Thursdays with

results generally available within 2 days and costs $65 ($55 + $10 Accession

Fee). Visit the website at http://vdl.uky.edu/TestInformation.aspx for more

information or call (859) 257-8283.

Table 2: A comparison of scours vaccines given to the calf at birth versus scours vaccines given

Revised Labels for Dicamba Products and

Mandatory Training Requirements In October 2017 the EPA approved revised labeling for new formulations of dicamba products

which are marketed as Engenia (BASF), Xtendimax (Monsanto), and FeXapan (DuPont). These

new herbicides were developed in conjunction with the release of dicamba-tolerant soybean

(Roundup Ready2 Xtend soybean varieties). All three products, which were first available for

applications during the 2017 growing season, are now classified by the EPA as “RESTRICTED

USE” pesticides, meaning that either a commercial or private pesticide certification license

must be held by individuals who purchase and apply these products.

One of the significant changes with the revised labels is the requirement that applicators

must attend a dicamba-specific training session prior to using these herbicide products.

Furthermore, the revised labels have more detailed restrictions outlining how the products

should be applied including additional record keeping requirements and clarification

regarding buffers and what constitutes sensitive areas and crops. These new label guidelines

must be followed when applying preplant, at planting, or postemergence on Dicamba-

Tolerant soybean varieties, and with applications on corn, small grains, or other approved

sites for applications.

To meet the mandatory dicamba training requirement for applications in Kentucky individuals

must attend a training session that has been approved by the Kentucky Department of

Agriculture. These training sessions will be presented by University of Kentucky weed

scientists or by the registrants who market these dicamba products. After an individual has

completed the training the Kentucky Department of Agriculture will issue a ‘certification’ that

will allow the participant to purchase and apply these dicamba products during the 2018

growing season.

The dates and locations where the University of Kentucky will be offering dicamba training

are listed on the following page. For more information about these training sessions you can

contact your local county cooperative extension office or one of the

following websites:

http://www.kyagr.com/consumer/division-of-environmental-services.html

http://weedscience.ca.uky.edu/

Annual Horse Pasture Meeting

Jan. 22, 2018

University of Kentucky (UK) Ag Equine

Programs will host its 11th Annual Pastures

Please! pasture management workshop

from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22,

2018, at the Scott County Extension Office.

The event is free, and snacks will be

provided prior to the event by McCauley’s

Feeds.

Horse owners, farm owners, and farm

managers will have the opportunity to listen

to several informative talks from forage

extension specialists about reestablishing

pastures, weed management, and general

pasture maintenance. For more information

or to RSVP for the event, contact your local

county extension agent.

2018 OAK Conference

March 2-3, 2018

Lexington, Kentucky

Join Organic Association of Kentucky for its seventh annual conference on organic farming and living. Local and national speakers spotlight a variety of topics, including livestock and row crops, dairy, growing produce, finances, life on the farm, and the urban homestead.

This conference is expected to bring together more than 300 participants, including consumers, farmers, academics, government agencies, and businesses from Kentucky and beyond to continue the momentum in building a stronger and healthier food system. Our program features four short courses, more than 30 educational workshops, Liz Carlisle as the invited keynote speaker, an exhibitor fair, an organic farm tour for consumers, a festive reception and silent auction, and a special community screening of King Corn. From the experienced farmer to one who is new to the field or garden to the consumer who wants to learn more about why organic is better, these workshops have something for everyone. For more information on the registration, courses, lodging, or exhibiting, visit https://www.oak-ky.org/2018-conference for details.

Lambing School Location: University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Research Center Sheep Unit

Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 10:00am to 3:00pm

This school is designed for new and prospective sheep producers, although veteran producers are welcome. Topics of discussion, demonstration and hands-on include ewe management prior to, during, and after lambing. Greatest shepherding expertise is required during the first week after lambing, therefore attendees will have the opportunity to work with and learn from ewes that will be lambing at the Sheep Unit on January 23, 2018.

The school begins at 10 a.m. (EST), with lunch on your own from 12 to 1 p.m., and will conclude by 3 p.m.

Hay Testing – A Wise Investment Contributed by: Kentucky Forage News KyForageNews.com

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has an excellent hay and haylage testing program. The

program has been improved and expanded. A toll free call to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Forage Testing Program will get quick results. A trained individual will come to your farm, take samples of your hay/haylage and get the test results back in a short period of time. The results can be used to accurately, efficiently and economically determine your feeding and supplementation program. The cost is $10.00 per “lot”. A “lot” of hay/haylage is hay/haylage taken from the same harvest, the same field, same type of harvest conditions, and with the same method of storage and same weather conditions during harvest.

The testing program can also aid in marketing hay. When your hay is tested, you can list that hay for sale on the Department of Agriculture’s computer hay listing service. There is no additional charge for the listing. If you want to buy hay, call the toll free number (1-800-248-4628) for a list of tested hay for sale in Kentucky.

Franklin County 101 Lakeview Court Frankfort, KY 40601-8750 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Keenan Bishop County Extension Agent for Agriculture

and Natural Resources Education

NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID

FRANKFORT, KY PERMIT 10090

The Franklin County

Cooperative Extension

Service will be closed

on Monday, January 15,

2018. for Martin Luther

King Jr. Day.