Minimising Coccidiosis Outbreaks

Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease which primarily occurs in young cattle between 3-8 months of age. Occasionally the disease is seen in animals as young as 4 weeks. Coccidia are widespread in the environment, however disease only occurs if large numbers of the parasite are ingested or if their resistance is lowered due to stress, poor nutrition, concurrent disease, or heavy worm burdens. Coccidia can survive for long periods on pasture - grazing calves on the same paddocks each year increases the risk due to significant build-up of oocysts on paddocks, especially in wet conditions.

Calves present with diarrhoea typically containing mucous and blood. They frequently strain to pass faeces, swish their tails, are often off their food and appear uncomfortable and unhappy. Faecal staining on the back of the thighs is often evident. Affected calves lose weight rapidly due to gut damage and growth rates can suffer for months after the disease. Most calf meals contain a coccidiostat which prevents the infection becoming established – however the protective effect relies on calves consuming about 1kg of meal/day. Often mobs are eating more than this on average but there are always some calves that eat less than others.

Treatment is with Toltrox (as a single oral dose) or injectable Amphoprim (antibiotic) and are usually effective, especially when instigated early in the disease. History and clinical signs are often enough for a presumptive diagnosis, however faecal samples are required to confirm and are relatively quick and cheap to perform.

Turbo Initial is also a good product to keep in mind – a dual action double combination drench (Eprinomectin and Levamisole) with added Diclazural for coccidia control. Post-weaning off calf meal, some calves will become very susceptible to coccidiosis. Calves at risk can be strategically treated with Turbo Initial once at 18-20 days after weaning off meal. This allows them time to establish an infection and gain some immunity, then treating the infection before it can cause disease.