Rotavirus scour outbreaks in calves during the spring period create a huge amount of unwanted hassle and extra work at a time when you are already stretched. It also has ongoing effects on surviving calves which take time to recover as their intestinal lining is replaced, affecting calf growth rates. Poor calf growth rates lead to poor heifer mating weights and have been shown to have a major negative affect on heifer fertility, as well as reduced first lactation production.  

The virus usually affects calves around 1 to 2 weeks of age causing an infectious scour. Outbreaks spread throughout the rearing sheds with almost all calves being infected and deaths are common.

Rotavirus is a highly resilient virus that can survive in the environment for months. The source of infection is carrier cows which harbour the virus from one year to the next.  Once an outbreak has become established it is very hard to combat because the virus spreads so rapidly and is resistant to many disinfectants.  

The most effective control measure to prevent an outbreak is vaccination with “Rotavec® Corona”

“Rotavec Corona®” is a vaccine given to cows between 3 and 12 weeks pre-calving. This, significantly raises the cows’ levels of specific protective antibodies against 3 common pathogens involved in calf scours; Rotavirus, Coronavirus and E.coli. These antibodies are then concentrated in the colostrum. The calf derives protection against the pathogen from drinking this colostrum. In order for the vaccine to produce maximum results every calf must receive sufficient quantities of good quality colostrum early in life; 2L of 1st milking colostrum in the first 12 hours of life and another 2L in the next 12 hours. Calves should then be fed 2nd to 8th milking colostrum for the next 3 weeks. The effect of the vaccination lasts for one calving period therefore cows require an annual booster for ongoing protection.