Causes of Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea (NCD)

Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea is caused by a number of infectious pathogens, calf management is also an important factor.

Infectious causes

The occurrence of each pathogen is dependent on location and season.

Viruses

Read more about the infectious causes of NCD by following the links in the left navigation menu.

Non-infectious causes

Nutrition

Diarrhoea of nutritional origin is common in dairy calves. This is usually due to poor quality feed or incorrect feeding techniques.

Adequate colostrum intake in the first 6 hours after birth is vital to provide maternal antibodies against disease. Read more about colostrum management under control.

Housing and hygiene

Crowded, poorly ventilated, dirty housing are all factors that increase the infectious pressure and decrease the resistance of the calf, eventually overwhelming colostral immunity.

Inadequate disinfection of feeding pails, bottles and teats increases exposure to pathogens.

newborn calf