Large animal vet and author of ‘Adventures of a Country Vet’, Rory Dean, says scours can often be treated without antibiotics using activated charcoal paste.

“Activated charcoal paste is administered orally, so it’s locally active in the gut – it binds toxins and helps improve the consistency of the faeces.”

Large animal vet and author of ‘Adventures of a Country Vet’, Rory Dean, says scours can often be treated without antibiotics using activated charcoal paste.

“Activated charcoal paste is administered orally, so it’s locally active in the gut – it binds toxins and helps improve the consistency of the faeces.

“It’s better for those minor cases of diarrhoea when we’ve got a relatively well calf, it’s bright, but it’s got diarrhoea.”

He says good colostrum intake remains the best prevention. He is also watching the rise of ad-lib feeding.

“My big concern is when it’s done wrong, it can go really wrong.”

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