These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution

Dairy Home

I have a 6-week-old calf that was born healthy, fed colostrum, and was doing fine. All of a sudden she developed a suppressed appetite, and her manure is clay in color with an odd odor. She is no longer bright and has a rough hair coat. Her maternal sister developed the same condition last year and died at 8 weeks.

Last Updated: February 14, 2008

View as web page


The clay-colored stool sounds like coccidiosis or cryptosporidiosis, and the malodorous manure sounds like salmonella. Contact your local veterinarian to help you diagnose this problem in your calves. There are many Web-based resources for details on coccidiosis or cryptosporidiosis. Check the eXtension Web resources on this DAIReXNet Web site and also Jim Quigley's "Calf Notes" (www.calfnotes.com). Dick Wallace, DVM, MS, Dairy Extension Veterinarian. University of Illinois - Illini DairyNET Hugh Chester-Jones, Dairy and Beef Specialist, University of Minnesota

Browse related Faqs by tag: dairy cattle


Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts

Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.


View this page: