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Summer scour syndrome in weaned dairy calves: case series

Irish Veterinary Journal volume 77, Article number: 14 (2024) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Summer scour syndrome (SSS) is a recently identified pathological condition affecting weaned dairy and dairy-beef calves during their first grazing season in Ireland. The syndrome is characterised by diarrhoea, weight loss, weakness, and can ultimately lead to death in some calves. Oral and oesophageal ulcerations are present in some cases. This study aimed to characterise a series of SSS cases in weaned dairy-bred calves on Irish commercial farms.

Results

Five farms with calves having unexplained diarrhoea at grass were referred by private veterinary practitioners (PVP) following preliminary testing to exclude coccidiosis and parasitic gastroenteritis. Farms were visited within 2 to 5 days following PVP’s referrals, or 2 days to 3 weeks relative to the onset of clinical signs. Farm management data, grass and concentrate samples, and biological samples from 46 calves (8 to 10 calves/farm) displaying clinical signs were collected. Two farms were subsequently found positive for coccidiosis and/or had chronic pneumonia problems after a thorough herd investigation and were designated as non-case farms (NCF). The remaining three farms were deemed typical SSS outbreaks (case farms; CF). Mean rumen fluid pH per farm ranged from 6.67 to 7.09 on CF, and 6.43–6.88 on NCF. Mean rumen fluid ammonia concentrations ranged from 17.6 to 29.6 mg/L and 17.2–45.0 mg/L on CF and NCF, respectively. Corresponding blood ammonia concentrations ranged from 129 to 223 µmol/L and 22–25 µmol/L. Mean blood copper and molybdenum concentrations were within normal range on all farms. Grass crude protein concentrations on the paddocks where the calves had grazed, and were currently grazing on the day of visit ranged from 137 to 148 g/kg DM and 106–177 g/kg DM, respectively on CF, and 160–200 g/kg DM and 151–186 g/kg DM, respectively on NCF. On CF, inorganic nitrogen fertiliser was applied 1 to 3 weeks pre-grazing, whereas on the two NCF, inorganic nitrogen fertiliser was applied 2 to 3 weeks pre-grazing on one farm and no fertiliser was applied on the other.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that copper or molybdenum toxicity, and ruminal acidosis are not the primary causes of SSS. High blood ammonia concentrations and the timing and level of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application to paddocks pre-grazing, warrant further investigation.

Background

Summer scour syndrome (SSS) is a recently identified pathological condition that primarily affects both weaned dairy and dairy-beef calves during their first grazing season. Affected calves show clinical signs of weight loss, diarrhoea, weakness, oral and oesophageal ulcerations, and mortality are observed in some cases [1,2,3]. The syndrome is reported to occur in weaned calves within one-month post-turnout to grass or after moving to new pasture [3]. The term SSS is used widely in Ireland [1] and the United Kingdom (UK; [2, 3]) and very similar clinical presentations termed upper alimentary ulcerative syndrome (UAUS) have been documented in Australia [4]. In their surveillance report of 20 case submissions in the UK, Swinson et al. [3] found that while the overall prevalence of SSS was low, calf mortality in the groups of calves from which the cases were submitted varied from 2 to 40% and morbidity from 10 to 100%, and no consistent pathogens were identified in SSS calves. In Ireland and the UK [3], the syndrome is diagnosed after the common causes of calf diarrhoea at grass, including coccidiosis, parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE), infectious agents (e.g., bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Salmonella), and copper or molybdenum toxicities, are excluded. In Australia, UAUS diagnosis is based on the presence of oesophageal necrosis lesions, with BVDV infection having been excluded [4]. The syndrome has not been reported in suckler cow-calf operations and appears to only occur in dairy or dairy-beef calves. The available literature to date suggests that the occurrence of the syndrome is similar across countries, with grass as a common exposure and artificially reared calves within their first grazing season. However, the primary cause/s of the syndrome remains unclear [1, 3, 4] and there is limited information available regarding the characteristics of the affected calves. The objectives of the present study were to characterise SSS in weaned dairy-bred calves and to determine the common conditions under which SSS occurs naturally on Irish commercial farms.

Methods

Ethical approval for the present study was reviewed and granted by the Teagasc Animal Ethics Committee (TAEC0323-375).

Case definition and veterinary referral

In May 2023, private veterinary practitioners (PVP) across Ireland were contacted and asked to refer potential SSS cases for investigation to the herd health section in the School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin. Farms with potential SSS cases were defined as “any dairy or dairy-beef farm with weaned calves displaying signs of unexplained diarrhoea at grass, and negative for coccidiosis or PGE”. The case definition was developed in order to include farms with conditions that were typical of SSS. In the experience of the author (CMcA) investigating cases of calf diarrhoea at grass, SSS is usually a diagnosis that can only be given after other common plausible causes of diarrhoea in weaned calves at grass are ruled out. In June 2023, five farms were referred by the PVP’s with suspected SSS cases. History of the suspected SSS cases on each farm is summarised in Table 1. The farms were located in Counties Louth (Farms 1 and 4), Kilkenny (Farms 2 and 3), and Offaly (Farm 5).

Table 1 Overview of suspected SSS case history on each farm
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Farm visits and sample collections

Farm visits were conducted within 2 to 5 days following the PVP’s referrals, or 2 days to 3 weeks since the farmers observed the onset of clinical signs within the group of affected calves. On the day of the farm visit, calves were grazing on their respective paddocks and had received concentrate supplementation earlier in the morning, before being brought indoors for clinical examinations and sample collection, as described below. The investigation protocol and samples collected from affected calves were the same across all farms. With the consent of the farmers, data relating to calf breed, date of birth, age, sex, and farm enterprise were retrieved from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) database (www.icbf.com). An interview, by means of a questionnaire, was conducted with each farmer during the farm visits to record on-farm management practices, including calf nutrition, weaning procedures, fertiliser use, turnout to pasture and grazing management.

Clinical examinations

During the farm visits, a general clinical examination was performed by a certified veterinarian (CMcA) on 8 to 10 affected calves per farm resulting in a total of 46 calves. The examined calves were randomly selected from calves with observed clinical signs in the affected group. Clinical variables (calf’s demeanor, mucous membranes, enophthalmos score, presence of nasal or eye discharge, respiratory and heart rate, hydration status, rumen contraction and filling, and rectal temperature) were assessed by visual observation, auscultation, and/or palpation. Calf body weight was estimated using a weigh band (Kamer, Ukal, Niederbronn-les-Bains, France). A focused thoracic ultrasound (Tecnoscan SR-1 C, Imporvet, Spain) was performed on the right thoracic side of each calf, and calves with area of lung consolidation  > 1 cm2 were considered to have pneumonia [5, 6].

Faecal samples

Rectal faecal samples were collected, and the faecal consistency was assigned a score, as follows: (1) runny, liquid consistency, splatters on impact, spreads rapidly; (2) loose (watery), may pile slightly, spreads and splatters moderately on impact and settling; (3) soft, piles but spreads slightly on impact and settling; (4) dry, hard, dry appearance, original form not distorted on impact and settling. Calves with a faecal score of 1 or 2 were considered to have diarrhoea [7]. Faecal samples were pooled (3 to 5 samples from the same farm per pool) and analysed using the McMaster technique [8]. Farms with at least one faecal pool detected to have > 200 eggs/gram of faeces [8] or ≥ 500 oocysts/gram of faeces [9] were considered to have a high parasitic burden.

Blood samples

Blood samples were collected via jugular venepuncture into vacutainer tubes: 1 × 4 ml K3EDTA, 3 × 9 ml Li Heparin (Greiner Vacuette; Cruinn Diagnostics, Dublin, Ireland), and 1 × 8.5 ml no-anticoagulant (BD SST II vacutainers; Unitech, Dublin, Ireland) and placed in a cool box (80C). Immediately, following blood collection, 20 µL of whole blood from the K3EDTA tube was analysed for ammonia using a point-of-care analyser (PocketChem BA, Arkray, Japan), as described by Gultekin et al. [10] and Goggs et al. [11]. Whole blood K3EDTA samples were analysed for complete blood profiles using an ADVIA haematology analyser (ADVIA 2120, Siemens Healthineers, UK) as described by McGettigan et al. [12]. Plasma and serum samples were harvested from the Li Heparin and no-anticoagulant blood tubes, respectively, after centrifugation (1900 × g for 15 min at 4 °C) and stored at − 20 °C until analysis. Plasma samples were analysed for blood biochemical concentrations (total protein, creatinine kinase (CK), albumin, and globulin) using an automated chemistry analyser (Olympus AU480, Beckman Coulter Ltd., Co. Clare, Ireland), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), using a clinical chemistry analyser (RX Imola, Randox Laboratories, UK). Serum samples were analysed for blood mineral profiles using Agilent 7850 analyser (FarmLab Diagnostic, Emlagh, Elphin, Co. Roscommon).

Rumen fluid

Rumen fluid samples were collected using a modified trans-oesophageal tube, as described by Smith et al. [13]. Rumen pH was measured immediately using a digital pH meter (Orion Star A221; Thermo Fisher Scientific, United States) that has been calibrated at the start of each visit. Rumen fluid samples were preserved by transferring 4 ml of each sample to tubes containing 1 ml of 50% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) as described by Smith et al. [13]. Rumen ammonia, lactic acid, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations were measured according to O’Connor et al. [14].

Grass and concentrate samples

Herbage mass (kg dry matter (DM)/ha) on paddocks where calves had previously grazed (previous) and on paddocks where calves were grazing on the day of the farm visit (current) was estimated based on the sward height that was measured using a rising plate meter (Grasstec Ltd, Co. Cork, Ireland), as described by O’Connor et al. [14]. Representative samples of grass were collected from each paddock using an electric grass shears (Bosch Isio, Grasstec Ltd., Cork, Ireland) and placed in ziplock plastic bags before being transported to Teagasc, Grange. A sub-sample (∼ 200 g) of fresh grass was dried at 900C for 24 h to determine the DM concentration, and another sub-sample (∼ 200 g) was dried at 400C for 72 h and ground through a Retsch SM100 mill (1 mm aperture; Retsch GmbH, Haan, Germany) to determine chemical composition. Crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), ash and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations, and DM (DMD) and organic matter (OMD) digestibility was measured using wet chemistry methods [14]. Grass mineral composition was analysed using acid extraction method on Perkin Elmer NexION 2000 ICP-MS (FBA Laboratories Ltd., Co. Waterford, Ireland).

Concentrate samples (∼ 200 g) were collected in a ziplock plastic bag and transported to Teagasc, Grange. The samples were dried at 400C for 72 h, ground through a CT 293 Cyclotec mill (1 mm aperture; FOSS, Denmark) and analysed for DM, CP, NDF, ash, and starch concentrations as described by O’Kiely [15].

Statistical analysis

The data were analysed descriptively (PROC FREQ and PROC MEANS) using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, North Carolina, United States).

Results

Calves sampled on Farms 1, 2, and 4 had undetected or low parasitic burden, and satisfied the SSS case definition, and therefore were designated as case farms (CF; CF 1, CF 2, and CF 3, respectively). Calves sampled on Farm 3 had a high coccidial burden, and 50% were diagnosed with chronic pneumonia. Similarly on Farm 5, 63% of calves were diagnosed with chronic pneumonia, and the farm had evidence of mineral issues based on very high forage molybdenum. Consequently, Farm 3 and Farm 5 were designated as non-SSS case farms (NCF; NCF 1 and NCF 2, respectively).

Farm managements

All CF were dairy farms with calves born during the spring calving season, whereas NCF 1 was a mixed enterprise farm (dairy cow and dairy-beef systems) and NCF 2 was a dairy-beef farm. All farms had BVDV-negative status, with calves tested for BVDV at birth as part of the national eradication programme. The summary of management practices and weaning procedures implemented on each farm are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Farm description, management, and weaning procedures on CF and NCF
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On CF and NCF 1, inorganic nitrogen fertiliser was applied 1 to 3 weeks prior to calves grazing the paddocks (Table 3); however, the farmers did not have the record of fertiliser application rate. During the visits, granules of fertiliser were observed in some parts of the paddocks on CF 2. On NCF 2, no fertiliser was applied to the paddocks pre-grazing.

Table 3 Turnout date, grazing system, fertiliser applications, and herbage mass on CF and NCF
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Grass and concentrates analyses

The grass and concentrate chemical composition, and grass trace minerals are presented in Table 4. Grass DM concentrations varied between farms, with grass samples from CF having higher DM concentrations compared to NCF. The CP concentrations in all grass samples were equal to or less than 200 g/kg DM, with the lowest CP in grass samples from the current paddock on CF 1. Grass samples from all farms had NDF concentrations above 400 g/kg DM, except for the previous and current paddocks on CF 2 and NCF 2, respectively. Grass WSC concentrations from the current and previous paddocks were numerically higher on CF compared to NCF. Grass molybdenum concentrations from NCF 1 (previous paddock) and NCF 2 exceeded the normal range. Grass copper concentrations were within the normal range on all farms except for grass samples from CF 1 and CF 3. Conversely, grass cobalt concentrations from most farms were above the normal range. The CP concentration of the concentrate supplements were similar between CF and NCF. Concentrates from CF 1 and NCF 1 had the highest NDF but the lowest starch content compared to the other farms.

Table 4 Grass and concentrate chemical composition, and grass trace minerals on CF and NCF
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Clinical examinations

Calf characteristics and clinical data are shown in Table 5. Calves on CF predominantly had diarrhoea, weight loss, poor coat, and some calves had hyper-salivation. Traces of healed mouth ulcers were observed in four calves and one calf on CF 1 and CF 2, respectively. On NCF 1 and NCF 2, calves had clinical signs of diarrhoea and pneumonia.

Table 5 Calf characteristics and clinical data of calves on CF and NCF
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Rumen fluid analysis

The mean ruminal pH of calves on CF and NCF were within normal reference levels (Table 6). Mean ammonia concentrations varied across farms, with the concentrations on CF 3 and NCF 2 below the minimum concentrations to support microbial growth. Mean concentrations of D-lactic acid, L-lactic acid, and DL-lactic acid were comparable between CF and NCF. Mean total VFAs concentration was lowest in rumen fluid samples from CF 1. The molar proportions of VFAs varied between farms, with acetate being the most abundant component. The acetate to propionate ratio was lowest on NCF 2.

Table 6 Mean (standard deviation) rumen fluid pH, ammonia, lactic acid, and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations on CF and NCF
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Blood analyses

The complete blood count, blood biochemistry, and blood mineral profiles of calves sampled on CF and NCF are summarised in Table 7. The majority of haematological variables had mean values within the normal range and were similar between CF and NCF. Calves originating from CF 1 and NCF 1 had mean CK activities that were above the normal range. On CF 1, CF 2, and NCF 1, the mean concentrations of GLDH were elevated from the normal range. The mean blood ammonia concentrations of all CF sampled calves exceeded the normal range and concentrations were 5 to 10 times greater than concentrations measured in NCF calves (Fig. 1). The mean concentrations of BUN of calves on CF 1 and CF 2 were similar and almost double the mean concentrations on CF 3 and NCF, but all were within the normal range. Calf blood cobalt concentrations exceeded the normal range on all farms, with the exception of CF 1. Mean blood molybdenum concentrations on NCF were double the concentrations on CF but all values were within the normal range. Similarly, the mean concentrations of the remaining blood minerals in calves from both CF and NCF were within the normal range.

Table 7 Complete blood count, blood biochemistry, and mineral profiles of calves on CF and NCF
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Fig. 1
figure 1

Mean blood ammonia concentrations on CF (129–223 µmol/L) and NCF (22–25 µmol/L) (normal < 90 µmol/L; [22])

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Discussion

General SSS case presentation

The onset of SSS clinical signs in the present study was reported between 2 and 6 weeks after the calves were turned out to grass. This is consistent with the observations that SSS commonly occurs in calves within a month after turnout to grass [2, 3]. The time gap between turnout and the onset of SSS clinical signs in affected calves is interesting. It may suggest that the syndrome is not an acute condition that occurs suddenly at grass but slowly progresses until it reaches a certain critical threshold of severity before clinical signs are observed, potentially related to the variation in grass growth and quality. Calves with SSS predominantly had diarrhoea, weight loss, poor coat condition, and a subset of calves had what appeared to be hyper-salivation. Although these clinical presentations are commonly observed in calves with SSS [3], however, they are not pathognomonic. Hunnam et al. [4] contended that the presence of clinical signs in affected calves within a herd is not sufficient to distinguish herds with or without UAUS and that post-mortem and histopathological examinations are required to confirm a diagnosis. However, using the aforementioned diagnostic approach requires post-mortem examination of a dead calf or of an affected calf that had been euthanized, and this was beyond the scope of the present study. The approach to SSS diagnosis in the present study was based on collecting farm and clinical data as part of the herd investigation, and eliminating the potential plausible differential diagnoses, which is consistent with the current diagnostic approach that is being applied in Ireland and the UK [3]. There is no consensus on either an animal-level or farm-level case definition for this syndrome [3, 4]. Nonetheless, the present study does suggest that the clinical presentation of this syndrome is broadly similar across farms in Ireland, with affected calves exhibiting diarrhoea and loss of condition in their first grazing season, which cannot be explained by common plausible causes such as coccidiosis or PGE.

Hyperammonemia in SSS calves

An important finding in the present study was the high blood ammonia concentrations (hyperammonemia) in affected calves on CF. A study by Gultekin et al. [10] reported that calves with acute diarrhoea, irrespective of the aetiology, had elevated blood ammonia concentrations that were double the concentrations found in healthy calves, as measured using the point-of-care blood ammonia analyser. Interestingly, although the median blood ammonia concentrations were within the normal range, some calves with infectious diarrhoea had blood ammonia concentrations that exceeded the normal range (normal < 90 µmol/L; [22]), which is similar to the blood ammonia concentrations found in SSS calves in the present study. This similarity could suggest potential infectious aetiology for diarrhoea and hyperammonemia in SSS calves. However, it is important to note that the infectious agents (e.g., Cryptosporidium parvum, Escherichia coli, rotavirus, and coronavirus) identified in that study commonly cause diarrhoea in calves less than a month old [25], which was not the case for calves (age more than 3 months old) in the present study. Additionally, the clinical presentations, epidemiological pattern, and historic case presentations of SSS calves are not consistent with infectious aetiologies. The level of blood ammonia concentrations in the present study appears to have an inconsistent pattern in relation to the severity of diarrhoea (see Additional file 1), and is contrary to the findings of Gultekin et al. [10], who reported a positive relationship between blood ammonia concentrations and severity of diarrhoea. This discrepancy raises questions about the potential causal relationship between diarrhoea and hyperammonemia in SSS calves, specifically whether the presence of diarrhoea leads to hyperammonemia or vice versa. A recent surveillance report by Swinson et al. [3] suggested that the histopathological lesions in calves with SSS are indicative of potential chemical insults, such as those caused by acidosis and high blood urea or ammonia. However, the authors of that study did not measure blood ammonia concentrations in SSS calves. Nonetheless, due to the absence of histopathological examinations in the present study, the relationship between hyperammonemia and the formation of histopathological lesions in SSS calves is speculative and warrants further investigation.

Potential cause for hyperammonemia in SSS calves

In the present study, farmers on CF reported recent application (1 to 3 weeks) of inorganic nitrogen fertilisers (i.e., protected urea and NPK) prior to grazing. Excessive application of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser can increase the amount of nitrogen in the soil that is taken up by the grass, resulting in higher herbage nitrogen and CP [14, 26]. Interestingly, the grass samples from the paddocks where the affected calves had grazed (137–148 g/kg DM), and were currently grazing on the day of visit (106–177 g/kg DM) had low to moderate CP concentrations. This finding was also surprising and may not agree with the hypothesis on the association between grazing highly fermentable grass and SSS. The grazing of lush grass that is high in CP (greater than 200 g/kg DM; [27]) and low in fibre (less than 400 g/kg DM; [27]) is a common factor that is often associated with SSS [1]. However, the results of grass analysis in the present study should be interpreted with caution, as the stage of grass growth at the time of sampling may not have been representative of the grass condition when the calves were turned out or when the onset of SSS clinical signs was first evident. Furthermore, the time of investigation and grass sampling (June 2023) was exceptionally dry, and lush grass growth expected at that time of the year was not available. Grass chemical composition varies depending on the stage of grass growth [28]. It is possible that the grass was lush at the time of turnout or at the onset of SSS clinical signs and had grown to stemmy grass at the time of farm visits and sample collections.

Upon ingestion by the calves, grass nitrogen is converted into ammonia by rumen bacteria, mediated by urease activities [29]. If there is an imbalance between the ammonia produced from nitrogen metabolism and the rate of ammonia that can be utilised for microbial protein synthesis, this condition leads to excess ammonia accumulation in the rumen, and the ammonia will then be absorbed into the bloodstream [29]. The ruminal ammonia concentrations in the present study were not indicative of excess accumulation (below the optimum concentration of 50 mg/L; [17]), and appear to be consistent with the grass CP concentrations [14, 26]. However, it was surprising that there was a mismatch in the increments of blood ammonia and ruminal ammonia concentrations. One possible explanation could be related to the disruption in the mechanism of ammonia clearance post-ruminal. Under normal physiological conditions, systemic ammonia is converted into urea in the liver before being further excreted by the kidney [29]. However, in cases of liver dysfunction, this conversion process is impaired, resulting in hyperammonemia [29]. This underlying mechanism may explain the simultaneous findings of hyperammonemia and high GLDH concentrations, an indicator of liver damage [30] in affected calves on CF 1 and CF 2, although the increments in GLDH concentrations may be insufficient to indicate severe liver damage. An increase in liver enzymes of more than 10-fold is generally indicative of severe liver damage, while an increase of less than 5-fold is considered mild to moderate [31]. Interestingly, the decreased BUN concentration that is typically associated with liver damage [32] was not observed in the present study. A study by West [23] reported that the blood ammonia: urea in normal healthy cattle was 9:1 while a ratio greater than 30:1 was an indicator of liver damage. Unlike plasma urea, which reflects degradable protein intake, plasma ammonia levels are more variable and dependent on the liver for removal. In the present study, 16 of the 25 calves on CF with complete blood ammonia results had a blood ammonia: urea greater than 30:1. This finding further supports the liver damage as potential mechanism for hyperammonemia. Cattle with liver disease are reported to have clinical manifestations such as depression, anorexia, weight loss, and diarrhoea [23]. Nonetheless, it is also possible that other factors or yet undetermined underlying mechanisms may contribute to the hyperammonemia in the present study, particularly in affected calves without indication of liver damage (blood ammonia: urea less than 30:1). Other factors, such as overgrowth of ammonia-producing microorganisms [33] and deficiency of urea cycle enzymes [34] have been suggested as causes of hyperammonemia without liver damage in other animal species.

There may also an indirect association between the timing and level of fertiliser application and hyperammonemia detected in SSS calves, specifically due to potential nitrate or non-protein nitrogen (NPN; e.g., urea) poisonings as a result of fertiliser use [35, 36]; but that is of course if the hyperammonemia findings are relevant to the development of the clinical symptoms such as diarrhoea. Clinical signs such as hyper-salivation and/or diarrhoea have been observed in ruminants with these types of poisonings [37, 38], which is consistent with the clinical signs observed in SSS calves in the present study. However, it is important to note that cases of nitrate or NPN poisonings are often acute and fatal, where animals usually exhibit neurological clinical signs or die within hours [35, 36]. No calf deaths were reported in the present study, suggesting that acute nitrate or NPN poisonings were unlikely causes of SSS. Nonetheless, it is also probable that SSS calves consumed grass that contained sub-lethal nitrate and NPN over time, causing chronic nitrate or NPN poisonings [39]. Chronic nitrate poisonings have been reported to cause reproductive problems in adult cattle [40]; however, to our knowledge no studies have reported effects on growing calves.

Differential diagnoses of SSS

Several differential diagnoses of SSS were considered in the present study to inform the sample strategy during herd investigation, including coccidiosis, PGE, mineral deficiencies or toxicities (e.g., copper or molybdenum), and ruminal acidosis, as each of these conditions can cause calf diarrhoea at grass [25]. None of the above conditions were evident, as parasitology analysis of faecal samples from CF found a low parasitic burden, and blood copper and molybdenum concentrations were within the normal range. Moreover, the ruminal pH indicated normal rumen acidity, and the alteration of D-lactic acid concentrations in ruminal fluid– which is commonly reported in cases of ruminal acidosis [18], was not observed. However, the normal ruminal pH might be questionable due to the potential saliva contamination during sample collections and the farmers supplemented the affected calves with ruminate powders or buffers, which may have increased the ruminal pH [41, 42]. Nonetheless, affected calves continued to show clinical signs despite having normal ruminal pH may also suggest that rumen acidosis is unlikely to be the primary cause of SSS. All of the visited farms had a BVDV-negative status, thus ruling out BVDV as a possible cause of infection. Other differential diagnoses, such as Salmonella infections, were not investigated in the present study. In the case of Salmonella infection, diarrhoea is generally presented with mucus or traces of blood that are frequently accompanied by fever and neutropenia [43, 44] due to the systemic nature of the infection. These conditions were not observed in affected calves in the present study.

Challenge the widespread hypothesis of SSS causes

Anecdotal reports in Ireland suggest that the cause of SSS could be related to inadequate rumen development. In conditions where the rumen is inadequately developed, there may be an imbalance in microbial composition, which can disrupt the digestive process in the rumen [45]. This can lead to an accumulation of undigested or unfermented grass substances in the small intestines, resulting in malabsorption and subsequently diarrhoea [46]. Another consequence is related to the reduction of rumen capacity to absorb VFAs, leading to higher accumulation of VFAs in the rumen and decreased rumen pH [47]. The total VFAs concentrations in the present study, either from calves sampled on CF or NCF, were numerically greater than the values reported by O’Grady et al. [16], in grazing Irish dairy cows. Although the high VFAs concentrations could indicate potential VFAs accumulation, it is important to note that the concentration of VFAs in rumen fluid generally increases after feeding, and its relationship with rumen pH is influenced by diet [47]. Calves in the present study had received concentrate supplementation before rumen fluid collection, which may explain the high VFAs concentrations. Intervention in early feeding management during the pre-weaning period is crucial in promoting rumen microbial colonization and subsequent rumen development [45, 48]. Studies have reported that the introduction of step-down milk feeding [49], concentrate feeding [50], and forage provision [51] during the pre-weaning period facilitates rumen development. Considering those effects of early feeding practices on rumen development, it is likely that the pre-weaning feeding practices (e.g., step-down milk feeding, concentrate feeding, and forage provision pre- and post-weaning) implemented on CF have stimulated adequate rumen development in calves. However, despite many studies and reviews published in recent years that evaluated different calves’ feeding strategies on performance and health [52–57], there is a concern that calves are commonly underfed or receive inadequate amounts of milk feeding, which results in suboptimal growth performance and organ development. While inadequate milk or milk replacer feeding practices and inadequate rumen development could be potential contributing factors for SSS occurrence, further research is warranted to investigate their involvement.

Study limitations

The time lapse between the onset of SSS clinical signs and sample collections could be considered a limitation of the present study. Ideally, the biological samples or grass samples should be collected shortly after the onset of SSS clinical signs in order to accurately reflect the conditions that potentially trigger the SSS occurrence. However, this is a challenge in field studies as there is often a delay from the times that farmers observe the SSS clinical signs until the reporting of cases. For example, farmers on CF observed calves displaying SSS clinical signs between 2 days and 2.5 weeks before the farm visits and sample collections. Consequently, it is possible that the affected calves had already passed the ‘peak’ period of the SSS clinical signs and had started to recover, albeit they still exhibited the clinical signs at the time of the farm visits. The calves selection for clinical examination was somewhat ad hoc owing to the nature of clinical investigation, and in addition the farmers reported most of the calves in the group were affected but to varying severity. This lack of clarity and robust numbers of affected calves in the group is considered weakness of the present study. Another limitation could possibly be the sensitivity and specificity of the semi-quantitative point-of-care ammonia analyser used in the present study, which have not been determined in calves. However, a study in small animals provides supporting evidence that the identical point-of-care ammonia analyser (PocketChem BA) has adequate precision and positive linearity (R2 = 0.98), and negative proportional bias (R2 = 0.71) with the standard enzymatic method [11]. Lastly, the self-selected nature of farms referred for herd investigation and the limited number of farms reporting the cases in June 2023 may underestimate the true occurrence of SSS on Irish commercial farms.

Conclusion

The present study provides interesting information on the occurrence and characteristics of SSS on Irish commercial farms. The findings suggest that copper or molybdenum toxicities, and ruminal acidosis are not the potential causes of SSS, and that ruling out common causes of diarrhoea at grass seems a logical approach to defining the SSS condition. In addition, the present study provides further evidence that calves with SSS present with clinical signs of diarrhoea and loss of condition after recent turnout to grass for first time grazing. The presence of hyperammonemia in calves with SSS and the potential association with the timing and level of inorganic nitrogen fertiliser application prior to calves grazing the paddocks warrant further investigation to determine the potential definitive cause of SSS.

Data availability

The data generated during this study will be made available upon reasonable request to Dr Bernadette Earley (bernadette.earley@teagasc.ie).

Abbreviations

AA:

Aberdeen angus

ADF:

Acid detergent fibre

BA:

Blonde d’Aquitane

BRD:

Bovine respiratory disease

BUN:

Blood urea nitrogen

BVDV:

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus

CF:

Case farms

CK:

Creatinine kinase

CP:

Crude protein

DM:

Dry matter

DMD:

Dry matter digestibility

DOMD:

Dry organic matter digestibility

FR:

Friesian

GGT:

Gamma glutamyl transferase

GLDH:

Glutamate dehydrogenase

HO:

Holstein

ICBF:

Irish Cattle Breeding Federation

LM:

Limousin

NCF:

Non-case farms

NDF:

Neutral detergent fibre

NPK:

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

NPN:

Non-protein nitrogen

OAD:

Once a day

OMD:

Organic dry matter

PGE:

Parasitic gastroenteritis

PVP:

Private veterinary practitioners

RBC:

Red blood cells

SSS:

Summer scours syndrome

TAD:

Twice a day

TCA:

Trichloroacetic acid

UAUS:

Upper alimentary ulcerative syndrome

UK:

United Kingdom

VFAs:

Volatile fatty acids

WBC:

White blood cells

WSC:

Water-soluble carbohydrate

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all private veterinary practitioners (PVP), farm advisors, and farmers who have participated in this study. The authors would also like to thank Professor Richard Laven, University of Massey, New Zealand for the very helpful discussions. The technical assistance of Grange staff with on-farm sample collection (Michael John Kelly) and laboratory analyses (Margaret Murray, Abimbola Ikoyi, and Ann Marley) is gratefully acknowledged.

Funding

RRMH was a recipient of Teagasc funded Walsh Scholarship (WS 2022064).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93, Ireland

    Rischi Robinson Male Here, John Donlon, Mark McGee, David Kenny & Bernadette Earley

  2. School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Rischi Robinson Male Here, Catherine McAloon & Mary Duane

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  1. Rischi Robinson Male Here
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  2. Catherine McAloon
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  7. Bernadette Earley
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Contributions

BE, CMcA, MMcG, DK, JD, and RRMH conceived the study and conceptualised the study design; RRMH, CMcA, JD, MD, and BE conducted the farm visits, sample collections, and analyses; RRMH drafted the manuscript; BE, CMcA, MMcG, JD, DK, and RRMH reviewed and revised the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Bernadette Earley.

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Ethical approval for this study was reviewed and granted by the Teagasc Animal Ethics Committee (TAEC0323-375).

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The authors declared that no conflict of interest exists.

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Male Here, R.R., McAloon, C., Donlon, J. et al. Summer scour syndrome in weaned dairy calves: case series. Ir Vet J 77, 14 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-024-00273-0

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Irish Veterinary Journal

ISSN: 2046-0481