There are several management strategies to help prevent scours from infecting your calf crop.
Calve heifers in a separate area from older cows. Their calves' immunity levels are typically lower than calves from older cows.
Avoid wet calving barns and areas if possible, try to calve on pasture if the weather permits. The ideal calving environment would be a fairly steep hillside pasture with a windbreak, accompanied by warm, dry weather. One of the primary causes of scours is a wet, muddy and cold calving environment.
Provide portable calf shelters on pasture to keep calves dry and protected from chilling winds. It is also essential that these sheds be moved or cleaned out periodically.
If calving in smaller spaces, turn the cow/calf pairs out to a clean pasture area as soon as possible.
Isolate any scouring calves and treat immediately. Clean and disinfect the environment. Early isolation is critical to help aid in preventing the spread of scours to other calves.
Have cows and heifers in good body condition, and on an appropriate nutrition program to help ensure calves are born healthy and strong.
Vaccinate herd six and three weeks prior to the beginning of the calving season. Follow label instructions.
Make sure that newborn calves receive adequate amounts of colostrum.
Don't rely exclusively on vaccines, as they can't be 100% effective if the calves are born in a muddy area that is already infected with diseases.
Source: Kentucky Ag Extension