Utah State University Faculty Honor Lectures
The Faculty Association, Utah State University
The disease known as coccidiosis occurs in many domestic and wild animals. It is of great importance in chickens, in which coccidiosis is one of the chief causes of losses to the producer. In cattle the disease was estimated by Fitzgerald in 1962' to cause an . annual loss of $3,500,000 in calves under one year of age in the 11 western states and $7,500,000 in the seven west north-central states. In making this estimate Fitzgerald calculated that 90 percent of all calves are infected by coccidia, and that the average loss amounted to 75 cents per head on all calves less than one year of age in the United States. Coccidiosis is observed throughout the year, but most commonly during the late fall and during winter and spring. It occurs more frequently in calves from about one to six months in age, but older animals, especially those one to two years old, are often affected. The signs include diarrhea, weakn~ss, and lack of appetite. Blood mayor may not be evident in the feces. In severe cases, the animals become emaciated, and death or retardation in growth results. Although bovine coccidiosis has been investigated for many years, numerous important problems in connection with this disease remain to be solved
Hammod, Datus M., "Coccidiosis of Cattle" (1964). USU Faculty Honor Lectures. Paper 32.