Sudden death in calves pre weaning:

• Usually individuals

• Often your best calves

• Usually just "found dead"

These are typical signs of pulpy kidney which is a clostridial disease.

Possible help in diagnosing post death:

• Tend to "blow up" quickly

• Kidneys get very soft quickly (but this needs a post mortem soon after death as they deteriorate quickly anyway) 

Treatment:

• Usually dead so focus on prevention

• Ensure feeding is consistent (volumes, feed type, timing etc)

• Ensure clostridial vaccines are in place clostridial vaccine​