Cryptosporidium

Old diesel

:(:(

Unfortunately this distressing to watch happen disease has decided to pay a visit to our Farm this spring.

Looking for thoughts on the following

1) Addressing the disease on calves that actually have it - how early can one get the calves on the drip the vets can give - only thing that seems to actually work (on this farm at least)

2) Preventing or minimising the disease for spring 2016 - steam cleaning and disinfecting with an ammonia based disinfectant are on the agenda - BUT in terms of during the 2016 calving season - what hygiene procedures need to be place in terms of calf pens - to keep minimise infection/spread of it.

Very keen to hear from any one whose successfully kept this disease out having had it previously.

I know its recommended to use halacur in the 1st 7 days - but that's not working - even though new borns are being moved to another shed immediately that was not infected.

If its in anyway relevant - we didn't have ANY issues with it for the 1st month and a half and 50 calves (thank the lord for that bit of luck)

Thank you

Buford T. Justice XIX

I read a while back that moving the calf from a clean calving area to the calf house as soon as they are born helps. That means as soon as they are born.

Get beistings into them in the first hour as well, to help prevent other diseases that can start in weak calves.

8ml of Halocur or 12ml for a big calf daily for 7 days is essential also.

Take the calves off milk for 2 days and then onto half electrolytes and half milk for 2 days.

I remember when it hit here, they were great while off milk but scouring away as soon as milk in again. Halocur just keeps them from getting infected badly while they get able to fight it off. If you are going from house to house feeding calves, you will end up carrying it with you on your boots/clothes/hands/buckets but try to minimise carrying it around to each house with you.

greysides

http://online.pageflippdf.com/fitx/kpow/?utm_source=AHI%20Bulletin%20v1.0&utm_campaign=1886a90283-AHI_Bulletiin_February_2_Scouring_Calf2_27_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6bc3efcfc-1886a90283-235402249#p=6

whelan2

Halocur, interkokask disinfectant and power washing and cleaning out. If the halocur isnt working I would be wondering is it some thing else

mahoney_j

Single most important thing in preventing crypto is cleanliness.keep calf pens cleaned out and disinfected.high risk area to pick up is the calving pen.calf should be there no longer than it has to and get beaastings into it asap after birth.i clean my calving pens twice per week ,disinfect floors and walls and scatter actisan over the the straw after every cow calves .touch wood things going well and it's working .talking to lads who would be very progressive in what they do this week and a lot have big problems with crypto,coccidiosis ,rota virus and pnuemonia in calves ,I nearly wanted to run away from them ,take a shower and change my clothes !!.very time consuming to be caring for a shed of sick calves at this time of year

whelan2

Old diesel wrote: »

:(:(

Unfortunately this distressing to watch happen disease has decided to pay a visit to our Farm this spring.

Looking for thoughts on the following

1) Addressing the disease on calves that actually have it - how early can one get the calves on the drip the vets can give - only thing that seems to actually work (on this farm at least)

2) Preventing or minimising the disease for spring 2016 - steam cleaning and disinfecting with an ammonia based disinfectant are on the agenda - BUT in terms of during the 2016 calving season - what hygiene procedures need to be place in terms of calf pens - to keep minimise infection/spread of it.

Very keen to hear from any one whose successfully kept this disease out having had it previously.

I know its recommended to use halacur in the 1st 7 days - but that's not working - even though new borns are being moved to another shed immediately that was not infected.

If its in anyway relevant - we didn't have ANY issues with it for the 1st month and a half and 50 calves (thank the lord for that bit of luck)

Thank you

have you cleaned out and powerwashed since the outbreak?

Old diesel

whelan2 wrote: »

have you cleaned out and powerwashed since the outbreak?

No because we are still in calving season (so weve still got the pens occupied) - will learn lessons from this and look to clean and disinfect pens every time calves move on from them. Weve never had significant issues before - we DID have issues with Crypto about 12 years ago - but it was a one season issue - and we didn't have issues since until this year

All the new borns in the last week or so were moved into a different house as soon as they were born.

Weve had 9 that have had it and recovered and 2 have passed away because of it.

Weve got a further 6 now - 2 DON'T have it - but have normal scour - we are anticipating they will get it.

2 more got the drip from the vet today and are showing signs of improvement - and the remaining calf "wasn't bad enough to get the drip" as apparently - giving the drip at this stage would mean that particular calf would be getting too much fluids

Vet today reckons what is happening - is that they are starting out with normal scour and its then progressing to Cryptosporidium.

Weve vaccinated the cows that are left to calf as they won't be calving for some time

Old diesel

Thanks for all the advice guys - will take it on board - its not my farm - its my brothers - I just help out on it

jaymla627

Old diesel wrote: »

Thanks for all the advice guys - will take it on board - its not my farm - its my brothers - I just help out on it

What is the housing situation like re calves for first 10 days, are they in single pens our grouped, leaving new borns on their own and in single pens will go a long ways towards breaking the cycle, we use the cages of ibcs here cheap and cheerful and mean you don't have to shell out 200 quid on individual pens

Milked out

Old diesel wrote: »

No because we are still in calving season (so weve still got the pens occupied) - will learn lessons from this and look to clean and disinfect pens every time calves move on from them. Weve never had significant issues before - we DID have issues with Crypto about 12 years ago - but it was a one season issue - and we didn't have issues since until this year

All the new borns in the last week or so were moved into a different house as soon as they were born.

Weve had 9 that have had it and recovered and 2 have passed away because of it.

Weve got a further 6 now - 2 DON'T have it - but have normal scour - we are anticipating they will get it.

2 more got the drip from the vet today and are showing signs of improvement - and the remaining calf "wasn't bad enough to get the drip" as apparently - giving the drip at this stage would mean that particular calf would be getting too much fluids

Vet today reckons what is happening - is that they are starting out with normal scour and its then progressing to Cryptosporidium.

Weve vaccinated the cows that are left to calf as they won't be calving for some time

There is no vaccination for crypto only prevention and halocur. As soon as you see hint of a scour or dullness feed 4 times a day - 2 of milk 2 of electrolytes. I assume ye tested dung to confirm it's crypto. I would give a synulox tablet as well if vet agrees. I've found effydral good. If u cannot move them give plenty fresh bedding every day

whelan2

Old diesel wrote: »

No because we are still in calving season (so weve still got the pens occupied) - will learn lessons from this and look to clean and disinfect pens every time calves move on from them. Weve never had significant issues before - we DID have issues with Crypto about 12 years ago - but it was a one season issue - and we didn't have issues since until this year

All the new borns in the last week or so were moved into a different house as soon as they were born.

Weve had 9 that have had it and recovered and 2 have passed away because of it.

Weve got a further 6 now - 2 DON'T have it - but have normal scour - we are anticipating they will get it.

2 more got the drip from the vet today and are showing signs of improvement - and the remaining calf "wasn't bad enough to get the drip" as apparently - giving the drip at this stage would mean that particular calf would be getting too much fluids

Vet today reckons what is happening - is that they are starting out with normal scour and its then progressing to Cryptosporidium.

Weve vaccinated the cows that are left to calf as they won't be calving for some time

you need to empty the shed and clean it out, it might seem impossible but it needs to be done.... i have to do this every few weeks, will do it again monday and powerwash and disenfect otherwise all other meqasures are pointless imo.

Old diesel

whelan2 wrote: »

you need to empty the shed and clean it out, it might seem impossible but it needs to be done.... i have to do this every few weeks, will do it again monday and powerwash and disenfect otherwise all other meqasures are pointless imo.

Thank you

Will need to plan the logistics of it all - but anything that helps beat this miserable condition is worth it.

Meanwhile the two calves that got the drip today - drank themselves this eve - not needing to be stomach tubed - so some progress.

whelan2

Old diesel wrote: »

Thank you

Will need to plan the logistics of it all - but anything that helps beat this miserable condition is worth it.

Meanwhile the two calves that got the drip today - drank themselves this eve - not needing to be stomach tubed - so some progress.

what are you vaccinating the cows with?

Old diesel

whelan2 wrote: »

what are you vaccinating the cows with?

Hes vaccinating with Rotex - I might have the spelling of that wrong but it sounds like that.

Milked out

I forget to mention it before but it may be worth getting vet to blood a few calves for antibodies to see if the colustrum feeding system you have is working. If that isn't right it's and uphill battle. Did that here and they tested ok but vet has come across some lads that were sure they got enuv and tested very low after

jaymla627

If their responding that well to treatment your not to badly off, got cruxified with crypto 2 years ago went through 70 calves on us, used 320 life aids in the treatment of them...
The worst cases two fr heifers went 3 weeks before they sucked a bottle both calved down this year and are flying it with two lovely heifers calves to booth...

Old diesel

jaymla627 wrote: »

If their responding that well to treatment your not to badly off, got cruxified with crypto 2 years ago went through 70 calves on us, used 320 life aids in the treatment of them...
The worst cases two fr heifers went 3 weeks before they sucked a bottle both calved down this year and are flying it with two lovely heifers calves to booth...

Got a lucky break with those two (touch wood) - I think I mentioned earlier that we had 9 that got it and recovered - was about a week to get them turned around.

greysides

Milked out wrote: »

I've found effydral good.

I wouldn't recommend anything else. Older calves (> 7 days), due to a metabolic change, tend to be more severely affected by acidosis. Effydral is the best electrolyte for preventing/treating that- IMO. Pink Lectade would be second.

Acidosis is regularly, even most commonly, seen with a calf that is semi-solid and might have been considered to have been improving or 'ok'. However, while water losses have stabilised (calves most likely not 'dehydrated') there has been a continuing electrolyte loss and the calf is now dull, wobbly and weak.

The aim with scouring is to prevent them getting to the stage of needing drips, so get your retaliation in fast. As a rule of thumb we tend to under-estimate the degree of dehydration and the amount of fluid needing to be given.
Once acidosis gets advanced the guts will no longer function normally and oral fluids just result in a build up of fluid with no absorption. At this stage the only answer is a drip so try to avoid it.

A calf with a 'minor' amount of dehydration, evidenced by a prolonged skin tent, will be 6-7% dehydrated, needing 3-3.5 litres for a 50 Kg calf.
'Moderate' dehydration showing a mildly sunken eye equates to 8-15% dehydrated, needing up to 7 litres of fluids and 'Severe' dehydration with an extremely sunken eye is even greater than that 15-20%.

That is just to correct the deficit, additionally there is an on-going maintenance requirement of ~ 4 litres fluid per day.

Those last two categories are going to need drips.

They also run the risk of dying during the drip as the improving circulation picks up all the accumulated waste from the cells, raising K+ levels to where they affect the heart.

onyerbikepat

I got my only case of crypto last year. Cow calved down in the cubicle shed and calf got covered in sh1te. Cow got me by surprise as she was bulling every 3 weeks and I taught she wasn't in calf. I reckon calf went a few hours before getting any beastings too.

I suppose it ties in with what everyone is saying about clean sheds and getting beastings into them ASAP after being born.

orm0nd

greysides wrote: »

I wouldn't recommend anything else. Older calves (> 7 days), due to a metabolic change, tend to be more severely affected by acidosis. Effydral is the best electrolyte for preventing/treating that- IMO. Pink Lectade would be second.

Acidosis is regularly, even most commonly, seen with a calf that is semi-solid and might have been considered to have been improving or 'ok'. However, while water losses have stabilised (calves most likely not 'dehydrated') there has been a continuing electrolyte loss and the calf is now dull, wobbly and weak.

The aim with scouring is to prevent them getting to the stage of needing drips, so get your retaliation in fast. As a rule of thumb we tend to under-estimate the degree of dehydration and the amount of fluid needing to be given.
Once acidosis gets advanced the guts will no longer function normally and oral fluids just result in a build up of fluid with no absorption. At this stage the only answer is a drip so try to avoid it.

A calf with a 'minor' amount of dehydration, evidenced by a prolonged skin tent, will be 6-7% dehydrated, needing 3-3.5 litres for a 50 Kg calf.
'Moderate' dehydration showing a mildly sunken eye equates to 8-15% dehydrated, needing up to 7 litres of fluids and 'Severe' dehydration with an extremely sunken eye is even greater than that 15-20%.

That is just to correct the deficit, additionally there is an on-going maintenance requirement of ~ 4 litres fluid per day.

Those last two categories are going to need drips.

They also run the risk of dying during the drip as the improving circulation picks up all the accumulated waste from the cells, raising K+ levels to where they affect the heart.

good post

whelan2

another thingi have noticed is as the halocur container-especially the bigger one- gets empty it doesnt give out the 4mls/dose, i empty it in to a mug and fill the dose with a syringe at this stage, then i know they are getting the correct amount

The hardy spicer

whelan2 wrote: »

another thingi have noticed is as the halocur container-especially the bigger one- gets empty it doesnt give out the 4mls/dose, i empty it in to a mug and fill the dose with a syringe at this stage, then i know they are getting the correct amount

Have the same problem here. Just use the smaller bottle to dose now and keep it topped up with the big bottle.

deerejohn

My experience with crypto, over 200 calves /year

Bast##d of a thing!
Hit for 1st time about 7/8 years ago, had it for a month before vet copped it. Lots of calves treated, "cured" and they still died even up to 3 weeks later, gut lining destroyed.

Few things,

Halocur as directed after feeding
Disinfected with oocide didn't work ie. we did this in summer meticulously but didn't break cycle,
Beestings early and plenty,
Cleanliness vital, faecal to oral spread,
Always keep calf on milk, go 50:50 milk, electrolyte up to 4 times per day, only tubing, dripping if needed,
Crypto attacks the gut lining, high fat milk is a great help to line and insulate the gut, carryover cows milk I found a great help
It will get easier to manage over time but we never got rid of it, however if a calf got it in recent times (generally within a day or two of coming off halocur), 1 day scoured, ok next

Best of luck and patience

whelan2

The hardy spicer wrote: »

Have the same problem here. Just use the smaller bottle to dose now and keep it topped up with the big bottle.

its a piss poor design on the bigger container , the stuff is expensive enough , its obviously the same dispenser as the small container

The hardy spicer

whelan2 wrote: »

its a piss poor design on the bigger container , the stuff is expensive enough , its obviously the same dispenser as the small container

Yeah same dispenser fits both.
Piss poor is right. When you get down near the bottom of container unless you hold it dead level you're suckin air.

orm0nd

deerejohn wrote: »

My experience with crypto, over 200 calves /year

Bast##d of a thing!
Hit for 1st time about 7/8 years ago, had it for a month before vet copped it. Lots of calves treated, "cured" and they still died even up to 3 weeks later, gut lining destroyed.

Few things,

Halocur as directed after feeding
Disinfected with oocide didn't work ie. we did this in summer meticulously but didn't break cycle,
Beestings early and plenty,
Cleanliness vital, faecal to oral spread,
Always keep calf on milk, go 50:50 milk, electrolyte up to 4 times per day, only tubing, dripping if needed,
Crypto attacks the gut lining, high fat milk is a great help to line and insulate the gut, carryover cows milk I found a great help
It will get easier to manage over time but we never got rid of it, however if a calf got it in recent times (generally within a day or two of coming off halocur), 1 day scoured, ok next

Best of luck and patience

a previous vet of mine , used to recommend feeding fresh colostrum to scouring calves to heal the gut

3 the square

whelan2 wrote: »

its a piss poor design on the bigger container , the stuff is expensive enough , its obviously the same dispenser as the small container

Can it be purchesed on line ? Or is it only available with prescription

whelan2

3 the square wrote: »

Can it be purchesed on line ? Or is it only available with prescription

only on prescription unfortunately

The man in red and black

Was talking to a university vet recently and they measured the volume of liquid lost in a crypto scour. In some cases it can be as much as 50% of bodyweight in 24 hours! They had to check the system to make sure they weren't measuring it incorrectly but it was right! Literally out the back as fast if not faster than they could keep it in orally or in the vein.

AHI have been recommending keeping scouring calves on milk for quite some time now. Taking them off of milk as recommended (10-20+?) years ago meant some calves died of starvation instead of dehydration. As mentioned above most people under estimate the level of dehydration and fluid loss, the key is plenty of electrolytes. Separating the electrolyte feeds from the milk feeds is recommended as mixing the two can lead to the milk not digesting properly.

joejobrien

Im going to throw a spanner into this.
While I agree with HYEGINE PRACTICE, I m a bit unsure if its the whole cause. Got It last year Bastard of a thing alright. Now Im going to explain our Practice.
1. All calving pens cleaned DAILY, DISINFECTED, AN BEDDED IN STRAW, not on straw.

2. Calving pens every 5/7 days , disinefected also, bedded IN STRAW and not on straw.
STILL GOT CRYPTO.

3. DISINFECTION POINTS @calving boxes and calf house.

4.Vet is a major carrier IMO even though there are clean but there jacket or pullup can be carriers.

5. Dealers or farmers visiting also major culprit. UNWITINGLY WALK IN AND OUT OF PLACE WITH ZERO DISINFECTION.

6.All calves recieve as much to drink as possible to point of cant take anymore. That ranges from 2 litres to 4.5 litres approx

7.2015 vaccination with rotavec corana, this lowers the challenge faced by the calves .

8. 2014 no vaccination

9.2015 ALL clostrum tested prior to feeding, most ok but some inferior, thus not given to calf. Hopefully this is the calf that will succeed but otherwise would have succumbed.

10. In Spring 2014 Group of vets visited this farm(Similar to a farm walk only a veterinary group hosted for vets) Clearly understood the practice on farm for calving and caf rearing, They left completely dumbfounded as to why Cyrpto was on farm. practice was text book. Many said if there clients done 20%of whhat was been practice they could reduce incidence dramitically on farms.


11. My Conculision,
Vaccination is critical, lowers the burden face by calves,
Testing colostrum critical, no excuse not to be also may I add, its often not been promoted either, extra selling point when selling calves privately. Unit cheap. Thus reason when calf dies not enough colostrum given, My oponion is quality is weak not quainty. Often forgotten point. Text book approch by some veterinary personnel, not willing to think outside the box(not you Greysides, hehheee)
Beware of people presence on farms , invariably have been on other farms!!!!!
Role of clean calf pens and calving boxs perhaps over emphasied while very important that alone, MAY NOT keep it outside the gate......worn the teeshirt

The above is my experience and has work efficently 2015, I cannot guarantee the same result in future years, but they are additions in 2015



7.

whelan2

joejobrien wrote: »

Im going to throw a spanner into this.
While I agree with HYEGINE PRACTICE, I m a bit unsure if its the whole cause. Got It last year Bastard of a thing alright. Now Im going to explain our Practice.
1. All calving pens cleaned DAILY, DISINFECTED, AN BEDDED IN STRAW, not on straw.

2. Calving pens every 5/7 days , disinefected also, bedded IN STRAW and not on straw.
STILL GOT CRYPTO.

3. DISINFECTION POINTS @calving boxes and calf house.

4.Vet is a major carrier IMO even though there are clean but there jacket or pullup can be carriers.

5. Dealers or farmers visiting also major culprit. UNWITINGLY WALK IN AND OUT OF PLACE WITH ZERO DISINFECTION.

6.All calves recieve as much to drink as possible to point of cant take anymore. That ranges from 2 litres to 4.5 litres approx

7.2015 vaccination with rotavec corana, this lowers the challenge faced by the calves .

8. 2014 no vaccination

9.2015 ALL clostrum tested prior to feeding, most ok but some inferior, thus not given to calf. Hopefully this is the calf that will succeed but otherwise would have succumbed.

10. In Spring 2014 Group of vets visited this farm(Similar to a farm walk only a veterinary group hosted for vets) Clearly understood the practice on farm for calving and caf rearing, They left completely dumbfounded as to why Cyrpto was on farm. practice was text book. Many said if there clients done 20%of whhat was been practice they could reduce incidence dramitically on farms.


11. My Conculision,
Vaccination is critical, lowers the burden face by calves,
Testing colostrum critical, no excuse not to be also may I add, its often not been promoted either, extra selling point when selling calves privately. Unit cheap. Thus reason when calf dies not enough colostrum given, My oponion is quality is weak not quainty. Often forgotten point. Text book approch by some veterinary personnel, not willing to think outside the box(not you Greysides, hehheee)
Beware of people presence on farms , invariably have been on other farms!!!!!
Role of clean calf pens and calving boxs perhaps over emphasied while very important that alone, MAY NOT keep it outside the gate......worn the teeshirt

The above is my experience and has work efficently 2015, I cannot guarantee the same result in future years, but they are additions in 2015



7.

people laugh when they hear i am powerwashing again, seriously its part and parcel of keeping on top of crypto

joejobrien

whelan2 wrote: »

people laugh when they hear i am powerwashing again, seriously its part and parcel of keeping on top of crypto

I dont disagree with you at all, do it myself. wet job:mad:

whelan2

you are right about visitors, especially people collecting calves, i try and have calves ready in an area where they cant go into sheds, although on friday when i went to get calf cards in house the lad was walking through the shed when i went out:mad:

greysides

Good post JJB.

Two comments come to mind.

After the promotion of disinfection during the 2001 outbreak of FMD the awareness of its continuing important seems to have been lost. Most farms I visit don't have ready-to-use facilities. They're not expensive and it makes the process so much easier. Disinfectant is used up by organic matter so it needs replacement. Some farms fall down there, for others, the disinfectant if not filthy is diluted to homeopathic levels by rain water.

I saw a comment a while ago which would have been when Rotavirus vaccines were in their early days. It was reporting that vaccine use resulted in a honeymoon period of freedom from scour which was short-lived as other organisms competing for space in the gut then took up the baton. I think Crypto was the culprit particularly mentioned.
Perhaps probiotic use in conjunction with vaccination would lower the odds.

Buford T. Justice XIX

joejobrien wrote: »

Im going to throw a spanner into this.
While I agree with HYEGINE PRACTICE, I m a bit unsure if its the whole cause. Got It last year Bastard of a thing alright. Now Im going to explain our Practice.
1. All calving pens cleaned DAILY, DISINFECTED, AN BEDDED IN STRAW, not on straw.

2. Calving pens every 5/7 days , disinefected also, bedded IN STRAW and not on straw.
STILL GOT CRYPTO.

3. DISINFECTION POINTS @calving boxes and calf house.

4.Vet is a major carrier IMO even though there are clean but there jacket or pullup can be carriers.

5. Dealers or farmers visiting also major culprit. UNWITINGLY WALK IN AND OUT OF PLACE WITH ZERO DISINFECTION.

6.All calves recieve as much to drink as possible to point of cant take anymore. That ranges from 2 litres to 4.5 litres approx

7.2015 vaccination with rotavec corana, this lowers the challenge faced by the calves .

8. 2014 no vaccination

9.2015 ALL clostrum tested prior to feeding, most ok but some inferior, thus not given to calf. Hopefully this is the calf that will succeed but otherwise would have succumbed.

10. In Spring 2014 Group of vets visited this farm(Similar to a farm walk only a veterinary group hosted for vets) Clearly understood the practice on farm for calving and caf rearing, They left completely dumbfounded as to why Cyrpto was on farm. practice was text book. Many said if there clients done 20%of whhat was been practice they could reduce incidence dramitically on farms.


11. My Conculision,
Vaccination is critical, lowers the burden face by calves,
Testing colostrum critical, no excuse not to be also may I add, its often not been promoted either, extra selling point when selling calves privately. Unit cheap. Thus reason when calf dies not enough colostrum given, My oponion is quality is weak not quainty. Often forgotten point. Text book approch by some veterinary personnel, not willing to think outside the box(not you Greysides, hehheee)
Beware of people presence on farms , invariably have been on other farms!!!!!
Role of clean calf pens and calving boxs perhaps over emphasied while very important that alone, MAY NOT keep it outside the gate......worn the teeshirt

The above is my experience and has work efficently 2015, I cannot guarantee the same result in future years, but they are additions in 2015



7.

Good post.

Just on Corona vaccines, i was talking to a new vet in the practice i use and she was saying one of her vet lecturers told them that cows are naturally immune to corona virus and that any improvement seen on farms due to using the vaccine were due to farmers giving colostrum much earlier than would have been the practice before. Her advice to me was not to bother using the vaccine, just give colostrum to the calf asap.

Back on topic, i was wondering if the difference in problems faced would be due to more virulent strains against less virulent ones on other farms?

joejobrien

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Good post.

Just on Corona vaccines, i was talking to a new vet in the practice i use and she was saying one of her vet lecturers told them that cows are naturally immune to corona virus and that any improvement seen on farms due to using the vaccine were due to farmers giving colostrum much earlier than would have been the practice before. Her advice to me was not to bother using the vaccine, just give colostrum to the calf asap.

Back on topic, i was wondering if the difference in problems faced would be due to more virulent strains against less virulent ones on other farms?

Yes I take your point. At 8.50 a shot I still would nt chaance without it The quality of colostrum is underestimated imo.

joejobrien

Buford T. Justice V wrote: »

Good post.

Just on Corona vaccines, i was talking to a new vet in the practice i use and she was saying one of her vet lecturers told them that cows are naturally immune to corona virus and that any improvement seen on farms due to using the vaccine were due to farmers giving colostrum much earlier than would have been the practice before. Her advice to me was not to bother using the vaccine, just give colostrum to the calf asap.

Back on topic, i was wondering if the difference in problems faced would be due to more virulent strains against less virulent ones on other farms?

At 8.50 I still wouldnt chance it. quality of colostrum is vital and is possible where lads fall down

whelan2

joejobrien wrote: »

At 8.50 I still wouldnt chance it. quality of colostrum is vital and is possible where lads fall down

other thing is the rc biestings is supposed to be fed for up to 2 weeks to get the full benefit

joejobrien

whelan2 wrote: »

other thing is the rc biestings is supposed to be fed for up to 2 weeks to get the full benefit

Your possibly right but not very practical onfarm level on a day by day basis. Yes. at times of surplus beisting at times and would be correct to provide this

blackdog1

Had a bad dose of this bug in the spring and lost 5 bull calves and had to drip 10 more. Used multiple disenfectants and doses, they weren't working. Finally I'm on top of it, the last 6 calves that calved I've had no problems with. Basically I power washed sheds and disenfected them with hydrogen peroxide at a rate of 6% and maybe a bit stronger ( 35% 25 litre drum cost me €50). I also cut the top off a 200 litre blue drum filled it half full with the same disenfectant and dip teat feeders overnight once a week. So far so good. Just thought I'd let people know as there isn't great advice on this. Hope this helps anyone in the same boat.

Jaysus Christ

Lost 4 last year to it and ran up a huge vet bill. Was told I'd have to steam clean shed as only 70 degree + hot water will kill it but you'd have to do cows as well as they are the main source in a suckler herd. There's no real prevention. Used the tabs down the calls neck within 8 hours of calving and not a trace of any kind of scour. 2 for crypto and 2 for rota. Great thrive and only 2 I didn't do got a touch of scour. I always disinfect and clean out pens regularly any ways.

blackdog1

Jaysus Christ wrote:

Lost 4 last year to it and ran up a huge vet bill. Was told I'd have to steam clean shed as only 70 degree + hot water will kill it but you'd have to do cows as well as they are the main source in a suckler herd. There's no real prevention. Used the tabs down the calls neck within 8 hours of calving and not a trace of any kind of scour. 2 for crypto and 2 for rota. Great thrive and only 2 I didn't do got a touch of scour. I always disinfect and clean out pens regularly any ways.

Was gonna steam clean the new shed alright....still might but I said I'd try it on the old calf shed first. Ground was literally bubbling from the hydrogen peroxide but no vet every prescribed it or recommended it I had to do a lot of research myself. It's quite expensive if you go to the wrong place for it. 1 place I was quoted 100 euro for 2.5 litres....ended up getting it for 50 for 25. Might still use interkokask for viruses.

oneten

I had a belt of crypto for a couple of years running , used " Virkon S " to disinfect the shed during the summer and didnt have it this year ,maybe its just coincidence or maybe one of the culls was a bad carrier I don't know, but I lost a good 'un with rotavirus this year and the disinfectant helped stop that spreading, had 3 altogether 2 coped well with it but was in fast with the effydral and kaolin for those , and was lucky that they were still in separate pens with their mothers so didn't infect a whole bunch

Cattlepen

Used a product called crypto caps this year. No crypto

patsy_mccabe

Can anyone recommend a good disinfectant for Cryptosporidium?
I have to power wash and disinfect the sheds after the TB outbreak I got recently.
I was hoping to kill 2 birds with one stone and kill off crypto also.

whelan2

Interkokask is what I use. Get it from vets

blackdog1

whelan2 wrote:

Interkokask is what I use. Get it from vets

Hydrogen Peroxide is just as good and can be got alot cheaper