Page 6 - Cryptosporidiosis in neonatal calves

PAGE 6 Cryptosporidiosis in neonatal calves

Disease control measures

(a) Ensure all calves receive adequate good quality colostrum within the frst two hours of birth
(b) House calves either individually or in small groups in suitably prepared pens/houses.
(c) Never mix new born calves with calves older than 3-4 days

(d) Strict hygiene with feeding equipment (botles, buckets, nipples etc)

(e) Replace or replenish bedding (straw etc) every 2 days
(f) Raise feeding and water troughs of the foor, at least
0.75m The optmal calf rearing system
(g) Identfy calves with diarrhoea quickly. Isolate and for disease control is to rear
remove all sick calves to a hospital pen once they them in individual pens for at
have been identfed and start appropriate treatment. least the frst two weeks
Isolate all calves with diarrhoea for at least a week afer
scouring stops

On farms that experience severe problems with cryptosporidiosis every year, the calves may be treated with
halofuginone lactate for the frst 7 days. Treatment must be started from birth and contnued daily for the frst
week. Halofuginone lactate does not prevent infecton but it reduces the severity of the diarrhoea and the
number of oocysts excreted.
Anyone in contact with the calves should endeavour to prevent transmitng the disease from one group to another
group of calves

(h) Ideally, animal handlers/farm workers/owners should wash their hands and change their protectve clothes
and footwear between each group of calves. However, if this is not possible then at the very minimum they
should wash their hands and disinfect their boots.

(i) It is critcal that anyone in contact with the calves should wash their hands change their clothes and
footwear afer handling sick calves. This is to prevent transferring contaminated faeces from the sick pen
to other locatons on the farm.

(j) An additonal precauton is to feed
youngest calves frst, work up by age
groups and feed the sick calves last.