Som det sies, er forebygging bedre enn kur, så her er noen tips for å forhindre vanlige problemer som rammer nyfødte kalver.
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Newborn calves are most susceptible to disease and rely only on immunity gained from the cows’ colostrum. Ensure newborn calves get adequate colostrum, at least 3 litres within the first 2 hours after birth. At this point, they are best able to absorb antibodies in the colostrum. Calves that do not receive colostrum are at greater risk of developing scours and other infections
Cleanliness
Hygiene and cleanliness are also important to curb the spread of disease. Calving areas should be cleaned out after each calving, with clean dry bedding used. Calving equipment such as calving jacks, ropes, bottle feeders, etc. should also be cleaned after each use. Newborn calves are highly susceptible to infection via the navel shortly after birth, joint ill or navel ill can be prevented by practicing good hygiene, adequate colostrum intake, and by treating the navel with a disinfectant shortly after birth. (an iodine solution works well).
Vaccination
Where there is a history of scour problems on a farm, a vaccination program may be necessary to deal with it. Consult with your vet on developing an appropriate programme for your farm, specific to the type of scouring present. Cows are generally vaccinated 12-3 weeks before calving, cows then develop antibodies to fight against the scour-causing bacteria. Again crucially, for a vaccination programme to work the calf must consume adequate colostrum in order to absorb these antibodies and develop immunity to the infection.
For ytterligere råd om noe av det ovennevnte, vennligst kontakt et medlem av Moocall-teamet for å snakke med noen av våre avlsspesialister på +353 1 96 96 038 eller send e-post til [email protected]
Learn more about the Moocall Calving Sensor here: https://moocall.com/pages/moocall-calving-sensor-information
