Teagasc Moorepark survey results indicate how important calf hygiene is
Almost 20% cleaned pens infrequently (about once per month), while 30% cleaned only between calving seasons.
Analysis of the survey results showed that regular cleaning of calf pens appeared to be associated with lower incidences of persistent calf illness, and with lower mortality rates.
Results also showed that detergent should be used to minimise cross contamination between calf pens and thus reduce disease risk.
The investigation of how hygiene affects calf health on Irish dairy farms survey was conducted by researchers from Teagasc Moorepark, and from the School of Veterinary Medicine, UDC.
Dairy farmers were selected at random for the survey from Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) HerdPlus members, in a sample balanced for herd size and location.
Survey questions included frequency and method used to clean calf pens, and calf feeding equipment hygiene (cleaned with hot water or cold water, etc).
The most common age and causes of pre-weaned calf illnesses were also investigated.
Responses indicated the main causes were scour only, pneumonia only, navel ill only, or a combination of two or more of these illnesses.
With permission from respondents and the ICBF, data of calf births and deaths were obtained from the ICBF database, to establish mortality rates.
It was found that farmers who cleaned monthly had lower calf mortality than those who did not clean pens at all.
It was found that those who cleaned pens between calves (21% of respondents), and between seasons only (29%), were more likely to both wash and use disinfectant while cleaning pens, rather than clean out only (without washing or using disinfectant).
However, infrequent cleaning may counteract this, because pathogen build-up is associated with increased mortality rates.
Farmers who cleaned pens between calf groups only (21% of those surveyed) or between seasons only (29%) were more likely to have an issue with navel infections, compared to calves housed in pens cleaned regularly.
This demonstrated to researchers that regular cleaning reduces persistent problems such as scour and pneumonia.
The overall most common age of calf illness was two to seven weeks old, on 85% of all farms.
Farmers that washed equipment with water (hot and cold) only (69%) had calves frequently falling ill at many different ages (but about 80% two to seven weeks), compared to farmers that used detergent (60% falling ill aged two to four weeks) .
It was found that farmers with a regular cleaning schedule were less likely to identify one main sickness issue on their farm (such as scour), compared to those cleaning between calf groups or between seasons only.
Thoroughly cleaning equipment minimises cross-contamination between calves.
The study indicated that thorough and frequent cleaning of housing and feeding equipment is important for calf health on Irish dairy farms.
As calves are born extremely susceptible to disease, particularly prior to the development of active immunity at about six weeks, good hygiene is important in preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as cryptosporidium.
Infrequent cleaning of pens and other calf equipment can lead to build-up of bacteria and ammonia in the pen, which can result in cryptosporidium or other infections.
