Look out for coccidiosis
With calving underway, dairy farmers are being urged to be vigilant for coccidiosis by planning their calf feeding regimes and using nutrition to combat the potentially fatal disease.
It is a ‘hidden’ cause of slow growth, poor development and sometimes even death; very few infections ever show clinical symptoms, the company says. But it can be managed.
Transmission of coccidia occurs when stock ingest the parasite eggs (oocysts) from contaminated water, feed, bedding and pasture. Oocysts are hardy, surviving in the environment, including calf pens, for a long time.
Clinical signs of Coccidiosis are poor appetite and reduced feed intake, watery diarrhoea, and blood and/or mucus in the faeces. “Coccidiosis both pre- and post weaning can dramatically reduce calves’ ability to utilise feed effectively, resulting in poor weight gains and wasting heifers,” says Zoetis spokesman Tim Horsbrugh.
“The problem is 95% of these infections result in no visible signs of illness, so farmers may not see ‘sick’ calves even though calves will not be growing as they should be.”
For farmers using calf milk replacement (CMR) the company’s product Deccox is a convenient way to prevent the disease, says Horsbrugh. “Select a CMR that has Deccox included, like Milligans Classic milk powder. CMR’s containing Deccox will prevent coccidiosis during the pre-wean stage.”
Milligans North Island regional manager Glen McKay says, “The price of bagged CMR has this year dropped under the whole milk price. Based on a $5.25 payout, whole milk will cost about 45cents/L to feed to calves and premium milk powders will be down to 42c/L.”
Once calves are close to weaning they should be eating close to 1kg meal/day, Horsbrugh says.
“If the meal contains a coccidiostat like Bovatec 20CC these calves can be comfortably weaned off milk and will remain protected from coccidiosis post weaning.”
Farmers feeding whole milk can work out how much is being fed each day and add Deccox soluble premix daily to this ration.
“This cost of 5-7c/calf/day for Deccox is [cheaper], by preventing coccidiosis, than the cost of treating sickly calves that have lost live weight.”
Deccox is a broad spectrum anti-protozoal, non antibiotic feed additive containing Decoquinate. It is sold in 1kg containers at rural outlets and vet clinics. A 1kg container will treat 100 calves at 40kg for 25 days.
