What is Biosecurity?
Management practices that prevent the introduction or spread of disease on the farm. Why should Biosecurity be a concern with young calves? Of all the animals on the dairy, the calves are the most vulnerable to infection and disease. What are the challenges? Table 1 lists the disease threats associated with calf scours and secondary infections (i.e. respiratory problems). Table 2 lists the primary biosecurity and health challenges faced by calves and how diseases are transmitted.

What is the significance of the six diseases that can be transferred via colostrum and non-pasteurized transition, whole, or waste milk?

Good News! The basic management practices for the prevention of all of these diseases in the calf are similar. Following are the critical periods and the key management steps that impact the health and biosecurity of the pre-weaned calf.

Dry Period
Allow an adequate period of time (minimum of six weeks) for the cow to replenish her reserves in preparation for the next lactation; during the dry period, antibodies are secreted in the colostrum necessary for protecting the calf after birth.

Role of dry cow vaccination

• Protects the calf from diseases that could be transferred across the placenta.

• Helps produce high-quality colostrum to help prevent key calf-hood diseases.

• Helps produce high-quality colostrum to help prevent key calf-hood diseases.

• Should take into account any specific health problems that are present on the dairy.

Calving Area (Maternity Pen)

• The maternity pen is the highest priority area

• Clean and dry. - Used by one animal at a time.

• Able to be cleaned and disinfected between uses.

• Not a hospital pen.

• Located away from lactating and non-lactating cows.

Birth

¨ Colostrum feeding and management: Quantity, quality, and timing of colostrum feeding are
    critical to protecting the newborn calf.

   (Table 3 illustrates the impact of not having adequate antibody protection from colostrum.)

¨ Know the health status of the dam. Do not use colostrum from cows that are known
    Johne's, BLV, or BVD-PI positive.

¨ Separate the calf from the dam as soon as possible. Don't assume that the calf is getting
    an adequate amount of colostrum if left with the mother.

    (Table 4 illustrates the impact of leaving the calf with the cow, rather than hand feeding colostrum.)

¨ Delaying first milking by more than one hour will lower colostrum quality.

¨ Give first feeding of colostrum as soon as possible (ideally within one hour of birth).

¨ Feed at least three quarts of colostrum in the first feeding and again 12 hours later.

¨ Use a clean and sanitized esophageal feeder if the calf will not consume a sufficient
    amount of colostrum. Use only good-quality colostrum.
              ► Measure colostrum quality with a colostrometer before feeding.
              ► Do not feed thin, watery colostrum, especially from a heifer.

¨ Save good-quality colostrum by freezing in four-quart ziplock plastic bags.
               ► Remove excess air and freeze laying flat; this will allow easier thawing.
               ► Thaw carefully to preserve antibodies.
               ► Do not thaw frozen colostrum in extremely hot water or in a microwave at
                  high power for >1 minute at a time (this will destroy the antibodies).

¨ Dip navel with 7% iodine tincture as soon as possible after birth. - Do not use teat dip or
    solution other than one designed for navel dipping.

     (Table 5 illustrates the impact of navel dipping on calf mortality.)

Day 2 to Weaning
¨ House calves individually in a dry and draft-free environment. - Calf hutches should be separated by a minimum of four feet; 10 feet is preferable.

¨ Keep equipment, people, and feed, coming in contact with the calf, free from manure contamination.

¨ Restrict visitors - Insist that visitors wear clean clothing and clean and sanitized boots (have a supply of disposable boots on hand)

¨ When working with groups of animals, always work with younger animals first (never work older to younger).

¨ Feed Nurstrate® calf milk replacer rather than non-pasteurized whole or waste milk. Studies show that calves fed non-pasteurized whole or waste milk had $8.13 less value per calf due to increased death loss and health and treatment costs compared to control (University of California, Davis).  These same calves were 8.14 lbs. lighter than the control at six months of age (University of California, Davis).

¨ Clean, sanitize, and dry all feeding utensils after feeding.

¨ Provide palatable, high-quality Timeline© calf starter on a free-choice basis after four days of age. - Do not use "waste" feed from older animals as feed. Provide clean, fresh water at all times.

¨ Make weaning as stress-free as possible (minimize management changes).

Remember, good biosecurity management practices also include:

¨ The prevention of transfer of infectious diseases from animals to people.
            ► Please protect yourself and your family by:
            ► Wearing clean boots and clothing.
            ► Always washing your hands after working with calves.
            ► Restrict access by children and farm visitors to calves.