Management Considerations for Bluetongue Movement Restrictions

Movement restrictions under the new Bluetongue guidelines may require farmers to house more calves than usual. Bluetongue calf management becomes critical in these situations, as housing and hygiene play a major role in protecting calf health.

Colostrum and Transition Milk Protocol

Colostrum is essential for immunity. Assessing and tightening up colostrum protocols is the first step to improve calf health. For more information on this topic visit: https://calfchat.com/category/colostrum-transition-milk/

Hygiene Protocols for Calf Housing

Strong hygiene routines are essential in reducing disease. Pens should be cleaned out, washed and disinfected after every calf. If possible, to reduce disease spread, it is advisable to segregate groups of calves with a solid barrier or separate areas of the shed space.

Feeders also need careful attention. Always rinse with cold water first, then scrub with a brush, and flush teats with hot water. You can use dairy chemical washes, such as 5% peracetic acid, or your chemical hygiene suppliers advised product. Just ensure all chemicals are thoroughly rinsed off before use.

It is also important to ensure teats are changed regularly, after each batch of calves or more often depending on the use.

To limit disease transfer between calves, install foot dips and encourage frequent hand washing. Many farmers forget that we as calf rearers can be one of the main sources of disease transmission.

Simple Hygiene Tips

• Feed calves in order of age – youngest to oldest

• Keep a spare feeder or tube feeder for ‘sick’ calves

• Use a sick bay to separate poorly calves – ensuring they still have some interaction with other calves

• Replenish water and feed regularly to ensure it is kept clean and more palatable to the calves