ANIMAL HEALTH

Viral infections and effective countermeasures

The emergence of new variants of infectious viruses develops viral epidemics - We’ve seen this with the recent virus outbreak. The lack of effective antiviral treatments for the new viruses, coupled with rapid spread of the infections results in major financial losses for the animal producers.

Some viruses can be transmitted and cause diseases in humans (zoonoses) such as avian and swine influenza. Others appeared as a result of crossspecies transmissions between animals and human like HIV and the recent global virus outbreak. Therefore it is important to have a reliable broad-spectrum antimicrobial, which can be implemented in the biosecurity system – the most important tool for disease prevention.

Outside of the host cell, viruses are unable to replicate and increase in number. However, they can often survive for long periods of time in this state. There are three main types of viruses with different structures, classified according to increasing difficulty of chemical disinfectant inactivation. There are many chemical disinfectants, capable to inactivate viruses, but their effectiveness depends upon many factors such as concentration, reaction time, temperature and organic load.

But how to do it?

Here comes the advantage of the mineral based, dry disinfectant Stalosan F produced by Vilofoss Denmark. It is specially developed for application in presence of animals and it effectively controls pathogens during the whole production period. It can be

used continuously, because it is not deactivated by organic materials and the efficacy of one application lasts for a week. A solid proof for that was found in the study from the University of Minnesota against PRRSv, where Stalosan F and glutaraldehydebased disinfectants were used for virus deactivation on both soles with and without manure soiling. On a soiled boot, glutaraldehyde performance was reduced significantly, while Stalosan F performance was not affected!

Made a difference in China

Stalosan F is effective against a variety of viruses, affecting different animal species including Corona virus, causing PED and TGE diseases in bovine enterovirus, canine parvovirus, viruses in poultry, causing avian Influenza, infectious bursal disease (IBD), Newcastle disease and many others.

At the same time Stalosan F is not toxic for the animals and people, and it can be used continuously without any negative side effects. All claims about the product efficacy are supported with lab tests or field trials.

Stalosan F does not show selectivity against specific virus types, which makes it an important tool for overall viral control. Except virus, Stalosan F is capable to control pathogen bacteria and fungi, reducing resistant pathogen strains and providing safe environment for the farm animals. As a result, the cost of medication drops approximately with 50%.

Stalosan F’s broad-spectrum, nonspecific action makes it an important tool of the farm biosecurity, securing the environment and preventing diseases outbreaks and pathogen transmission.

Experience from practice shows significant economic effect of the Stalosan F continuous application, reducing mortality and morbidity, thus increasing the income of the animal production.

Nowadays, Stalosan has executed over 50 years of constant service to the farmers for effective pathogen control and sustainable animal performance.

For more information, visit www.vilofoss.com

DRAUGHTS IN THE BARN: MAJOR RISK FOR CALVES AND COWS DURING THE COLD SEASONS

Draughts are an enemy of cows. Calves in particular are extremely sensitive to them. Draughts weaken the immune system and increase morbidity of cows. Respiratory diseases are a frequent consequence.

The following article deals with draughts and their consequences, such as respiratory diseases. We tell you more about how smaXtec helps you to detect respiratory diseases early and thus shorten the treatment period. Some useful tips on how draughts can be avoided are also listed below.

DRAUGHTS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES

In general, the term draught is understood as incoming air that is clearly cooler than the air in the barn.

It cannot be clearly defined which wind speed is necessary to reduce performance and impair health in cows. An approximate guideline for the air movement in cold weather is up to 2m/s and in warmer seasons up to 4 m/s. Problems become apparent when animals lay down or stay close to other animals due to a lack of protection options.

The circulation of the mucous membranes is particularly affected by draught. This may lead to more infections. The greater the temperature difference, the more damaging the influence of a draught on the health of the animals. For this reason, problems often arise, especially in periods of cold, wet weather. Furthermore, high wind speeds occurring during this time are a big problem. A common consequence of poor air quality and draughts are respiratory diseases. Stagnant air or draughts considerably increase the likelihood of pneumonia.

Calves are particularly sensitive to this because they cool down quickly and the microclimate, meaning the temperature immediately above the skin surface under the coat, is destroyed. The immune function of the young animals is weakened by the reduced blood flow.

RESPIRATORY DISEASES IN CALVES AND COWS

Respiratory diseases can be caused by poor air quality and draughts. But the animals do not only suffer in autumn and winter. Even in summer, on particularly hot days, they can become seriously ill. Calves for example sweat and draughts created by the air movement for cooling increases the risk of respiratory diseases.

Respiratory diseases have a major impact on the economic success of calf rearing and on the performance of adult animals. Long-term consequences in females include a higher first calving age, higher herd turnover rates and a lower milk yield. It is even more dramatic in male calves. Once they become ill, consequential damage is inevitable. Their growth is insufficient. In addition, high treatment costs, decreased weight gain and death as a result of treatment can also be seen as negative results.

Consideration must also be given to the economic impact of respiratory diseases. These types of diseases are among the most complex and most costliest in bovine medicine. Significant financial losses are often the result of increased occurrence of respiratory diseases. The losses are caused by the losses of calves, the reduced daily weight gain in sick animals, poor development of chronically ill calves, costs for treatment by veterinarians and for medication and the increased time required to care for sick calves.

A calculation of the monetary loss is as follows: with a morbidity rate of 30 % and a loss rate of 5 %, there are losses of € 50 per stalled calf.

But it is not only the shortterm losses mentioned above that are associated with respiratory diseases – longterm consequences must also be expected. It must be remembered that only a healthy calf can grow into a highperformance dairy cow. The influence of respiratory diseases and the resulting (possibly longlasting) breathing difficulties on the later performance of the animals is often underestimated.

SMAXTEC SUPPORTS YOU IN THE EARLY DETECTION OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES

With the smaXtec bolus, typical symptoms of respiratory diseases can be detected early on. By continuously measuring inner body temperature, even the smallest deviations from the animal’s normal temperature can be detected at an early stage.

Furthermore, sick animals are usually less mobile and show reduced activity. This is also detected by the smaXtec Bolus. The success of the treatment depends largely on the stage of the disease. Early treatment of pneumonia is therefore essential for full recovery.

MEASURES AGAINST DRAUGHTS

The optimum temperature for calves is between +4° and +20°Celsius. Dairy cows are most efficient at temperatures ranging from – 15° to + 20°Celsius. In addition to the right temperature, humidity also plays an important role. Low humidity (35% – 50% at <15°C) provides optimal air quality for calves as it reduces germ levels. In adult cattle, on the other hand, the optimal relative humidity is between 35 % and 70 %.

With the help of the smaXtec Climate Sensor, the decisive parameters are collected, measured and presented in a user-friendly way. In addition to the temperature and humidity, the so-called THI (temperaturehumidity index) value is also calculated. This value provides information about heat stress in hot summer months.

For more information, visit www.smaxtec.com