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Scour vaccines deliver peace of mind for Kilkenny and Cork dairy farmers
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Pat Brennan, who runs a 144-cow spring calving British and Holstein Friesian herd on his family’s 260ac farm at Ballyouskill, just outside Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny, has described the two scour vaccines from MSD Animal Health as “an ideal combination”.
According to the Co. Kilkenny farmer: “After an outbreak of scour caused by rotavirus in 2022, we began using Bovilis Rotavec Corona for the spring of 2023."
Veterinary advice
“We were very pleased with how well Bovilis Rotavec Corona worked for us,” Pat said, who began using it on the recommendation of his local vet, Michael Bergin of Countryside Vets, Ballyragget.
In March 2024, Pat faced a cryptosporidiosis outbreak that prompted him to review his calf health management strategy with his vet ahead of the next calving season.
“Calving here starts in the last week of January, and we generally have 90% calved within the first six weeks of the season,” Pat said.
“Last spring, when we got the cryptosporidiosis outbreak, we knew we had to act fast.
"About 30 calves were affected, so they all had to be treated and given electrolytes over a few days.”
Having heard about the development and success of Bovilis Cryptium from his vet, Pat decided to add it to his vaccination programme.
“We vaccinated our herd with Bovilis Cryptium last December,” Pat explained.
“Cryptosporidiosis is so contagious, especially in young calves - it can just sweep through them.
“It’s a stress on the animals and the farmer. You’re up to your eyes during calving, so having to deal with an outbreak is a nightmare scenario.”
Results and reassurance
Pat saw the benefits first-hand.
“We had zero issues with scour to deal with last spring," he said.
"Everything went according to plan, and not having the additional stress gave me great peace of mind at the end of each day.”
Pat outlined the benefits of using the two scour vaccines together.
Pat concluded: “Bovilis Cryptium and Bovilis Rotavec Corona work very well together, and on the back of Michael Bergin’s advice, we’ll be using both every year.
"It’s cost effective when you think about what you and the animals could be facing without them.
"The two vaccines have really paid off for us, and I couldn’t recommend them more.”
About the vaccines
Bovilis Cryptium is the first and only vaccine to protect calves against cryptosporidiosis.
It works by raising specific antibodies in the cow before calving, which are passed to the calf through colostrum and transition milk when fed for a minimum of five days.
The primary course consists of two doses of 2ml, given under the skin, four to five weeks apart.
These vaccinations must be completed between 12 and three weeks before calving.
After that, a single booster dose is given 12 to three weeks before each subsequent calving.
Bovilis Rotavec Corona is a single dose vaccination, given under the skin or into the muscle of the cow, 12 to three weeks before calving to passively provide protection to calves from diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli via adequate colostrum and transition milk feeding.
Bovilis Rotavec Corona can conveniently be given on the same day as Bovilis Cryptium, at different sites.
John Daly
Farming in Kilbrin, just outside Kanturk, Co. Cork, John Daly runs a 200-cow spring calving herd on his 180ac farm with help from his wife Roisin and mother Kathleen.
In 2023, John faced his first outbreak of cryptosporidiosis.
He recalled: “The calf losses were quite severe. Then you had the extra workload on top of that. It just wasn’t sustainable."
In 2024, John began using an oral solution to prevent cryptosporidiosis, which had to be administered daily for seven consecutive days.
“There was a lot of work involved with it,” he explained.
“Trying to keep track of what each calf is on and how many days are left.”
Despite his efforts, the herd experienced another scour outbreak midway through the 2024 calving season.
After hearing about Bovilis Cryptium, John contacted his vet, Eamon O’Flynn of Bluepool Veterinary Clinic, Kanturk.
Together, they updated the herd’s vaccination schedule ahead of the 2025 calving season.
Veterinary advice
Eamon said: “As John’s vet, I’d seen recurring cryptosporidiosis challenges on the farm, so we reviewed his calf health management strategy together.
"He made important improvements around colostrum, hygiene and calf housing, and we added Bovilis Cryptium to the vaccination schedule.
"It has been a real combined effort to decrease the challenge, and 2025 was the first year the farm had no cases of cryptosporidiosis."
John has been using Bovilis Rotavec Corona for almost 10 years and finds it convenient that both vaccines can be given together at the same time, at different injection sites.
John said: “When we gave the second dose of Bovilis Cryptium, we administered Bovilis Rotavec Corona.
"Giving both vaccines together cuts down on my workload."
A smoother spring
“There wasn’t a single case of cryptosporidiosis or sickness in general - compared to the year before when we probably treated about 80 calves for scour," John said.
John also stresses that vaccination is only one part of the solution.
Cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining calf sheds are essential, as is testing colostrum quality and ensuring calves receive adequate colostrum early.
“Knowing the herd will be well protected with Bovilis Cryptium and Bovilis Rotavec Corona gives great peace of mind heading into calving next spring,” John added.
Speak to your veterinary practitioner to determine the most appropriate management and vaccination programme for your herd.
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