Will Davies from Marchamley Farm
A devastating cryptosporidiosis outbreak that wiped out 20% of calves on a Shropshire dairy farm has been turned around, thanks to a change in approach.
Will Davies, who runs Marchamley Farm, was hit hard during the 2024 autumn calving, losing 61 calves out of 300 and spending thousands trying to save others.
“It was a nightmare,” he says. “Two people were spending up to eight hours a day feeding calves, giving antibiotics and rehydration just to keep them alive. It was very stressful and soul-destroying.”
Despite strong hygiene protocols and vaccination against other scour pathogens, including rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli F5 (K99), the issue was identified as cryptosporidiosis. This is a highly infectious parasite that can build rapidly, especially in block-calving systems and persist in the environment.
The turning point came ahead of the 2025 calving season, with the introduction of Bovilis Cryptium® for cryptosporidiosis. By vaccinating cows in late pregnancy, protection is passed to calves through colostrum, helping reduce the clinical signs of the disease.
