MANEJO DE NEONATOS E RELATO DE SURTO DE DOENÇA RESPIRATÓRIA EM BEZERROS WERTHON

Abstract

This paper presents a theoretical reference on the management of newborns and later reports of an outbreak of respiratory disease in calves in the Bovinocultura Sector of the Federal University of Paraíba, which occurred between 2017 and 2018, resulting in calf deaths and considerable losses. In order to identify the causes of calves morbidity and mortality and to adopt measures of control and prophylaxis, a visit to the bovine sector was initially carried out to observe the general management and evaluation of the acquisition of passive immunity of the newborns. Failures were identified in the management of the pups, from the time before birth until weaning of the animals, which could be contributing gradually to having the expressive numbers of sick animals and reported deaths. From the initial observations, a lecture was given to employees and students of the sector on good management practices, with emphasis on the management of the young, later, during the period from June 20 to November 25, 2018, all management practices as well as the assessment of the acquisition of passive immunity in all calves born. A chart was posted in the field to record colostration, navel cure, and total plasma protein level of calves at 48 days of age. The main modifications in the management were the deactivation of the calf used, due to the inability to provide protection against climatic storms and adequate sanitation of troughs and drinking fountains, modifications in the colostragem, since animals with failure to acquire immunity, adequate navel cure, which was being performed inefficiently causing omphalopathies and associated complications. The calves were placed in a covered shed and collective bays with a maximum of four animals. Guidance was given that if possible the animals up to 15 days were kept in individual stalls and that all calf dependencies were maintained under strict hygiene. The calves were also separated by age group, had been assured the supply of 4 liters of colostrum in the first 12 hours and the navel treated with iodine twice daily for three days. In addition to these measures, a constant monitoring from birth to weaning was carried out, and examinations were carried out to diagnose diseases, considering that the newborn due to its syndesmotic placenta is born agammaglobulinemic and requires strict supervision regarding its health and treatment disease that may arise, even under appropriate management conditions. The results obtained were satisfactory. During the study period, there were no signs of omphalopathies. Only mild respiratory pictures were recorded that responded promptly to the treatment, no deaths related to neonatal conditions were recorded. The results showed that the problems were related to management failures and corroborated with the information in the literature, since all the interventions were based on the guidelines identified in the theoretical reference presented.