Dr. Tammo Steenhuis and Ami Collick from Cornell University are investigating solar calf housing to determine its effectiveness in reducing the transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts off farms. Three different approaches will be attempted to analyze the effect of solar calf housing. First a comparison will be made of the number of infected animals before and after the solar calf barn was installed. Second, the survivability of C. parvum will be tested at three locations inside and outside of the solar calf barn. Finally, the transport of the pathogen off the farm will be studied by sampling runoff, streams and soil most likely affected by the calf housing. Initial farm sampling began in the Summer 2001.

Project: Effectiveness of Solar Calf Housing in Reducing Off Farm Transport of Cryptosporidium Parvum Oocysts
Location: Farms
Contact: Tammo Steenhuis, Professor
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
Tel: 607-255-2489
E-mail: [email protected]