21% of all disease in pre-weaned calves and 46.5% of all deaths post weaning are due to pneumonia.  The average cost of treating a single case is £43.26, 2.2% reduction in 1st lactation yield and a two week delay to 1st service (Tilling, 2018).  Once pneumonia occurs the lungs are damaged permanently leading to health issues and reduced productivity.

Pneumonia can be caused by a whole host of reasons, but is often caused by a virus unlocking the calf’s immune function and then letting a bacterium in, like BVD impairing the immune function, allowing Pasteurella or Mycoplasma in.  A whole host of other bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, parasites and non-infectious causes (i.e. fog fever) can all cause pneumonia.  Chronic coughing pneumonia is likely to have been caused by mycoplasma species, whereas housed calves less than 6 months old with severe acute pneumonia tends to be one of either RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus), Parainfluenza virus (P13) or others; as you can see the causes are endless but to reduce the risk we need to look at:

1. Cleanliness & Hygiene (Environment & Feeding)
2. Hygienic Calving Areas
3. Good Colostrum Management
4. Being Consistent
5. Mineral Deficiencies (especially Vitamin E & Selenium)
6. Social Change
7. Disbudding
8. Housing

Clinical signs include, sunken eyes, poor posture, dull/dry coats, dropped ears, nasal discharge, laboured breathing, high temperature and reduced appetite (Tilling, 2018).

The main reason pneumonia affects the respiratory system is it;

A. Impairs ventilation of air sacs, fluid accumulates on the chest and scarring of connective tissue of lungs
B. Blood flow is reduced by clots and accumulation of inflammatory cells around blood vessels
C. Fluid accumulation impairing air exchange into the blood

Treating pneumonia is about speed; specific diagnosis is valuable for future planning but too slow for treatment.  When sampling calves we need to catch calves early and veterinary advice should be consulted immediately!  Treatment should be quick and for adequate duration.  There are no anti-viral drugs, so the main treatment is through antibiotics, although vaccination is possible, we must remember that vaccines only cover specific types of pneumonia, so a vaccine is not a cure!  Reducing the risks listed above, recording known farm causes and working with your vet and consultant to establish a farm strategy are vital for productivity, particularly where antibiotic usage will be thoroughly examined by consumers and government (Tilling, 2018).

If you want to know more, please contact Wesley at wesleyhabershon@fcgagric.com or your local FCG Office.