Stressed calves outside may catch pneumonia
Stressed calves outside may catch pneumonia
CALVES should be healthiest when outside, but stress due to this autumns changeable weather has seen some succumb to pneumonia before housing.
Independent vet consultant Tony Andrews says pneumonia cases have been reported from Scotland and the north of England. These are mostly caused by the pasteurella bug which is carried in animals noses. When animals are stressed the bugs grow and infect the lungs, explains Dr Andrews. He advises watching calves for pneumonia carefully, especially around weaning and leaving them outside after weaning to reduce stress.
Those affected need treatment with antibiotics and when 15-20% of calves are infected some vets treat all stock in that batch. Vaccines to protect againstpasteurella are available and some producers find they work, buttwo doses are needed before animals gain immunity so they must be given in advance of anoutbreak, warns Dr Andrews.