Veterinary: We are seeing an increase in calf scours and pneumonia
This means that individual calf space is getting tighter, and the burden of disease is starting to explode.
We are seeing an increase in the amount of calf scour and calf pneumonia.
“There is a bit of coughing but they are all drinking up, except for this fellow this morning”.
On examining “this fellow” we find that he has a raging temperature and a pretty nasty set of lungs.
Usually while we are there, we notice a number of other calves coughing, and when we examine them, we find that they too have pneumonia.
In previous articles, I have talked about the stocking rate and the ventilation in calf houses. Proper ventilation is the best way to rid the calf house of the viruses that usually start off the pneumonia outbreak.
Every farmer should seek the advice of his/her veterinary practitioner about the ventilation in their calf house.
While very few calf houses have the ideal ventilation set-up, certain changes can be implemented to improve the situation. Following that, protection can be given to the calves by way of vaccination.
This works by giving the calves antibodies to fight the viruses that might come their way, and also by reducing the shedding of virus from the calves that already have the virus.
I am regularly asked what is the best vaccine to give to calves. The answer is not a simple A or B. Every farm is different and every situation on that farm may be different.
I may be dealing with a sudden and severe outbreak of pneumonia on a farm, or I may be planning forward to prevent an outbreak occurring. Your own vet is best placed to give you this advice, and work out a plan for the years ahead.
The main viruses that cause initial damage in calves tend to be RSV and PI3. Once they have damaged the lung tissue, the bacteria (Mannheimia and Pasteurella ) move in to finish the calf off.
The vaccines come in live or “dead” forms. Live vaccines will give faster protection (three or four days), and it will last generally for about three months.
“Dead” vaccines can take a month to give you ample protection but this protection will last for six months.
So it all depends on your particular situation.
Some vaccines also give you protection against the Pasteurella and Mannheimia bacteria, some argue that the main need is not to let the lung get damaged in the first place.
Salesmen sell, and they are generally quite good at their job. Their product is always the best. However, independent advice from your own vet can sort out what is best for you.
Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, farmers have Mycoplasma infections in their herds which can cause a particularly hard-to-treat pneumonia.
There is no vaccine available to protect against this disease, so husbandry and hygiene play a major part in sorting this problem out.
There are farms I come with a swollen navels problem.
Once a calf has an infected swollen navel, the bacteria causing this can spread through the blood stream to set up further infection in any part of the body, including the lungs.
So this is another way the calf can get pneumonia. Never neglect the swollen navel and if you are getting a lot of it. ask your vet why.
