Checklist To Minimise Risk Of Pneumonia

Picture from Nadis

• Have a separate airspace/shed for each age group of growing cattle.
• Never mix older “tailend” cattle (who are likely to have suffered from pneumonia themselves) in the same shed as high risk animals.
• Provide autumn born suckled calves with a separate well bedded creep area with excellent ventilation. If possible also give them access to outdoors, where they will probably spend most of their time.
• Maximise ventilation. The negative effect of draughts is very exaggerated, particularly where calves have a dry lie.  Given a choice no animal will lie in a draught, unless it is too hot.
• Bed well when stock are first housed. One bale in the autumn is worth 4 in the spring.  Keep the bed as dry as possible to minimise levels of relative humidity in the building.
• In shed with feed passages scrape regularly, ideally at least daily to minimise standing liquids.
• Consider initially using straw based rations rather than silage to minimise moisture in the shed.
• Consider vaccinating prior to housing.
• Worm calves for both stomach and lungworm several weeks prior to housing/weaning.
• Clip the back of calves to help them control body temperature.
• Ensure high quality feed and clean drinking water is easily available.

Basil Lowman, basil.lowman@sac.co.uk