Bovine Respiratory Disease
Many calves develop pneumonia days before showing symptoms. Lung ultrasounds are helping veterinarians detect the hidden disease earlier.
Even mild respiratory disease in beef‑on‑dairy calves can reduce marbling and carcass value.
A trusted adjuvant can make all the difference in capturing a strong immune response in young calves.
The minute a newborn calf hits the ground, its surrounding environment can impact its future health. A multi-phase study from the University of California-Davis teases out the finer points of maternity pen management.
When dairy farmers think about animals impacted by cold stress, calves are often the first that come to mind. However, it’s important to remember that cold stress doesn’t just affect calves—it can also significantly impact heifers.
USDA announced on Oct. 30 the first reported case of H5N1 in a pig in an Oregon backyard farm.
Among the mix of technologies, management factors, and strategies to raise healthy calves: genetics. There is growing evidence that calves can inherit the ability to resist calfhood diseases like pneumonia and scours from their parents.
Detecting respiratory disease in calves early – when treatment is most effective – should start by examining the head and facial features, according to veterinarian Tiago Tomazi with Merck Animal Health.
Researchers found that over half of calves tested with ultrasound had at least one case of lung congestion in the first eight weeks of life.