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Reduce Summer Pneumonia
Risk in Calves

Health tips to help prevent summer respiratory challenges in calves.

While summer offers warm weather and green pastures, the season also threatens calves with summer pneumonia — an often fatal respiratory condition for young calves. Changing weather conditions and stress from working or transporting calves opens the door for the primary pathogens that cause summer pneumonia, bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) and Mannheimia haemolytica.


“Summer pneumonia is a real challenge and can occur during dry or wet weather conditions,” said Jon Seeger, managing veterinarian with Zoetis. “Young calves may not last long with summer pneumonia and can succumb to the disease quickly. Identifying sick calves isn’t difficult, but identifying them early in the disease process, when clinical signs can be most effectively addressed, becomes more challenging when the calves are turned out on pasture.”


Clinical signs for summer pneumonia can include droopy ears, sluggish demeanor, extended neck, rapid breathing and nasal discharge — all signs commonly seen in bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Keeping a consistent, watchful eye on cattle offers the best chances for early detection and prevention.


Vaccination programs combined with sound herd management are key. By ingesting colostrum, calves absorb maternal antibodies that initiate a strong immune system early in life; however, this immunity quickly deteriorates as the calf gets older, making vaccinations even more vital. Vaccines train the calf’s immune system to recognize and fight the viruses and bacteria it encounters later in life.


“Think of a vaccination program like sending the calf’s immune system to school,” Seeger said. “It’s important for producers to vaccinate calves before putting them out for summer, so they can develop the proper immune capabilities.”


Vaccinating young calves in the springtime will help you and the calf win the fight against summer pneumonia before it begins. A great way to provide your calves a strong start is through an initial vaccine series protecting against M. haemolytica, BRSV, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) and parainfluenza-3 (PI3) viruses. A fall booster is also helpful.


Seeger shares the following tips to reduce summer pneumonia risk:


“Anything abnormal to the animal’s environment or daily activity can be a stress factor, and young calves’ immune systems must compensate for it,” Seeger said. “When calves are taken out of their normal comfort zone, keep an eye on them for at least the next seven to 10 days to make sure sickness doesn’t follow the associated stress.”


To learn more about giving calves a healthy start, visit www.completecalfprotection.com.

 

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Editor’s Note: This article is adapted from a news release provided by Zoetis.



 


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