Prairie Farmer Logo

Prevent and treat pneumonia properly to avoid financial hardship, decrease of replacement-heifer genetic potential and a depressing work environment.

Sierra Day, Field editor

January 24, 2022

3 Min Read
A herd of Holstein cows graze the pastures of a dairy farm
GENETIC POTENTIAL: Pneumonia can cause a dairy operation more than financial burden. Replacements with mild or moderate pneumonia have a decreased chance of reaching their full genetic potential.Getty Images/Bohemian Nomad Picturemakers

One brisk morning you notice several weaned dairy calves with nasal and eye discharge, droopy ears and a cough. You use a calf health scoring chart to identify other symptoms such as fever and diagnose pneumonia. Now what?

Don’t wait until the calves stop eating to treat them, says Curt Vlietstra, cattle senior professional services veterinarian at Boehringer Ingelheim. By then, it could be too late to turn the impacts of pneumonia around.

“Everybody’s thinking about what it costs to pay their labor, what it costs to buy a bottle of medicine, and what they lose if they have to cull or if the calf even dies,” he says. But pneumonia in the herd has potential to be more than a financial burden.

“I don’t want to discount the impact on morale on a farm. It can get really, really depressing to show up to work every day, and all you’re doing is pulling and treating sick calves — and potentially losing some that didn’t respond to treatment,” Vlietstra says. “That can be very impactful even for people who have no financial investment in the farm.”

And the biggest cost of pneumonia? It’s more of a long-term effect.

The sneakier cases of pneumonia will sometimes take years to manifest themselves, resulting in the most cost, he says. A heifer with mild or moderate pneumonia is less likely to reach her full genetic potential. And that could be the most significant economic impact of respiratory disease in a dairy replacement. According to one study, a calf with pneumonia can cost a producer at least $282.

Treat promptly

You know you want to avoid short- and long-term effects of a pneumonia outbreak at all costs. So, what should your treatment plan look like?

First and foremost, involve your local veterinarian when making a treatment decision, because usually you won’t use the same antibiotic for every sick calf, Vlietstra says. Antibiotic selection should be determined by how accessible a calf is to treat. This will dictate whether a multiple- or one-dose injection should be used.

And the act-fast mindset still applies when choosing an antibiotic.

“It’s important to use a drug that goes to work relatively quickly — especially if you’re checking outward symptoms of disease such as increased breathing, coughing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge,” he says. “If you’re waiting for those signs, the calf was already probably quite sick by the time you found it. So, you can’t wait two days for a drug to kick in. You need a drug that goes to work quickly.”

Also make sure you’re treating long enough. Treatment should last up to 10 days to be the most effective, Vlietstra says. Make sure a one-time injection lasts long enough, or with a multiple-dose injection, repeat the treatment to cover the time frame.

Prevention tips

But there’s more to tackling pneumonia than a treatment plan. Preventing pneumonia starts when the calf is born, Vlietstra says.

“It sounds kind of cliche, but it’s the first couple of minutes of the calf’s life that you’re never getting back,” he says. So, make sure your calves are born in a clean, well-bedded environment and dried off. And make sure they receive high-quality colostrum right away.

But what if starting calves off on the right foot doesn’t work?

“You could vaccinate them often,” Vlietstra says. “But you’re still going to have sick ones, because their immune system is only as good as their overall health and nutritional plan is. Vaccinations are an important part of disease prevention, but they are only as good as farm management.”

About the Author(s)

Sierra Day

Field editor, Farm Progress

A 10th-generation agriculturist, Sierra Day grew up alongside the Angus cattle, corn and soybeans on her family’s operation in Cerro Gordo, Ill. Although she spent an equal amount in farm machinery as she did in the cattle barn as a child, Day developed a bigger passion for the cattle side of the things.

An active member of organizations such as 4-H, FFA and the National Junior Angus Association, she was able to show Angus cattle on the local, state and national levels while participating in contests and leadership opportunities that were presented through these programs.

As Day got older, she began to understand the importance of transitioning from a member to a mentor for other youth in the industry. Thus, her professional and career focus is centered around educating agriculture producers and youth to aid in prospering the agriculture industry.

In 2018, she received her associate degree from Lake Land College, where her time was spent as an active member in clubs such as Ag Transfer club and PAS. A December 2020 graduate of Kansas State University in Animal Sciences & Industry and Agricultural Communications & Journalism, Day was active in Block & Bridle and Agriculture Communicators of Tomorrow, while also serving as a communications student worker in the animal science department.

Day currently resides back home where she owns and operates Day Cattle Farm with her younger brother, Chayton. The duo strives to raise functional cattle that are show ring quality and a solid foundation for building anyone’s herd.

Subscribe to receive top agriculture news
Be informed daily with these free e-newsletters

You May Also Like