Calf Pneumonia and Respiratory Vaccines

Posted by Administrator on February 13 2007 09:52

Calf Pneumonia

• Causes
• Prevention
• Treatment

Keys to Respiratory Health

• Emphasis on prevention
  • Ventilation and Sanitation
  • Separate younger calves from older calves
• Treat early
• Treat with appropriate antibiotics
• Use anti-inflammatories with antibiotics 

Causes of Pneumonia

• Viral
  • BVD
  • PI3, BRSV and IBR
• Bacterial
  • Pasteurella Haemolytica/Multocida
  • Mycoplasma

Preventing Pneumonia

• BVD
  • Screen for persistently infected heifers
    • Ear notch test ran daily at Newport Labs
  • Vaccination
• PI3, BRSV and IBR
  • Vaccination
• Pasteurella Haemolytica/Multocida
  • Vaccination with two strain vaccine
    • Young calves do get P. multocida
  • Secondary to viruses
• Mycoplasma
  • Waste milk feeding from mycoplasma positive herds
  • Vaccination (autogenous)

Pneumonia Treatment

• Antibiotics
  • Nuflor, Naxel/Excenel, Micotil, Ampicillin,
  • Baytril is ILLEGAL in heifer calves
• Anti-inflammatory
  • Banamine
  • Dexamethasone
  • (will suppress immune system)

Prevention

• Quality vaccination programs
• Type of vaccine (MLV vs. killed)
• Timing
  • Identify time period when having pneumonia problems
  • Important to vaccinate prior to concerns
• MLV
  • Stimulate cellular and humoral immunity
  • Will provide better protection in young calves
• Killed vaccines
  • Stimulate humoral immunity
  • Must be boostered

Postweaning Calf Pneumonia

• Vaccination "Rules"
  • Use a MLV
  • Give at 7 days old
  • Repeat 1 week prior to weaning for maximum protection
  • Don't give at weaning or other time of stress
  • Don't give a Pasteurella vaccine until the calves are over 5 weeks of age

Prevention

• Temperature is not an issue- just control drafts
• Warm Barn Ventilation Requirements
  • Cold weather: 15 cfm/animal
  • Hot weather: 100 cfm/animal
• Incidence of pneumonia is lower in cold housing

Environment

• Feed and Water
• Clean/dry bedding
• Fresh air without drafts
• Isolation

Factors affecting Pneumonia

• Not enough ventilation!!!
• Poor cleaning and disinfection between calves
• No isolation
• No plan for isolation of sick animals

Pneumonia Conclusion

• Vaccinate at the proper time
• Use a MLV
• Proper ventilation
• Appropriate treatment